Contact:
Eleanor Miller
NRECA Communication
703-907-5721
Mobile: 703-517-3411
NEW ORLEANS, February 18, 2009 – Colorado Country Life and Editor Mona Neeley, CCC, today received the prestigious George W. Haggard Memorial Journalism Award for 2008 from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The award recognizes and publicly commends the editor and electric co-op publication that demonstrate the most lucid, forthright, and effective presentation of ideas advancing the objectives of electric cooperatives and issues that affect them and their consumer-owners.
NRECA Chief Executive Officer Glenn English and NRECA President Jack F. Wolfe Jr. presented the award to Neeley at the NRECA’s 67th Annual Meeting here. The magazine is published by Colorado Rural Electric Association, the statewide organization representing the interests of cooperative electric utilities in Colorado and the consumer-members they serve.
“Colorado Country Life’s goal in 2008 was to educate members about the crisis the electric industry is facing,” English said. “Editor Mona Neeley used the magazine's "Viewpoint" page to get readers involved, and it worked. Most Viewpoint editorials generated several letters to the editor for each issue, as well as discussion at the local level. Clearly, the magazine was getting critical information to its readers.”
Neeley said the magazine included more electric-related news than ever in 2008. “It was presented in a balanced mix of electric news and general consumer information designed to draw readers into the magazine,” she said. “We continued to work to upgrade the quality of our writers and of our art in order to publish a magazine that the co-ops are proud to be connected with.”
Neeley, a Certified Cooperative Communicator (CCC), has been editor of Colorado Country Life since 2001. Working with her on the magazine are Associate Editor Donna Norris and Assistant Editor Cher Smith.
The Haggard Award judges praised this staff for publishing a magazine that offers a “very good mix of energy and lifestyle material…and excellent writing throughout.” One judge noted, “Colorado Country Life covers energy issues and advocates change well.”
In addition to judging magazine entries for forthrightness, clarity, and balance, the Haggard Award competition encourages co-ops to raise the standards and professional excellence of statewide publications, to recognize the publications’ contribution to the electric cooperative network nationwide, and to strengthen cooperative education and member relations programs. The judges praised the winner for its overall design and visuals: “Outstanding use of photos and graphics … overall look is professional and appealing. …Covers are an intriguing invitation to turn the page and come on in.”
One judge concluded, “You must be very well read and viewed as authoritative by your readers.”
The award memorializes George W. Haggard, a former statewide editor, statewide manager, and REA official who championed the creation of electric cooperative statewide publications, which consistently rank among the most widely read consumer publications in the United States. They reach more than 10 million households, or 25 million readers, every month in 37 of the 47 states in which electric cooperatives provide service. Twenty-one publications were entered in the 2008 competition.
More than 8,000 representatives from cooperative electric utilities across the nation attended the NRECA Annual Meeting and Expo, February 16-18, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, during which they will set NRECA’s legislative and organizational agenda for 2009. NRECA is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide electric service to more than 42 million people in 47 states.
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