The Colorado Press Association annual convention concluded this weekend with lots of energy, new ideas, and recognition for newsrooms across the state. Overall, it was an excellent convention but also concluded with some very exciting news for our team of artists and journalists.

YS Magazine took home a total of sixteen awards, including the prestigious Best General Excellence in our title and eight first-place finishes. 

And we are ecstatic. The YS team works incredibly hard, long nights on a journalist’s pay. They do this so our community never suffers from being in a news desert — because they love telling the stories of the communities we serve. We are extremely proud that we have never published sponsored content in 23 years. We are so honored and proud to see that commitment rewarded this year at the CPAs.

Additionally, YS took home awards for graphic design, best print ad, best media design agency, and our 2022 Heroes Series won for Best Series. 

Articles such as The Fire Next Time, Underground Gardens, Dark Money In Erie, and It’s Time to Start Talking About the Connection Between Our Mental and Physical Health were all recognized with awards from their categories.

Congratulations to all the authors, designers, interns, and assistants who have made this incredible year possible, but most of all, we want to thank our readers and supporters for valuing engaging and relevant content that we take so much pride in.

YS 2023 CPA awards

*List also includes our earlier awards this year from the Society of Professional Journalists. 

Editorial Awards:

SPJ – Oversized Housing, Zoe Jennings

CPA – Underground Gardens, Ashley Kay Mauer

CPA – The Heroes: The Firefighters, Thomas Rutherford, Photography Paul Wedlake

SPJ – Soft Skills vs Hard Skills, Zoe Jennings

CPA – Dark Money In Erie: What special interests seek to gain by influencing Erie’s election, Robert Davis

CPA/SPJ – The Fire Next Time, Robert Davis

CPA – Thoughts, Prayers and Blood, Steve Nelson

CPA/SPJ – The Case for Civics Education: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You, Steve Nelson

SPJ – “Rise of the Matriarch: Bridging the “Ambition Gap”: Emerge Colorado tackles inner voices and external critics of womxn running for office, Valerie Passerini

CPA – What Rhymes with Holocaust, French Davis aka Dave Flomberg

CPA – It’s Time to Start Talking About the Connection Between Our Mental and Physical Health, Austin Clinkenbeard

Design Awards:

SPJ – Best of the West, JB Loucks

CPA – Summer Hot Issue, Irina Ratzek

CPA – Heroes: Trades, JB Loucks

CPA – Heroes: Farmers, JB Loucks

CPA/SPJ – The STYLE Issue: Fabulous: A Look Into the Colorado Drag Scene, photography Dustin Doskocil

CPA – Civics, Irina Ratzek

CPA – Berkelhammer Tree Experts, JB Loucks

CPA – Yellow House Design Agency

Title Award:

CPA – Best General Excellence, Yellow Scene Magazine

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