Local magazine wins award

CurtCo/Gulfshore Media, the publishers of Gulfshore Life, Gulfshore Business and a number of other regional publications, received five top awards at the annual Florida Magazine Association Publishing Conference held last month at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort in Orlando.

The editorial staff of Gulfshore Media, led by editor-in-chief David Sendler, won two coveted Charlie awards - the pinnacle of achievement in Florida magazine publishing - Best Visitor Publication for Naples on the Gulf; and Best Custom Magazine for In Good Company.

CurtCo/Gulfshore Media also took home silver awards, including one for Best Photographic Essay for "Moments in Paradise, Discover Southwest Florida," a 24-page photo essay by Carlton Ward Jr. with poetry by Jesse Millner that ran in the 2007 Discover Visitors' Annual. Gulfshore Life also won two silver awards for Best Overall Use of Photography and Best Visitor Publication.

FMA, the largest state magazine association in the nation, sponsors the annual Charlie Awards to honor publishing excellence in Florida. The 2007 awards competition included 75 categories in the areas of General Excellence, Editorial Excellence, Design Excellence and Printing Excellence. ¦