Mainebiz cover
For this issue of Mainebiz published in October 2022, Art Director Matt Selva won second place for Overall Design and Presentation of a Specialty Publication.
Updated: March 26, 2024
Mainebiz wins 4 regional journalism awards for design, editorial coverage
Mainebiz graphic
Mainebiz Art Director used A.I. to bring Jimmy Stewart back to life for a 2023 cover story about turmoil in the banking sector, shown here. Selva won two regional journalism awards for the photo illustration.
By Mainebiz Staff
Mainebiz took home four awards over the weekend from a six-state competition of news media.
Winners of the 2023 Better Newspaper Competition sponsored by the New England Newspaper & Press Association, were announced at a gala dinner Saturday evening in Waltham, Mass.
NENPA, based in Woburn, Mass., is a professional trade association for print and digital news organizations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont. Just under 2,000 entries were submitted for this year's contest, according to NENPA Executive Director Linda Conway.
Mainebiz Art Director Matt Selva won three awards, including two for an artificial intelligence-aided illustration inspired by Jimmy Stewart’s character in Frank Capra's 1946 film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The illustration was part of an April 3, 2023, cover story about turmoil in the banking sector.
"Jimmy Stewart is back for an encore in this cover comparing the near-collapse of Bailey Brothers Building and Loan to present-day bank failure," the judges said in their written comments.
Most of the core image was created with Midjourney, and the Jimmy Stewart likeness was generated on top of the Midjourney image by Dreamstudio.ai, according to Selva.
Those images were further modified in Photoshop to make the final photo illustration.
The example is included in "The Journalist's Toolbox," an interactive textbook by Mike Reilley, who also highlighted Selva's cover in a workshop at NENPA's annual convention.
For the cover design, Selva took home second place for Illustration/Infographics, Specialty Publications, and third place for Front Page, Specialty Publications.
Selva also received a second place award for Overall Design and Presentation of a Specialty Publication for the Next Up: 40 Under 40 edition of Mainebiz published in October 2022.
"A great layout and use of photos and graphics. Clean design and like the way they set up the big quotes on the pages,' the judges commented.
Mainebiz Publisher Andrea Tetzlaff said, "Matt has taken the initiative to learn many A.I. capabilities, resulting in the amazing Jimmy Stewart cover. It was nice to see NENPA recognize his hard work and creativity.”
'Forces of Nature' wins editorial prize
NENPA slide
"Forces of Nature," a cover story by Mainebiz Senior Writer Renee Cordes about women in agriculture, won second place in the NENPA awards.
From the Mainebiz editorial team, Senior Writer Renee Cordes won second place for Racial, Ethnic or Gender Issue Coverage, Specialty Publication, for “Forces of Nature,” her cover story about female farmers in Maine published May 29, 2023.
"Interesting and somewhat novel topic. Well written. Rife with statistics and varied interviews that make a strong case for the point of the piece," the judges noted.
Last year, Cordes won first place in the same category for "Fighting for Equity," her cover story about female entrepreneurs in Maine beating the odds to raise capital.
“Renee is a constant advocate for DE&I coverage in our publication, and her ‘Forces of Nature’ article highlights the often untold story of women and immigrant farmers around Maine,” Tetzlaff said.
“We are extremely proud of the recognition by NENPA,” she added. “Matt and Renee are very talented, and these awards are a testament to their hard work and excellence.”
The Worcester (Mass.) Business Journal, a sister publication of Mainebiz also owned by New England Business Media, won eight NENPA awards on Saturday.
Editor's note: Story updated June 26 with judges' comments. Find the full list of winners and judges' comments here.
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