Today in Mississippi took home two National Rural Electric Cooperative Statewide Editors Association Willie awards and one American Mainstreet Publications award during a September editorial conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
Today in Mississippi’s website won a first place Willie Award in the “Best Digital Communication.”
Steven Ward, editor of Today in Mississippi, won an Award of Excellence/second place Willie Award in the “Best News Feature-Less than 650 words” category for his May 2024 story on the state’s dead tree epidemic.
The Willie Awards, which are held annually, showcase the best writing, photos, and design of statewide electric co-op magazines from all over the country.
Retired Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) Senior Vice President of Communications Ron Stewart won the prestigious Lynne Christenson Award of Excellence.
American Mainstreet Publications (AMP) is an advertising cooperative owned by electric co-op statewide publications. The Lynne Christenson Award of Excellence is presented to an AMP member who exemplifies the work ethic, tenacity and professionalism of Lynne Christenson, former advertising manager for Kentucky Living magazine. Christenson was a passionate advocate for electric co-op magazines before losing a battle with cancer in 2015.
Stewart, who retired in February 2022 after 32 years of service to ECM, transformed the flagship monthly publication Today in Mississippi from a tabloid newspaper to a magazine.
The magazine format was launched with the September 2019 issue following two years of prep work.
“For more than 30 years, Ron was deeply involved in cooperative communications efforts in the state of Mississippi. His long tenure at the ECM was highlighted by visionary leadership of their flagship communications tool, Today in Mississippi. But Ron shared his talent and warmth beyond the borders of his adopted home state via his long service to National Country Markets, the cooperative later rebranded to AMP,” according to Stewart’s nomination.
“Ron was a member of NCM/AMP’s board from 1995 to his retirement – an impressive 20-plus-year run. During that time, he and the board helped oversee the steady growth of AMP, the hiring of the cooperative’s current leadership, and the transformation of the cooperative into a modern ad sales agency. He did all this through thoughtful, quiet leadership, a ready smile, and a talent for storytelling.”
