Letter From the Editor

WINNINGS THE GAME. A friend recently sent an email about remembering
winners that read: Who were the last
five Nobel Peace Prize winners, the last five Miss Americas and the last
five Best Actor and Actress Oscar winners?² ‹ and so on. Who really
remembers last year¹s winner? You have to keep up with the game to gain the
recognition over and over again. Winning the Pulitzer, Emmy or whatever your
industry recognizes and hands out is challenging year after year. At Florida
International Magazine we strive to put out the best magazine in the market,
and for the past five years we¹ve been in the running for the top prize (the
Charlie) of Best Overall Magazine by the Florida Magazine Association ‹ we
won for three consecutive years (2004, 2005 and 2006) and this time around
we came in second. It¹s a tremendous accomplishment, but you, the reader,
probably can¹t remember which awards we¹ve won ‹ and does it even really
matter in the long run? The awards are for us, the creators, to challenge
ourselves among our peers and do better for you. To know we can do it one
more year, that we can maintain quality, interest and overall excellence
about the product we turn out. Florida International Magazine wins for great
visuals, interesting and prolific departments and features and overall
content. We win because we care and hope you care too.
For the record, this past August the Florida Magazine Association
recognized us in the category of ³Consumer Magazine, Circulation Over
50,000² with 13 major awards:

First Place/The Charlie:
Printing Excellence ‹ Lane Press
Best Editorial/Commentary/Opinion ‹
Letter from The Editor by Esther Jackson
Best Theme Issue ‹ November 2007, All About Art
Best Department ‹ Finance by Richard Westlund

Second Place/Silver:
Best Editorial/Commentary/Opinion
Best Overall Use of Photography
Best Overall Design
Best Overall Magazine

Third Place/Bronze:
Best In-Depth Reporting
Best Written Magazine
Best Photo Illustration
Best Feature Design

For the past 10 years we¹ve managed to win over 70 awards from the FMA. The
roster is impressive and it¹s involved dedication, talent and perseverance.
At a recent post-FMA wrap-up party at the Mandarin, we acknowledged the
writers, artists and production staff that contributed to our success. This
team of talent is what makes Florida International Magazine not only ³the
voice of Florida,² but ³the look of Florida,² a state that continues to
change, grow and welcome millions of visitors annually. Reaching these
readers and maintaining their loyal support is our constant challenge.
This issue is dedicated to ³Class Acts² (page 58), an almost passé
trend, but an important subject that deserves acknowledgment. We focused our
efforts on: Style: Art Deco, Fashion: Haute Couture, Jewelry: Character
Pieces, Design: Florida¹s Leading Designers, Decorators and Architects and
Classy Ladies, about women at the forefront of their industries who help
shape our lives.
Next month, we¹re bringing you another version of our award-winning Art
issue, and we¹re adding design to the mix, with stories that showcase how
art is incorporated into the home. And in our 10th Anniversary Commemorative
Issue in December, each page will be filled with the past, the present and
the future in what promises to be our biggest and best issue ever.