Awards: Reflejos wins bilingual honor
Reflejos Bilingual Journal, published by Arlington Heights-based Paddock Publications Inc., garnered five José Martí Awards during the 30th anniversary convention of the National Association of Hispanic Publications Inc. in San Diego. The awards are the oldest and the largest Hispanic media awards within the United States.
The awards signified Reflejos as a competitor on a major scale along with other top publications nationwide, said Linda Siete, Reflejos’ manager of sales and operations.
“As I look at the specific editions and content that we are recognized for it confirms the niche we have created as a lifestyle publication, the Going Green Energy Savings edition was packed with information our community might not get all in one helping, or may need to search various outlets to get. We pack it all together as a full resource, said Siete.
Reflejos’ College Guides, with education a No. 1 priority for the community, have opened a dialogue for colleges and the community, and offer direction and resources, she said.
“Our motto has always been to motivate, educate and inspire through the written word — these awards show that we are delivering on that motto, Siete said.
Among the awards given was a second place, or the Silver Award, for most outstanding weekly bilingual publication in the nation. Reflejos’ lifestyle, entertainment and education sections, which serve as resource guides to the bilingual and Latino community in the eight-county suburban area, “helped set them apart this year from other Spanish-language publications nationwide,” according to the panel of judges.
The awards that the publication garnered are:
Ÿ Gold Award — Outstanding Lifestyle Edition — “Going Green Energy Savings,” a special edition sponsored by ComEd.
Ÿ Silver Award — Outstanding Weekly Bilingual Publication — over 30,000 in distribution.
Ÿ Silver Award — Outstanding Publication website.
Ÿ Silver Award — Outstanding Special Section — “2011 College Guide Part I” and “College Guide Part II.”
Ÿ Bronze Award — Outstanding Entertainment Section — “Mango,” a monthly entertainment guide.
“It is very fulfilling to have won, especially the Outstanding Weekly Bilingual Publication Silver Award because that places us as the second best bilingual publication in the country,” said Marco Ortiz, Reflejos’ content editor.
Now a part of the Daily Herald Media Group and the largest and longest-running Latino publication in Chicago’s suburbs, Reflejos reaches more than 230,000 suburban Latino readers and has a bilingual format.