More renown for Arizona Highways magazine

Arizona Highways, the world-renowned magazine published by the Arizona Department of Transportation, has earned more recognition for its excellence in words, pictures and design.

In its annual awards program, the International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA) awarded Arizona Highways a total of 19 honors in categories including essay writing, illustration, photography and art direction. The magazine also received an Award of Merit for its February 2019 feature celebrating the 100th anniversary of the designation of Grand Canyon as a national park.

This is the sixth straight year that Arizona Highways has received at least 16 IRMA awards. 

“We are privileged to live in a state known not only for its iconic beauty but for its rich and diverse mixture of history and colorful personalities,” said Kelly Mero, publisher of Arizona Highways. “Arizona, its people and its history are the real stars of the show and make it possible for us to receive awards like these. This recognition is testament to that - and to the tremendous people both inside and outside of ADOT who collaborate to make Arizona Highways come alive every month.”

IRMA is a non-profit association of 25 regional magazines from across North America. This is the 40th annual awards competition, and entries are judged by a panel of magazine industry experts from outside of IRMA. 

Arizona Highways received the following awards:

Gold award winners:

Essay: Prayers for Snow | December 2019 | Craig Childs

Nature & Environment Feature: Hanging on for Dear Life | October 2019 | Annette McGivney

Art & Culture Feature: These Generations of Weaving | March 2019 | Danielle Geller

Headline & Deck: Great Balls of Fire | April 2019 | Robert Stieve

General Feature: The Unsettling Story of Ken Patrick | January 2020 | Robert Stieve

Silver award winners: 

Profiles: Esther Henderson & Chuck Abbott | September 2019 | Matt Jaffe

Historic Feature: The Early Photographers | September 2019 | Robert Stieve

Magazine Writer of the Year: Matt Jaffe

Magazine Photographer of the Year: Jack Dykinga

Art Direction Single Story: Sandwich Tour | April 2019 | Keith Whitney

Overall Art Direction: March 2019 | April 2019 | January 2020

Department: The Journal | January 2020 | February 2020 | March 2020

Bronze award winners: 

Photo Series (35,000 or more): Not Just Any Old Place | February | Edited by Jeff Kida

Portrait Photo: Wally Brown | March 2019 | Mylo Fowler

Illustration: Wildflowers (series) | March 2020 | Dyana Hesson

Column: July 2019, August 2019, February 2020 | Robert Stieve

Travel Feature: No Exit Route | November 2019 | Morgan Sjogren

Cover: March 2019

Award of Merit:

Special Focus: Grand Canyon Centennial | February 2019

Founded in 1925, Arizona Highways is dedicated to promoting travel to and through the state of Arizona. In addition to the world-renowned magazine known for spectacular landscape photography, Arizona Highways publishes travel guide books, calendars and other products to promote travel in Arizona. The magazine has subscribers in all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

Learn more at ArizonaHighways.com