After taking home an Award of Distinction from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Communications Awards Program for three years, Port Log magazine earned its first Award of Excellence in the 2020 competition.
The publication, produced in partnership between the Port of South Louisiana and Renaissance Publishing, earned an overall score of 91. Entries receiving more than 90 points earn an Award of Excellence, while entries receiving between 80 and 90 points qualify for an Award of Distinction. In 2019, the publication barely missed the Award of Excellence with an overall score of 89.37.
However, that near-miss only motivated both the Port staff and publisher’s editorial team to continue increasing the value of Port Log for businesses and residents in the Port’s tri-parish jurisdiction.
The application process for the award evaluates a number of criteria for such publications, including the Port’s mission, how the magazine helps to fulfill that mission, planning and programming, actions and communication outputs, and overall quality of communication. This year’s application emphasized the Port’s efforts to create name and brand recognition within the region, and Port Log earned top marks for its blend of news and human interest pieces.
“This magazine is an excellent example of a periodical used as a vehicle to communicate with target audiences,” said one of the five AAPA judges who evaluated and scored the publication. “The articles are well-written and the magazine is visually appealing. Overall, it’s an effective tool to extend the mission.”
The relationship between the Port and Renaissance, publisher of regional magazines including New Orleans Magazine, Biz New Orleans, Louisiana Life and more than a dozen custom titles, dates back several years. The publication was originally produced annually but shifted to its quarterly format to expand the range of subjects included in the editorial features.
“Renaissance Publishing is proud to be the publisher for the Port of South Louisiana’s magazine Port Log,” says Todd Matherne, CEO. “We are honored to work with them and to strive for national awards, and to receive this award is a testament of their great work and the work of our custom publishing division.”
Both teams hope to earn another Award of Excellence next year with even higher point values, especially after a year that has presented so many challenges.
“That we’ve continued to publish our Port Log magazine on schedule during the ongoing pandemic will hopefully serve as a reminder of the Port’s commitment to our region, no matter what obstacles may arise,” says Port Executive Director Paul Aucoin. “We’re proud of the work we’ve done and will continue serving as a beacon of information for our friends, families and neighbors.” •
