Category Archives: Inside Scoop

Meet Our New Associate Editor, Noah Austin

The new guy in the office.

There’s a new guy in town.

There’s a new kid on the block, and we thought he should spill the beans about what it’s like being the new guy — sort of. Tomorrow will be his one-month anniversary. Welcome aboard, Noah. We’re thrilled to have you on the team!

The old cliché is that journalists are good at talking about everything but themselves. For my own sake as I begin my time as Arizona Highways’ associate editor, I hope that’s true, but that doesn’t really help me for this post, in which I’ve been asked to talk a little about myself and my first month on the job at Highways.

I started at the magazine Jan. 7; before that, I worked in marketing communications for a Phoenix-based furniture manufacturer, and before that, I was a copy editor, page designer and occasional reporter at the East Valley Tribune in Mesa. My first impression of this place was the tremendous passion and dedication that everyone in the office brings to work every day. I feel both honored to be a part of such a labor of love, and terrified of screwing the whole thing up.

I’m excited to get more familiar with Highways’ equally passionate readers, and to settle more into my role at the magazine, in the months ahead. As a lover of all things Arizona and of quality journalism, I can’t think of many positions to which the term “dream job” might apply, but this is one of them. I look forward to connecting with you, both on our blog and in the magazine, and I look forward to your feedback. If my first month is any indication, I’m really going to love it here.

You can follow Noah Austin on Twitter: @noah_austin

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Arizona Highways on NPR

Dawn Kish, Baby Sue, Kelly Vaughn Kramer

(L-to-R) Dawn Kish, Baby Sue, Kelly Vaughn Kramer

In the upcoming March issue of Arizona Highways, Managing Editor Kelly Vaughn Kramer writes about a Havasupai medicine woman named Dianna Baby Sue White Dove Uqualla. In November, Kramer ventured into the Grand Canyon to meet with Baby Sue and receive a blessing; however, she wasn’t alone. Joining her on the 8-mile journey to Supai (plus another 2 miles to reach the campground where they stayed) were photographer Dawn Kish and KJZZ reporter Laurel Morales, who reported the story for Fronteras: The Changing America Desk.

Baby Sue, Laurel Morales, Dawn Kish

(L-to-R) Baby Sue, Laurel Morales, Dawn Kish

“We have a relationship with KJZZ here in Phoenix, wherein they track a few of our stories,” explains Kramer. “The trip to Havasu Canyon to visit Baby Sue seemed like the perfect fit for a collaboration because hers was such a great story and the trip itself would provide some great opportunities for audio.”

Morales captured Kramer’s blessing and talked to her about the experience, giving readers a glimpse into both an Arizona Highways writer’s experience and process, and a world that so few of us will ever see.

You can listen to Morales’ report here.

 

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Arizona Highways Gets Into the Holiday Spirit

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Silly white elephant gifts waiting to be opened… and stolen.

As the holidays near, we at Arizona Highways took time today to celebrate with a white elephant gift exchange, some very good food, and, of course, great company. We thought we’d share a few photos from our lunch … As for who scored the best white elephant gift? Well, my vote goes to Debbie Klein, who stole a pair of plastic green chili pepper earrings from Barbara Denney. Well played Deb. Well played. I expect you to wear those earrings all the time.

From our family to yours, happy holidays!

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Arizona Highways Crew Attends Cronkite Award Luncheon… in Photos

Director of Sales & Marketing Kelly Mero and Photo Editor Jeff Kida

The Arizona Highways team spent part of the day at the Cronkite Award Luncheon where we watched award-winning sportscaster Bob Costas receive the 2012 Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. Talk about a great couple of hours. Mr. Costas was a fantastic speaker and told some absolutely brilliant stories… what a treat!

Thanks again to everyone who made this event possible… it’s always a pleasure to attend this annual luncheon.

Below are some photos from our afternoon (and yes, we do dress up from time-to-time — shocking!).

Enjoy!

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Arizona Highways Takes Home IRMA Gold

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Arizona Highways is thrilled to announce that we took home 13 awards from the International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA), including three Gold awards in the following categories: Travel Feature, Art Direction of a Single Story and Cover.

Congratulations to our amazing colleagues at Arizona Highways… We are incredibly proud of you, and we thank you for your hard work and dedication to the magazine.

The following is a list of awards presented to Arizona Highways during the 2012 IRMA conference, which we hosted at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale:

Gold | Travel Feature | Going with the Flow by Craig Childs | July 2011
Gold | Art Direction of a Single Story | What’s Right with Arizona by Barbara Glynn Denney | August 2011
Gold | Cover | December 2011
Silver | Single Photo | Native Customs by Suzanne Mathia | August 2011
Silver | Photo Series | Northern Exposures by Shane McDermott | June 2011
Silver | Overall Art Direction | Barbara Glynn Denney and Keith Whitney
Silver | Nature Feature | Just Add Water by Craig Childs | June 2011
Silver | Special Focus Issue | A Special State Parks Guide | May 2011
Bronze | Illustration | The Lucky Spurs by Brad Holland | March 2011
Bronze | Department | The Journal
Bronze | Public Issues |The State of Our State Parks by Kathy Montgomery | May 2011
Bronze | Food Feature | Best Restaurants by Nikki Buchanan | April 2011
Award of Merit | Reader Service | Summer Hiking Guide by Robert Stieve | June 2011

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Behind-the-Scenes: Hanging Out in Photo Editor Jeff Kida’s Office

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Well, it’s Tuesday, and for no other reason I thought I’d share some behind-the-scenes photos from today’s impromptu image review. Contributing photographer Dawn Kish turned in an assignment (you’ll have to wait until 2013 to see what she shot for us) and some of the crew crammed into Photo Editor Jeff Kida’s office to checkout her handiwork.

 

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