Since its launch in 2002, Delaware Beach Life has won over 100 awards for its writing, photography and page design.
2017
(for work published in 2016)
International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA)
• Magazine of the Year, Under 30,000 circulation
Finalist
• Overal Art Direction, Under 30,000 circulation
Second Place
• Magazine Writer of the Year, Under 30,000 circulation
First Place
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
• Public Issues category
First Place
Entry: “Tough Start”
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
• Column category
First Place
Entry: “Flotsam & Jetsam”
Writer: Fay Jacobs
The National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest
• News Feature category
First Place
Entry: "A Question of Character" of Rehoboth Beach
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
• Specialty Articles: Food category
First Place
Entry: "Taking it to the Streets" about food trucks; "Can't Stand the Heat" about coastal chefs
Writer: Pam George
• Single Photograph: General Photo category
First Place
Entry: Holiday 2016 cover photograph
Photographer: Kevin Fleming
• Single Photograph: Sports Photo category
First Place
Entry: Skimboarding photo on Visual Vacation page
Photographer: Emma Plowman
• Page Design category
First Place
Designer: Laura Navarre
• Infographics category
First Place
Designer: Laura Navarre
Delaware Press Association Communications Contest
• Specialty Articles: Food category
First Place
Entry: "Taking it to the Streets" about food trucks; "Can't Stand the Heat" about coastal chefs
Writer: Pam George
• Feature Story category
First Place
Entry: "The Farm Teams"
Writer: Mary Ann Benyo
• Single Photograph: General Photo category
First Place
Entry: Holiday 2016 cover photograph
Photographer: Kevin Fleming
• Single Photograph: Sports Photo category
First Place
Entry: Skimboarding photo on Visual Vacation page
Photographer: Emma Plowman
• Page Design category
First Place
Designer: Laura Navarre
• Infographics category
First Place
Designer: Laura Navarre
• Editing and Page Design of Entire Publication category
First Place
• News Story category
Second Place
Entry: "Tough Start"
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
• Specialty Articles: Home category
Second Place
Entry: "Cottage Tour"
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
• Humor Column category
Second Place
Entry: "Fotsam & Jetsam"
Writer: Fay Jacobs
• Personality Profile category
Second Place
Entry: "From Rylie's Law to Rylie's Smile"
Writer: Jessica Gordon
• Photo Essay category
Second Place
Entry: "Market Value" on Lloyd's Market
Photographer: Kevin Fleming, Writer: Chris Beakey
• Editing and Page Design of a Regular Section category
Second Place
Entry: Beach Briefs
• General Photo category
Third Place
Entry: "Hummingbird" on the April 2016 cover
Photographer: Ken Arni
• Photo Essay category
Third Place
Entry: "Snap Decision"
Photographer: Bill Meehan
2016
(for work published in 2015)
International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA)
• Column category
Second Place
Entry: "Fotsam & Jetsam"
Writer: Fay Jacobs
• Overal Art Direction, Under 30,000 circulation
Third Place
• Magazine Writer of the Year, Under 30,000 circulation
Award of Merit
Writer: Pam George
• Cover, Under 30,000 circulation
Award of Merit
Entry: "Silhouetted Lighthouse" May 2015 cover image
Photographer: Marc Clery
Delaware Press Association Communications Contest
• News Story category
First Place
Entry: "A Sound Strategy"
Writer: Laura Dattaro
• Humor Column category
First Place
Entry: "Flotsam & Jetsam"
Writer: Fay Jacobs
• Photo Essay category
First Place
Entry: "Above Sea Level"
Writer: Kevin Fleming
• Headline Writing category
First Place
Entries: “Barre Exam," "Spokes Man," "Check Mates, "Building Mussels (With Pumpkin Ale)”
Writer: Tom Kavanagh
• Special Articles: History category
First Place
Entry: “Taming the Inlet" and "Beach Patrols,” Look Back stories
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
• Specialty Articles: Home category
First Place
Entry: "Cottage Tour"
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
• Editing and Page Design of a Regular Section category
First Place
Entry: Beach Briefs
• Graphics category
First Place
Entry: “Forgot Something" cartoon
Illustrator: Bill Thomas
• Single Photograph category
First Place
Entry: “The Big Tent: Crimson Letter Band"
Photographer: Carolyn Watson
• Single Photograph category
Second Place
Entry: Holiday 2015 cover image
Photographer: Kevin Fleming
• Specialty Articles: History category
Second Place
Entry: "Those Were the Days (and Nights!)" and "Women's Work", Look Back stories
Writer: Pam George
2015
(for work published in 2014)
Delaware Press Association Communications Contest
• Feature story category
First Place
Entry: “Sea Therapy”
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
• News story category
First Place
Entry: “Outcry Over the Outfall”
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
• History writing category
First Place
Entry: “A Long-Gone Beacon”; “A Landmark Celebrates a Milestone" (about the Cape Henlopen State Park turning 50)
Writer: Pam George
• Special Series category
First Place
Entry: “Water Ways” (her eight-part series on local waterways)
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
• Humor Column category
First Place
Entry: “Flotsam & Jetsam”
Writer: Fay Jacobs
• Home Column category
First Place
Entry: “Cottage Tour”
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
• Editing and Page Design of a Regular Section category
First Place
Entry: Beach Briefs
• Editing and Page Design of Entire Publication category
First Place
• Single Photograph category
First Place
Entry: “Blue Skimmer Dragonfly on Goldenrod Branch” (August 2014 cover image)
Photographer: Kevin Fleming
• Photographer-Writer category
First Place
Entry: “Waiting for Breakfast” (Visual Vacation photograph and text)
Photographer: Ken Arni
• Graphics category
First Place
Entry: “Comic View” (cartoons that appear in the Beach Briefs section)
Artist: Bill Thomas
• Headline Writing category
Second Place
Entries: “Whole Lotta Love for Classic Rock”; “A Splash of Controversy”; “To Pee or Not to Pee?”; “Orange is the New Black Thumb”
Writer: Tom Kavanagh
• Single Photograph category
Second Place
Entry: “Snowy Owl Flies Over a Grassy Dune” (Holiday 2014 cover image)
Photographer: Tony Pratt
• Feature story category
Second Place
Entry: “Stay or Go?”
Writer: Jack Rodgers
• Feature story category
Third Place
Entry: “The Cowboys of Lewes”
Writers: Giny Daly, Rick Palmer, Steve Bender
• Graphics category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “A Delaware State of Mind” (cartoon to ilustrate Fay’s Jacobs Flotsam & Jetsam column)
Artist: Rob Waters
2014
(for work published in 2013)
International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA)
- Magazine of the Year, Under 35,000 circulation
Finalist - Cover
Second Place
Entry: Holiday 2013 cover (the aerial shot of an S-shaped creek with a kayak)
Photograph: Kevin Fleming - Public Issues category
Third Place
Entry: "The Way Home" (September 2013 issue)
Writer: Mary Ann Benyo - Column category
Third Place
Entry: "Hot Topic," on the effects of climate change on coastal Delaware
Writer: Lynn R. Parks
Delaware Press Association Communications Contest
- History writing category
First Place
Entry: “A Poet's Ode to Lewes” (about Gilbert Byron); "Lewes Creek" (about the Lewes-and-Rehoboth Canal)
Writer: Pam George - Special Series category
First Place
Entry: “Hot Topic” (on climate change and its effect on coastal Delaware)
Writer: Lynn R. Parks - Short Fiction category
First Place
Entry: “Rehoboth”
Writer: Maribeth Fischer - Headline Writing category
First Place
Entries: “May the Farce Be With You”; “Stolen Guitar? Don't Fret!”; “Waving the PFlag”; “Scrum Kind of Sport”
Writer: Tom Kavanagh - Graphics category
First Place
Entry: “Upward Bound” (illustration for real estate story)
Artist: Rob Waters - Photographic Essay category
First Place
Entry: “Backyard Brood” (on a nest of green herons)
Photographer: Kevin Fleming - Single Photograph category
First Place
Entry: “Showy snowy egret” (October 2013 cover image)
Photographer: Ted Miller - Editing and Page Design of a Regular Section category
First Place
Entry: Beach Briefs
Editors and Designers: Tessa Lingo, Tom Kavanagh and Terry Plowman - Humor Column category
Second Place
Entry: “Flotsam & Jetsam”
Writer: Fay Jacobs - Feature Page Design category
Second Place
Entry: “The Lessons of Summer,” “Real to Reel”
Designer: Tessa Lingo - Editing and Page Design of Entire Publication category
Second Place
Entry: Delaware Beach Life
Editors and Designers: Tessa Lingo, Tom Kavanagh and Terry Plowman - Photographic Essay category
Second Place
Entry: “Rustic Art” (on old barns)
Photographer: Tony Pratt - Photographer-Writer category
Second Place
Entry: “Sunset Surprise” (Visual Vacation photograph and text)
Photographer: Terry Plowman - Feature story category
Third Place (tie)
Entry: “The Way Home” (about an organization that helps former prisoners re-enter the community)
Writer: Mary Ann Benyo - Feature story category
Third Place (tie)
Entry: “How Clean Is Clean Enough?” (about efforts to improve water quality in Delware’s inland bays)
Writer: Lynn R. Parks - Photographer-Writer category
Third Place
Entry: “Beauty at the Beach” (photographic essay and text)
Photographer: Kevin Fleming - Single Photograph category
Third Place
Entry: “Underwater Speckled Trout” (August 2013 cover image)
Photographer: Jay Fleming - Personality Profile category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “Riding a Political Roller Coaster” (about State Rep. John Atkins)
Writer: Lynn R. Parks - Single Photograph category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “Gray Seal” (May 2013 cover image)
Photographer: Kevin Fleming - Photographer-Writer category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “Slow-Motion Dance” (Visual Vacation photograph and text)
Photographer: April Abel
2013
Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce
Business of the Year award
(for work published in 2012)
International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA)
- Overall Art Direction category
First Place - Nature Feature category
Third Place
Entry: “Not All Water” islands in the bays story (September 2012 issue)
Writer: Lynn R. Parks - Column category
Honorable Mention
Entry: Flotsam & Jetsam humor column
Writer: Fay Jacobs - Art Direction of a Single Story category
Honorable Mention
Entry: design for “Dirty Jobs” story (September 2012 issue)
Designer: Tessa Lingo
The National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest
- Pages regularly edited by Terry Plowman, Lifestyle/Entertainment category
First Place
Entry: Beach Briefs - Feature Story category
First Place
Entry: “Above It All” about the family Chorman plane flying business (August 2012 issue)
Writer: Pam George - Columns: Humorous category
First Place
Entries: Flotsam & Jetsam columns (July and October 2012 issues)
Writer: Fay Jacobs - Photo Essay category
First Place
Entry: Photographs for the “No Direction Home” homeless story (Holiday 2012 issue)
Photographer: Carolyn Watson - Graphics category
Second Place
Entry: Illustration for “Fireflies” kids writing submission winner (September 2012 issue)
Illustrator: Patti Shreeve - Single Photograph: News or Feature Photo category
Third Place
Entry: Magician Rich Bloch Profile photograph (May 2012 issue)
Photographer: Scott Nathan
Delaware Press Association Communications Contest
- Feature Story category
First Place
Entry: “Above It All” about the family Chorman plane flying business (August 2012 issue)
Writer: Pam George - Personality Profile category
First Place
Entry: “Billie Holladay’s Two Great Loves” (Holiday 2012 issue)
Writer: Fay Jacobs - Columns: Humorous category
First Place
Entries: Flotsam & Jetsam columns (July and October 2012 issues)
Writer: Fay Jacobs - Pages regularly edited by Terry Plowman, Lifestyle/Entertainment category
First Place
Entries: Beach Briefs pages (April and June 2012 issues) - Single Photograph: News or Feature Photo category
First Place
Entry: Magician Rich Bloch Profile photograph (May 2012 issue)
Photographer: Scott Nathan - Photo Essay category
First Place
Entry: Photographs for the “No Direction Home” homeless story (Holiday 2012 issue)
Photographer: Carolyn Watson - Graphics category
First Place
Entry: Illustration for “Fireflies” kids writing submission winner (September 2012 issue)
Illustrator: Patti Shreeve - Feature Story category
Second Place
Entry: “Let us Bow Our Heads and Pray” about the Sussex County Council prayer controversy (May 2012 issue)
Writer: Lynn R. Parks - Page Design category
Second Place
Entries: story layouts in the July and September 2012 issues
Designer: Tessa Shoup - Single Photograph: News or Feature Photo category
Second Place
Entry: Visual Vacation hummingbird photograph (April 2012 issue)
Photographer: Ken Arni - Single Photograph: General Photo category
Second Place
Entry: May 2012 cover photograph
Photographer: Carolyn Watson - Graphics
Second Place
Entry: Cartoon in Beach Briefs section (August 2012 issue)
Illustrator: Bill Thomas - Feature Story category
Third Place
Entry: “Secrets of Fort Miles” (June 2012 issue)
Writers: Michael A. Hamilton and George W. Contant - Single Photograph: General Photo category
Third Place
Entry: June 2012 cover photograph
Photographer: Ken Arni - Photo Essay category
Third Place
Entry: Photographs for the “Not All Water” islands in the bays story (September 2012 issue)
Photographer: Kevin Fleming - Graphics
Third Place
Entry: Illustration for Flotsam & Jetsam column (July 2012 issue)
Illustrator: Rob Waters - Overall Editing of Entire Publication category
Honorable Mention
Entries: July and Holiday 2012 issues - Feature Story category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “No Direction Home” homeless story (Holiday 2012 issue)
Writer: Annie Gowen - Single Photograph: General Photo category
Honorable Mention
Entry: August 2012 cover photograph
Photographer: Kevin Fleming
2012
(for work published in 2011)
International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA)
• Profile category
First Place
Entry: “Butterbox Baby” (April 2011 issue)
Writer: Fay Jacobs
- Public Issues category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “Civil Unions, Civil Rights” (Holiday 2011 issue)
Writer: Mary Ann Benyo - General Feature category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “Camp New Hope” (May 2011 issue)
Writer: Mary Ann Benyo - Column category
Honorable Mention
Entries: Flotsam & Jetsam, a humor column (May, July and October 2011 issues)
Writer: Fay Jacobs
Delaware Press Association Communications Contest
- Overall Editing of Entire Publication category
First Place
Entries: October and Holiday 2011 issues - Feature Story category
First Place
Entry: “Pulling Together in the Extreme” a story about the Extreme Makeover Home Edition for the Dunning family (Holiday 2011 issue)
Writer: Lynn R. Parks - Columns: Humorous category
First Place
Entries: Flotsam & Jetsam column (July and October 2011 issues)
Writer: Fay Jacobs - Special Articles: History category
First Place
Entry: “An Enchanted Time” a Look Back story about ice skating on Silver Lake (Holiday 2011 issue)
Writer: Lynn R. Parks - Pages regularly edited by Terry Plowman, Lifestyle/Entertainment category
Second Place
Entries: Beach Briefs pages (May and June 2011 issues) - Headline Writing
Second Place
Entries: Flotsam & Jetsam columns
Writer: Terry Plowman - Feature Story category
Third Place
Entry: “Camp New Hope” (May 2011 issue)
Writer: Mary Ann Benyo - Feature Photo in Printed Publication Other Than Newspaper category
Third Place
Entry: August 2011 cover image
Photographer: Kevin Fleming - Feature Story category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “Butterbox Baby” (April 2011 issue)
Writer: Fay Jacobs - Page Layout category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “Beach Briefs” (May and June 2011 issues)
Designer: Tessa Shoup - Single Photograph: General Photo category
Honorable Mention
Entry: September 2012 cover photograph
Photographer: Jim Mott
2011
(for work published in 2010)
International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA)
- Overall Art Direction, Up to 40,000 Circulation, category Third Place
- Cover
Third Place
Entry: November/December 2010 issue
Photographer: Kevin Fleming
The National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest
- Pages regularly edited by Terry Plowman, Lifestyle/Entertainment category
First Place
Entry: Beach Briefs
Delaware Press Association Communications Contest
- Overall Editing of Entire Publication category
First Place - Pages regularly edited by Terry Plowman, Lifestyle/Entertainment category
First Place
Entries: Beach Briefs - Special Articles: History category
First Place
Entry: “The One That Got Away” a story about the menhaden industry (October 2010 issue)
Writer: Pam George - Photo Essay in Printed Publication Other Than Newspaper category
First Place
Entry: “Keeping History Afloat,” photos depicting the oyster-catching industry (September 2010 issue) and September 2010 cover image
Photographer: Kevin Fleming - Special Series category
Second Place
Entry: “Art Draws Women to Second Careers” (May 2010 issue)
Writer: Victor Greto - Feature Story category
Second Place
Entry: “Keeping History Afloat” a story about the oyster-catching industry (September 2010 issue)
Writer: Mary Ann Benyo - Columns: Humorous category
Second Place
Entry: “The Land of Mulch and Money” (June 2010 issue)
Writer: Fay Jacobs - Special Articles: History category
Third Place
Entry: “Making Tracks to the Beach” a Look Back about the railroad to Rehoboth (May 2010 issue)
Writer: James Diehl - Feature Story category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “Digging for Details” a story about archeological details revealing Avery’s Rest (May 2010 issue)
Writer: Ashley Dawson - Personality Profile category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “Wine, (What a) Woman, and Song” about Peggy Raley (October 2010 issue)
Writer: Linda Stern - Page Layout category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “Beach Briefs”
Designer: Tessa Shoup
2010
(for work published in 2009)
International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA)
- Magazine of the Year, Up to 40,000 Circulation, category Magazine of the Year, Finalist
- Public Issues category
Third Place
Entry: “The Gaying of Rehoboth” (October 2009 issue)
Writer: Fay Jacobs
The National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest
- Pages regularly edited by Terry Plowman, Lifestyle/Entertainment category First Place
Entries: Beach Briefs pages (June and August 2009 issues)
- Photo Essay in Printed Publication Other Than Newspaper category
First Place
Entry: “Making Manners Matter” (September 2009 issue)
Photographer: Scott Nathan
Delaware Press Association Communications Contest
- Pages regularly edited by Terry Plowman, Lifestyle/Entertainment category First Place
Entry: Beach Briefs pages (June and August 2009 issues) - Photo Essay in Printed Publication Other Than Newspaper category
First Place
Entry: “Making Manners Matter” (September 2009 issue)
Photographer: Scott Nathan
2009
(for work published in 2008)
International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA)
- Magazine of the Year, Up to 40,000 Circulation, category Magazine of the Year
Entries: March/April, May, September 2008 issues - Overall Art Direction, Up to 40,000 Circulation, category
First Place
Entries: March/April, May, September 2008 issues - Most Improved category
First Place
Entries: May 2007 & May 2008 issues (Based on our redesign in 2008) - Single Photo category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “Snow Storm” lead photo of Snow Geese story (March/April 2008 issue)
Photographer: Kevin Fleming
Newsstand Resource Cover Contest
- Regional and State category
First Place
Entry: October 2008 cover
The National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest
- Overall Editing of Entire Publication category Second Place
Entry: September and November/December 2008 issues
Delaware Press Association Communications Contest
- Pages regularly edited by Terry Plowman, Lifestyle/Entertainment category First Place
Entry: Beach Briefs pages, March/April and October 2008 issues - Overall Editing of Entire Publication category
First Place
Entry: September and November/December 2008 issues - Feature Story category
First Place
Entry: “Family Ties” a story about same-sex parents (June 2008 issue)
Writer: Patricia V. Rivera - Special Articles — Agriculture, Agribusiness, Aquaculture category
First Place
Entry: “Staying Rooted” a story about local farmers (June 2008 issue)
Writer: Patricia V. Rivera - Special Articles — Science category
First Place
Entry: “The Collector” a story about mosquito control (August 2008 issue)
Writer: Mary Ann Benyo - Special Articles — History category
First Place
Entry: “Sports Helped Schools Bond” a Look Back story about the forming of the Indian River School District (March/April 2008 issue)
Writer: James Diehl - Special Articles — Home category
First Place
Entry: “Saving the Light” a Cottage Tour story about a house remodel with the Mispillion Lighthouse (September 2008 issue)
Writer: Lynn R. Parks - Special Articles — Sports category
First Place
Entry: “Tiny Town is a Big Hit” a story about the Softball World Series coverage in Roxana (July 2008 issue)
Writer: James Diehl - Feature Photo in Printed Publication Other Than Newspaper category
First Place
Entry: Visual Vacation “Down the Hatch” (May 2008 issue)
Photographer: Kevin Fleming - Photo Essay in Printed Publication Other Than Newspaper category
First Place
Entry: “Wild Delaware” (May 2008 issue)
Photographer: Kevin Fleming
2008
(for work published in 2007)
Newsstand Resource Cover Contest
- Regional and State category
Third Place
Entry: August 2007 cover
IRMA
- Environmental Feature category
Honorable Mention
Entry: “A New Sense of Power” a story about the Citizens for Clean Power working for cleaner air with the Indian River power plant (September 2007 issue)
Writer: Larry Nagengast
The National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest
- Second Place
Entry: “Coming Soon … to a Theater Near Us” a story about the Rehoboth Beach Film Festival (October 2007 issue)
Writer: Michael Pollock
Delaware Press Association Communications Contest
- First Place
Entry: “Coming Soon … to a Theater Near Us” a story about the Rehoboth Beach Film Festival (October 2007 issue)
Writer: Michael Pollock
2007
(for work published in 2006)
IRMA
- Public Issues category
Third Place
Entry: “The Power of Prayer” a story about school prayer controversy in the Indian River School District (July 2006 issue)
Writer: Lynn R. Parks - Photographic Series category
Second Place
Entry: “Ethereal Alchemy” a series of sepia-tone photos of water scenes (October 2006 issue)
Photographer: Lisa Tyson Ennis
Newsstand Resource Cover Contest
- Regional and State category
First Place
Entry: November/December 2006 cover
Newsstand Resource Readers Choice Cover Contest
- Among the Top Ten Readers Choices
Entry: November/December 2006 cover
2006
(for work published in 2005)
IRMA
- Public Issues category
Third Place
Entry: “The Tides of Change” a story on West Rehoboth and how it is being affected by development (Fall 2005 issue)
Writer: Patricia V. Rivera
Newsstand Resource Cover Contest
- Regional and State category
Honorable Mention
Entry: June 2005 cover
2005
(for work published in 2004)
IRMA
- Nature category
Second Place
Entry: “Great Marsh in Lewes” (August 2004 issue)
Writer: Jennifer Ackerman - Historical Feature category
Third Place
Entry: “Secrets of the DeBraak” a story about a shipwreck and its tales (October 2004 issue)
Writer: Pam George
National Press Photographer’s Association
- Mid-Atlantic monthly competition
First Place
Entry: photographic essay of sepia-tone wildlife images (July 2005 issue)
Photographer: Kevin Fleming - Third Place
Entry: aerial photo essay of a biplane over coastal Delaware (Fall 2005 issue)
Photographer: Kevin Fleming
2004
(for work published in 2003)
Publications Management, a trade magazine
- Best Editorial Content in a New Publication category
Second Place - Best Design in a New Publication category
