Bloom is honored to have received recognition from various organizations for our editorial work and for our efforts to support the local community in the arts, culture, and business. Below is a list of some of the honors awarded by various community organizations, followed by the many awards for editorial excellence presented by the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Community Awards
2015 Downtown Revitalization Award: Catch the Spirit
Downtown Bloomington, Inc. Award
2015 Arts in Business Award
Community Arts Awards, Ivy Tech Community College–Bloomington
2010 Media Advocate
Downtown Bloomington, Inc. Award
2009 Community Enhancement
Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Award
2008 Community Service
Fuse Business Award
2008 Entrepreneurial Growth
Fuse Business Award
2008 Retail Promotion
Downtown Bloomington, Inc. Award
2007 Community Enhancement
Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Award
2007 Downtown Revitalization
Downtown Bloomington, Inc. Award
Editorial Awards
2020 Features Writing (Magazines and non-daily newspapers), First Place
“Heroes of the Pandemic” Bloom contributing writers
2020 Election and Campaign Coverage (Publication below 30,000), First Place
“VOTE: What’s At Stake for Bloomington and The Country” Bloom contributing writers
2020 Personality Profile (Magazines and non-daily newspapers), First Place
“One Life-Changing Moment for Wealth Manager John Hurlow” Janet Mandelstam
2020 Design Other Than Cover (All print publications), First Place
“The Illustrations of Mike Cagle” Stephanie Reeves, Mike Cagle
2020 Non-Fiction Book, Second Place
“The Killer Who Fell From the Sky” Malcolm Abrams
2020 Magazine Cover Design (All magazines), Second Place
Stephanie Reeves and Rodney Margison
2020 Features Photography (Publication circulation below 30,000), Second Place
Kendall Reeves
2020 News Photography (Publication circulation below 30,000), Second Place
Rodney Margison
2020 Education Reporting (Publication circulation below 30,000), Second Place
“For the Love of STEM” Carmen Siering
2020 Medical or Science Reporting (Publication circulation below 30,000), Third Place
“How Emily Pike Saved Her Stepmother by Donating a Kidney to a Stranger” Carmen Siering
2020 Graphics and Illustrations (Publication circulation below 30,000)
December 2020/January 2021 cover illustration, Joe Lee
2019 Magazine Cover Design (All Magazines or Periodicals), First Place
“Bloomington’s Black Leaders of Tomorrow”, “Under the Weather”, “The Way We Were” Emilee Stites, Stephanie Reeves, Rodney Margison
2019 Medical or Science Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), First Place
“Bloomington Firefighters Have New Technology to Save Lives” Susan Brackney
2019 Arts & Entertainment Writing (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“New Books from IU Press” Julie Gray
2019 Coverage of Minority Issues (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“Anti-Semitism On the Rise” Carmen Siering
2019 Design Other Than Cover (All Print Media), Second Place
“Bloomington’s Black Leaders of Tomorrow” Emilee Stites
2019 Environmental Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“Under the Weather” Susan M. Brackney
2019 Features Writing (Magazines and Non-Daily Newspapers), Second Place
“Bloomington’s Veterans: Their Struggles and Triumphs” Craig Coley
2019 Medical or Science Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“IU Researchers Develop Botslayer, A Tool That Roots Out Fake News” Peter Dorfman
2019 Multiple Picture Group (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“Local Veteran Gifted New Roof” Rodney Margison
2019 Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“Kelley School Grads Develop Allergy-Friendly Snack Bar” Carmen Siering
2019 Coverage of Minority Issues (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“Historian Liz Mitchell ‘Returns’ to Africa to Honor Her Ancestors” Craig Coley
2019 Editorial Writing (All Publications and Digital Media), Third Place
“What’s Not to Like?” Malcolm Abrams
2019 Features Photography (All Publications),Third Place
“Brooke Bierhaus: A Young Woman Pursuing a Dream, One Cup of Coffee (or Tea) at a Time” Brooke Bierhaus, Mulugeta Workye, Mbarek Ouhasa
2018 Coverage of Minority Issues (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“Remembering the Hole” Douglas Wissing
2018 Coverage of Minority Issues (Publication Circulation Below 30,000)
“The Trials LGBTQ+ Groups Face at Monroe County Fair” Craig Coley
2018 Coverage of Children’s Issues (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“Krimson Leadership Academy Teaching it’s Cool to Be Smart” Craig Coley
2018 Environmental Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“The Fight to Save Our Forests & Wildlife” Susan M. Brackney
2018 Art and Entertainment Writing (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“Cardinal Stage Act II” Molly Brush
2018 Features Photography (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), First Place
“The Fight to Save Our Forests & Wildlife” Jeff Danielson
2018 Features Photography (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“Bloomington: A Pet-Friendly Place” by Naama Levy
2018 Features Photography (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“25 Couples Who Contribute to Our Community” Jeff Richardson
2018 News Photography (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“National Gun Violence Awareness Day Rally at Courthouse” Rodney Margison
2018 Design Other Than Cover (All Print Media), Second Place
“Saturday Mornings at the Farmers’ Market” Emilee Stites
2018 Design Other Than Cover (All Print Media), Third Place
“A Magical Fish and the City it Spawned” Emilee Stites
2018 Editorial Writing (All Publications and Digital Media)
“That Controversial Picture” Malcolm Abrams
2018 Graphics and Illustrations (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), First Place
“Remembering the Hole” Wayne Manns
2018 Graphics and Illustrations (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“The Dog House” Mike Cagle
2018 Multiple Picture Group, Second Place
“Saturday Mornings at the Farmers’ Market” Stephen Sproull
2017 Coverage of Minority Issues (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), First Place
“To Be Muslim in Bloomington” Carmen Siering
2017 Medical or Science Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), First Place
“Voices for Recovery” Carmen Siering
2017 Features Writing (Magazines and Non-Daily Newspapers), First Place
“The Story of Melanie and Stormy” Carmen Siering
2017 Sports Photography, First Place
“Hoosiers Ice Penguins, 79-51” Rodney Margison
2017 Magazine Cover Design (All Magazines or Periodicals), First Place
Emilee Stites, Rodney Margison, Kendall Reeves
2017 Investigative Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“The Plight of Asylum-Seekers” Peter Dorfman
2017 Coverage of Children’s Issues (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“New Hope for Families” Craig Coley
2017 Arts and Entertainment Writing (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“New Books from IU Press” Julie Gray
2017 Design Other than Cover (All Print Media), Second Place
“Spencer Reimagined” Emilee Stites
2017 Graphics and Illustrations (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“The Plight of Asylum-Seekers” Joe Lee
2017 Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“Spencer Reimagined” Molly Brush
2017 Medical or Science Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“‘How Do You Have Fun with Cancer’ and Create a New Paradigm for Chemo?” Rodney Margison
2017 Column Writing (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“Tapped into Bloomington” Greg Siering
2017 Features Photography (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“To Be Muslim in Bloomington” Jeff Richardson, Stephen Sproull
2017 Features Photography (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“To Be Muslim in Bloomington” Jeff Richardson, Stephen Sproull
2016 Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“The Story of Lennie & Jeff: How a Young Couple Fell Out of Love and Built a Food and Beer Mini-Empire” Carmen Siering
2016 Education Coverage (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“Serve IT” Carmen Siering
2016 Multiple Picture Group (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Second Place
“Memorable Images of Places Close to Home” Stephen Sproull
2016 Education Coverage (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“Beekeeping Gaining Popularity as Bee Colonies Continue to Die” Barb Berggoetz
2016 Coverage of Minority Issues (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“Black History in Indiana: A Different Perspective” Douglas Wissing
2016 Medical or Science Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“IU Researchers & Local High Schools Working Together on Revolutionary Concussion Device” Carmen Siering
2016 Column Writing (Magazines and Non-Daily Newspapers), Third Place
“Bloom Magazine Editor’s Message” Malcolm Abrams
2016 Features Photography (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“Getting to Know Your Local Cop Over a Cup of Coffee (or Juice)” Jenn Hamm
2016 Features Photography (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“Mazel Tov: A Traditional Wedding in a Rustic Setting” Tall and Small Photography
2016 Multiple Picture Group (Publication Circulation Below 30,000), Third Place
“Relish: Women’s Clothing That Transcends Trendiness” Nikita Shokhov
2015 Education Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 40,000), First Place
“Risking Their Lives For Justice,” Elisabeth Andrews
2015 Multiple Picture Group (Publication Circulation Below 40,000), First Place
“Iraq War Veteran Mike Ogden,” Tyagan Miller
2015 Multiple Picture Group (Publication Circulation Below 40,000), Second Place
“How The Homeless See Bloomington,” The Bloomington Homeless Community
2015 Coverage Of Government Or Politics (Publication Circulation Below 40,000), Second Place
“’The American Spectator’ Born And Bred In Bloomington,” Elisabeth Andrews
2015 Coverage Of Minority Issues (Publication Circulation Below 40,000), Second Place
“George Taliaferro Makes Old Pal’s Wish Come True,” Mike Leonard
2015 Features Writing (Magazines And Non-Daily Newspapers), Second Place
“How The Homeless See Bloomington,” Carmen Siering
2015 Arts And Entertainment Writing (Magazines And Non-Daily Newspapers), Second Place
“An Artist’s Images On The B-Line Trail,” Carmen Siering & Roger Pfingston
2015 Magazine Design Other Than Cover, Second Place
“College Sports In Crisis,” Kaye Lee Johnston
2015 Non-Deadline Story Or Series (Magazines And Non-Daily Newspapers), Third Place
“Eva Kor Of Terre Haute — A Holocaust Survivor Who Believes In Forgiveness,” Nancy Hiller
2015 Column Writing (Magazines And Non-Daily Newspapers), Third Place
“Mind, Body, Spirit,” Carmen Siering
2015 Features Photography (Publication Circulation Below 40,000), Third Place
“Lenny & Lou: Still Making Beautiful Music Together,” Shannon Zahnle
2015 Multiple Picture Group (Publication Circulation Below 40,000), Third Place
“Indiana University In Autumn,” Peter Hamlin
2014 Multiple Picture Group (Publication circulation below 40,000), First Place
“Images of Bloomington by Shannon Zahnle,” Shannon Zahnle
2014 Magazine Cover Design (All magazines and periodicals), First Place
April/May, October/November, and December/January, Kaye Lee Johnston and Shannon Zahnle
2014 Editorial Writing (All publications and digital media), First Place
“Consequences,” Malcolm Abrams
2014 Coverage of Minority Issues (Publication circulation below 40,000), Second Place
“A Towering Presence and Man of God,” Jeremy Shere
2014 Non-Deadline Story or Series (Magazines and non-daily newspapers), Second Place
“Gay Bloomington: Then & Now,” Mike Leonard
2014 Personality Profile (Magazines and non-daily newspapers), Second Place
“Making It in L.A. IU’s Brice Fox Chases His Dream,” Danielle Paquette
2014 Arts and Entertainment Writing (Magazines and non-daily newspapers), Second Place
“How True was ‘Breaking Away’?” Mike Leonard
2014 Features Photography (Publication circulation below 40,000), Second Place
“Fire at Lake Monroe: Images of Bloomington,” Shannon Zahnle
2014 Multiple Picture Group (Publication circulation below 40,000), Second Place
“Lake Monroe in Winter,” Peter Hamlin
2014 Design Other Than Cover (All magazines and periodicals), Second Place
“Oh, the Delights You’ll Find at the Lilly Library,” Kaye Lee Johnston
2014 Criminal Justice Reporting (Publication circulation below 40,000), Third Place
“Human Trafficking: Not Just a Problem in Other Places,” Carmen Siering
2014 Education Reporting (Publication circulation below 40,000), Third Place
“The Remarkable Rise of Chancellor Jennie Vaughan and the Evolution of Ivy Tech,” Elisabeth Andrews
2014 Multiple Picture Group (Publication circulation below 40,000), Third Place
“Comedy in Bloomington,” Shannon Zahnle
2013 Coverage of Minority Issues (Publication circulation below 40,000), First Place
“Growing Up Black in Bloomington,” Elisabeth Andrews
2013 Multiple Picture Group (Publication circulation below 40,000), First Place
“Raymer’s Bloomington,” Steve Raymer
2013 Design Other Than Cover (All magazines and periodicals), First Place
“100+ Best Things to See and Do in Bloomington,” Kaye Lee Johnston
2013 Arts and Entertainment Writing (Magazine and non-daily newspapers), Second Place
“Sunday Morning with Mellencamp,” Mike Leonard
2013 Medical or Science Reporting (Publication circulation below 40,0000), Second Place
“At the Outer Limits,” Janet Mandelstam
2013 Column Writing (Magazine and non-daily newspapers), Second Place
“My Place or Yours,” Christine Barbour
2013 Multiple Picture Group (Publication circulation below 40,000), Second Place
“Autumn in Monroe County,” J. Bruce Baumann
2013 Magazine Cover Design (All magazines and periodicals), Second Place
October/November 2013, Kaye Lee Johnston and Shannon Zahnle
2013 Design Other Than Cover (All magazines and periodicals), Second Place
“Growing Up Black in Bloomington,” Kaye Lee Johnston
2013 Best Journalism Website, Second Place
magbloom.com, Lynae Sowinski and Kaye Lee Johnston
2013 Arts and Entertainment Writing (Magazine and non-daily newspapers), Third Place
“Catching Up with Kenny Aronoff,” Mike Leonard
2013 Non-Deadline Story or Series (Magazine and non-daily newspapers), Third Place
“The Legacy of Schindler’s List,” Lee Ann Sandweiss
2013 Environmental Reporting (Publication circulation below 40,000), Third Place
“Saving ‘Big Cats,” Adam Kent-Isaac
2013 Multiple Picture Group (Publication circulation below 40,000), Third Place
“Growing Up Black in Bloomington,” Shannon Zahnle
2013 Editorial Writing (All publications), Honorable Mention
“The Fast-Food Rip-Off,” Malcolm Abrams
2013 Multiple Picture Group (Publication circulation below 40,000), Honorable Mention
“Saving ‘Big Cats,” Steve Raymer
2012 Best Journalism Website, First Place
Lynae Sowinski and Kaye Lee Johnston
2012 Arts and Entertainment Writing (Magazine and non-daily newspapers), First Place
“The Lotus Festival,” Elisabeth Andrews
2012 Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting (Publication circulation below 40,000), First Place
“The Young Turks of Technology,” Jeremy Shere
2012 Coverage of Minority Issues, (All publications), First Place
“A Sentimental Journey,” Lee Ann Sandweiss
2012 Column Writing (Magazines and non-daily newspapers), First Place
“My Plate or Yours,” Christine Barbour
2012 Features Photography (Publication circulation below 40,000), First Place
“Make Way Bloomington, Here Come the Brains!” Steve Raymer
2012 Arts and Entertainment Writing (Magazines and non-daily newspapers), Second Place
“IU Jacobs School of Music: The Next Generation,” Elisabeth Andrews
2012 Multiple Picture Group (Publication circulation below 40,000), Second Place
“IU Jacobs School of Music: The Next Generation,” Shannon Zahnle
2012 Design Other Than Cover (All magazines and periodicals), Second Place
“36 Spots Where the Burgers Are Tops,” Kaye Lee Johnston
2012 Features Photography (Publication circulation below 40,000), Third Place
“Laser Surgery,” Shannon Zahnle
2012 Multiple Picture Group (Publication circulation below 40,000), Third Place
“Autumn in Monroe County,” J. Bruce Baumann
2012 Design Other Than Cover (All magazines and periodicals), Third Place
“A Farm Where the Water Buffalo Roam,” Kaye Lee Johnston
2011 Design Other Than Cover, First Place
“It’s a Wonderful Town,” Kaye Lee Johnston
2011 Design Other Than Cover, Second Place
“An Afternoon at WonderLab,” Kaye Lee Johnston
2011 Design Other Than Cover, Third Place
“Growing Your Own,” Kaye Lee Johnston 
2011 Design Other Than Cover, Honorable Mention
“The Girls of Meadowood,” Kaye Lee Johnston
2011 Coverage of Government or Politics, First Place
“The Duanys’ Amazing Journey,” Elisabeth Andrews
2011 Editorial (All publications), First Place
Malcolm Abrams
2011 Headline Writing: Features (Magazine), Third Place
Malcolm Abrams
2011 Sports Reporting (Magazine), Third Place
“Little 500: Then & Now,” Elisabeth Andrews
2011 Arts/Entertainment Feature (Magazine), Third Place
“The Life & Legacy of T.C. Steele,” Nancy Hiller
2011 Lifestyle Feature (Magazine), Third Place
“The Girls of Meadowood,” Lee Ann Sandweiss
2011 Lifestyle Feature (Magazine), Honorable Mention
“Homes: Where the Livin’ Is Easy,” Lee Ann Sandweiss
2011 Personality Profile (Magazine), Second Place
“Lee Hamilton,” Elisabeth Andrews
2011 Personality Profile (Magazine), Honorable Mention
“Ger’s Journey,” Elisabeth Andrews
2011 Coverage of the Environment (All publications), First Place
“To Make Bloomington More Sustainable,” Jeremy Shere
2011 Feature Photograph (All publications), First Place
“A Hoosierific Wedding,” Deckard Photography
2010 Best Sports Reporting (Magazine), First Place
“Reflections of a Sports Writer,” Chris Korman
2010 Coverage of Children’s Issues, Second Place
“A Life-Changing Journey,” Debra Kent
2010 Medical/Science Reporting, Second Place
“IU School of Medicine Giving Hope and Saving Lives in Kenya,” Sylvia McNair and Elisabeth Andrews
2010 Best Cover Design, Second Place
“Bernstein in Bloomington,” Kaye Lee Johnston
2010 Best Feature Photograph, Third Place
“One Fine Day in Bloomington: Bloomington Kiss,” Ivona Hedin
2010 Best Design Other Than Cover, Third Place
“Made in B-town,” Kaye Lee Johnston
2010 Feature (Magazine), Honorable Mention
“Bernstein in Bloomington,” Debra Kent
2010 Business Reporting, Honorable Mention
“Made in B-town,” Elisabeth Andrews
2010 Coverage of the Environment, Honorable Mention
“A Green Love Affair,” Nancy Hiller
2010 Best Multiple Picture Group, Honorable Mention
“One Fine Day in Bloomington,” Bloom Magazine Readers
2009 Best Arts/Entertainment Feature (Magazine), First Place
“Bloomington Grande Dames,” Debra Kent
2009 Best Feature Photograph, First Place
“Denis Sinor,” Steve Raymer
2009 Best Education Coverage, First Place
“Harmony, a School Like No Other,” Elisabeth Andrews
2009 Best Multiple Picture Group, First Place
“A Hoosier 4th of July,” Daniel Orr
2009 Best Sports Reporting (Magazine), First Place
“Roller Derby,” Ron Eid
2009 Best Editorial (All publications), First Place
“Van Wanted,” Malcolm Abrams
2009 Feature (Magazine), Second Place
“The Killer Who Fell from the Sky,” Pamela Keech
2009 Medical/Science Reporting, Second Place
“The Origins of Everything,” Jeremy Shere
2009 Best Multiple Picture Group, Second Place
“The IU Campus in Spring,” Daniel Orr
2009 Lifestyle Feature (Magazine), Second Place
“Art Lives Here,” Lee Ann Sandweiss
2009 Arts/Entertainment Feature, Second Place
“1,000 Nights of Jazz,” David Brent Johnson
2009 Best Design (Magazine), Second Place
“The Killer Who Fell from the Sky,” Carla Miller
2009 Best Headline Writing: Features (Magazine), Second Place
“A Woman and Her Morels,” Malcolm Abrams
2009 Best Sports Reporting (Magazine), Second Place
“Good Guys to Have Around,” Ron Eid
2009 Personality Profile (Magazine), Honorable Mention
“Denis Sinor: Scholar with a Dash of Derring-Do,” Janet Mandelstam
2008 Best Non-Deadline Reporting, First Place
“Jill Bolte Taylor: Bloomington’s Gift to the World,” Elisabeth Andrews
2008 Best Layout/Design Cover, First Place
“One Fine Day in Bloomington,” Page designed by Carla Miller, cover photo by Domingo “Ding” Prud’homme
2008 Best Lifestyle (Magazine), Second Place
“The Cozy Homes of Prospect Hill,” Nancy Hiller
2008 Coverage of Children’s Issues, Second Place
“From the Heart of Indiana to the Heart of Africa,” Janet Mandelstam
2008 Best Lifestyle Feature (Magazines), Third Place
“Old Cars and the People Who Love Them,” Elisabeth Andrews
