Awards

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

2024 Outstanding Craftsmanship Award — The Stone Age Institute and Indiana University’s CRAFT Research Center Award
2015 Downtown Revitalization Award: Catch the Spirit — Downtown Bloomington, Inc. Award
2015 Arts in Business Award — Community Arts Award, 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

2025

Features Photography, First Place, “White Out” Jeremy Hogan
Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting, First Place, “Curry Auto Center Turns 110: Family Owned Since Day One” Elizabeth Ellis
Coverage of Race and Diversity Issues, First Place, “Headstone Unveiled: A Freed Slave Who Found Liberty & Dignity Here” Aaron Cohen
Design Other Than Cover, Second Place, “The Battle to Reverse the Risk in Mental Illness Among Indiana Youth” Rosalie Sherwood
Medical or Science Reporting, Second Place, “The Battle to Reverse the Risk in Mental Illness Among Indiana Youth” Janet Mandelstam
Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting, Second Place, “Changing Careers In Mid-Life: 3 Bloomington Success Stories” Kristen Senz
News Photography, Second Place, “The Big Picture: Bird Flu” Jeremy Hogan
Features Photography, Third Place, “Bubbles Bursting in Air” Jeremy Hogan
Investigative Reporting, Third Place, “‘Today in Bloomington’: A Fake Local News Site” Craig Coley
Medical or Science Reporting, Third Place, “Dementia: Will It Happen to You or to Someone You Love?” Craig Coley
Features Writing, Third Place, “Animatronic Pets Delight Residents at Jill’s House Memory Care” Barb Berggoetz
News Photography, Third Place, “The Big Picture: ‘How High’s the Water, Mama?'” Jeremy Hogan
Features Photography, Third Place, “‘Beautiful Faces, Extraordinary Lives’ Down Syndrome Calendar & Exhibit” Rodney Margison
Magazine Cover Design, Third Place, Rosalie Sherwood

2024

News Photography, First Place, “The Big Picture: Testifying Against SB202” Jeremy Hogan
Features Photography, First Place, “The Big Picture: Hitting a High Note” Jeremy Hogan
Design Other Than Cover, First Place, “The Mill” Rosalie Sherwood
Features Photography, Second Place, “B-town Police Chief Mike Diekhoff Finds His Quiet Time in a Balloon” Rodney Margison
News Photography, Second Place “The Big Picture: Face Off” Jeremy Hogan
Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting, Second Place, “The Mill” Ethan Sandweiss
Graphics and Illustrations, Second Place, “The Nuts & Bolts of Death: What to Know Before You Go” Joe Lee
Magazine Cover Design, Third Place, 2024 Select Covers, Rosalie Sherwood, Rodney Margison, & Joe Lee
Medical or Science Reporting, Third Place, “Gen215: Regenerative Farm Operation at The Warehouse” Max Pitchkites
Features Writing, Third Place, “The Nuts & Bolts of Death: What to Know Before You Go” Susan M. Brackney
Column Writing, Third Place, “Autism & Disability Journal” Adria Nassim

2023

Features Photography, First Place, “The Big Picture: Future Firefighter?” Jeremy Hogan
Best News Photography, First Place, “The Big Picture: Destruction” Jeremy Hogan
Coverage of Race and Diversity Issues, First Place, “Telling it the Way it Was” Carmen Siering
Features Photography, Second Place, “The Big Picture: First Day of School” Jeremy Hogan
Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting, Second Place, “Cook Group Helping to Revitalize Depressed Indianapolis Community” Barb Berggoetz
Coverage of Race or Diversity Issues, Third Place, “Bartender Cale Ulery at The Back Door: Creating a Safe and Welcoming Place” Brittany Marshall
Personality Profile, Third Place, “Gene Hurley: Law and Order Man” Janet Mandelstam
Coverage of Social Justice Issues, Third Place, “All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center Offers Diapers, Adoption, Abortion & More” Linda Margison

2022

Personality Profile, First Place, “All About Joe Lee” Peter Dorfman
News Photography, First Place, “Captured!” Jeremy Hogan
Magazine Cover Design, First Place, Stephanie Reeves and Joe Lee
Graphics and Illustrations, First Place, “Joe Lee’s Triple Self-Portrait” Joe Lee
Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting, Second Place, “A Tale of Two Afghan Brothers and Their B-town Restaurants” Peter Dorfman
Coverage of Race and Diversity Issue, Second Place, “The Eaglesons: A Legendary Black Family” Carmen Siering
Features Writing, Second Place, “75 Years Ago, Bloomington Was the Sex Capital of America” Carmen Siering
Coverage of Social Justice Issues, Second Place, “What to Do if You or a Friend is About to Become Homeless” Susan M. Brackney
News Photography, Second Place, “The Big Picture: ‘Work-In’” Jeremy Hogan
Features Photography, Second Place, “Flipped Off” Jeremy Hogan
Graphics and Illustrations, Second Place, “Can We Keep Him, Mom? Please??” Mike Cagle
Design Other Than Cover, Third Place, “All About Joe Lee” Stephanie Reeves

2021

Coverage of Minority, Diversity and Inclusion Issues, First Place, “Black Women of Bloomington: Recognizing Their Accomplishments & Contributions” Carmen Siering and Tracy Zollinger Turner
Design Other Than Cover, First Place, “The IU Jacobs School of Music Making Beautiful Music for 100 Years” Stephanie Reeves
Graphics and Illustrations, “Bloomington: Dog-Friendliest Town in the Entire Universe” Mike Cagle
Coverage of Minority, Diversity and Inclusion Issues, “Bloomington’s Latino Community” Carmen Siering
Features Photography, Third Place, “A Fascination with Model Trains Is Alive and Well in Bloomington” Martin Boling

2020

Features Writing, First Place, “Heroes of the Pandemic” Bloom contributing writers
Election and Campaign Coverage, First Place, “VOTE: What’s At Stake for Bloomington and The Country” Bloom contributing writers
Personality Profile, First Place, “One Life-Changing Moment for Wealth Manager John Hurlow” Janet Mandelstam
Design Other Than Cover, First Place, “The Illustrations of Mike Cagle” Stephanie Reeves and Mike Cagle
Non-Fiction Book, Second Place, “The Killer Who Fell From the Sky” — Malcolm Abrams
Magazine Cover Design, Second Place Stephanie Reeves and Rodney Margison
Features Photography, Second Place, Kendall Reeves
News Photography, Second Place, Rodney Margison
Education Reporting, Second Place, “For the Love of STEM”, Carmen Siering
Medical or Science Reporting, Third Place, “How Emily Pike Saved Her Stepmother by Donating a Kidney to a Stranger” Carmen Siering
Graphics and Illustrations, December 2020/January 2021 cover illustration, Joe Lee

2019

Magazine Cover Design, First Place, “Bloomington’s Black Leaders of Tomorrow”, “Under the Weather”, “The Way We Were” Emilee Stites, Stephanie Reeves, Rodney Margison
Medical or Science Reporting, First Place, “Bloomington Firefighters Have New Technology to Save Lives” Susan Brackney
Arts & Entertainment Writing, Second Place, “New Books from IU Press” Julie Gray
Coverage of Minority Issues, Second Place, “Anti-Semitism On the Rise” Carmen Siering
Design Other Than Cover, Second Place, “Bloomington’s Black Leaders of Tomorrow” Emilee Stites
Environmental Reporting, Second Place, “Under the Weather” Susan M. Brackney
Features Writing, Second Place, “Bloomington’s Veterans: Their Struggles and Triumphs” Craig Coley
Medical or Science Reporting, Second Place
“IU Researchers Develop Botslayer, A Tool That Roots Out Fake News” Peter Dorfman
Multiple Picture Group, Second Place “Local Veteran Gifted New Roof” Rodney Margison
Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting, Third Place, “Kelley School Grads Develop Allergy-Friendly Snack Bar” Carmen Siering
Coverage of Minority Issues, Third Place, “Historian Liz Mitchell ‘Returns’ to Africa to Honor Her Ancestors” Craig Coley
Editorial Writing, Third Place, “What’s Not to Like?” Malcolm Abrams
Features Photography,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, Second Place, “Remembering the Hole” Douglas Wissing
Coverage of Minority Issues, “The Trials LGBTQ+ Groups Face at Monroe County Fair” Craig Coley
Coverage of Children’s Issues, Third Place, “Krimson Leadership Academy Teaching it’s Cool to Be Smart” Craig Coley
Environmental Reporting, Third Place, “The Fight to Save Our Forests & Wildlife” Susan M. Brackney
Art and Entertainment Writing, Second Place, “Cardinal Stage Act II” Molly Brush
Features Photography, First Place, “The Fight to Save Our Forests & Wildlife” Jeff Danielson
Features Photography, Second Place, “Bloomington: A Pet-Friendly Place” Naama Levy
Features Photography, Third Place, “25 Couples Who Contribute to Our Community” Jeff Richardson
News Photography, Second Place, “National Gun Violence Awareness Day Rally at Courthouse” Rodney Margison
Design Other Than Cover, Second Place, “Saturday Mornings at the Farmers’ Market” Emilee Stites
Design Other Than Cover, Third Place, “A Magical Fish and the City it Spawned” Emilee Stites
Editorial Writing, “That Controversial Picture” — Malcolm Abrams
Graphics and Illustrations, First Place, “Remembering the Hole” Wayne Manns
Graphics and Illustrations, Second Place, “The Dog House” Mike Cagle
Multiple Picture Group, Second Place, “Saturday Mornings at the Farmers’ Market” Stephen Sproull

2017

Coverage of Minority Issues, First Place, “To Be Muslim in Bloomington” Carmen Siering
Medical or Science Reporting, First Place, “Voices for Recovery” Carmen Siering
Features Writing, First Place, “The Story of Melanie and Stormy” Carmen Siering
Sports Photography, First Place, “Hoosiers Ice Penguins, 79-51” Rodney Margison
Magazine Cover Design, First Place, Emilee Stites, Rodney Margison, Kendall Reeves
Investigative Reporting, Second Place, “The Plight of Asylum-Seekers” Peter Dorfman
Coverage of Children’s Issues, Second Place, “New Hope for Families” Craig Coley
Arts and Entertainment Writing, Second Place
“New Books from IU Press” Julie Gray
Design Other than Cover, Second Place, “Spencer Reimagined” Emilee Stites
Graphics and Illustrations, Second Place, “The Plight of Asylum-Seekers” Joe Lee
Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting, Third Place, “Spencer Reimagined” Molly Brush
Medical or Science Reporting, Third Place, “‘How Do You Have Fun with Cancer’ and Create a New Paradigm for Chemo?” Rodney Margison
Column Writing, Third Place, “Tapped into Bloomington” Greg Siering
Features Photography, Third Place, “To Be Muslim in Bloomington” Jeff Richardson, Stephen Sproull

2016

Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting, 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
Education Coverage, Second Place, “Serve IT” Carmen Siering
Multiple Picture Group, Second Place, “Memorable Images of Places Close to Home” Stephen Sproull
Education Coverage, Third Place, “Beekeeping Gaining Popularity as Bee Colonies Continue to Die” Barb Berggoetz
Coverage of Minority Issues, Third Place, “Black History in Indiana: A Different Perspective” Douglas Wissing
Medical or Science Reporting, Third Place, “IU Researchers & Local High Schools Working Together on Revolutionary Concussion Device” Carmen Siering
Column Writing, Third Place, “Bloom Magazine Editor’s Message” Malcolm Abrams
Features Photography, Third Place, “Getting to Know Your Local Cop Over a Cup of Coffee (or Juice)” Jenn Hamm
Features Photography, Third Place, “Mazel Tov: A Traditional Wedding in a Rustic Setting” Tall and Small Photography
Multiple Picture Group, Third Place, “Relish: Women’s Clothing That Transcends Trendiness” Nikita Shokhov

2015

Education Reporting, First Place, “Risking Their Lives For Justice,” Elisabeth Andrews
Multiple Picture Group, First Place, “Iraq War Veteran Mike Ogden,” Tyagan Miller
Multiple Picture Group, Second Place, “How The Homeless See Bloomington,” The Bloomington Homeless Community
Coverage Of Government Or Politics, Second Place, “’The American Spectator’ Born And Bred In Bloomington,” Elisabeth Andrews
Coverage Of Minority Issues, Second Place, “George Taliaferro Makes Old Pal’s Wish Come True,” Mike Leonard
Features Writing, Second Place, “How The Homeless See Bloomington,” Carmen Siering
Arts And Entertainment Writing, Second Place, “An Artist’s Images On The B-Line Trail,” Carmen Siering & Roger Pfingston
Magazine Design Other Than Cover, Second Place, “College Sports In Crisis,” Kaye Lee Johnston
Non-Deadline Story Or Series, Third Place, “Eva Kor Of Terre Haute — A Holocaust Survivor Who Believes In Forgiveness,” Nancy Hiller
Column Writing, Third Place, “Mind, Body, Spirit,” Carmen Siering
Features Photography, Third Place, “Lenny & Lou: Still Making Beautiful Music Together,” Shannon Zahnle
Multiple Picture Group, Third Place, “Indiana University In Autumn,” Peter Hamlin

2014

Multiple Picture Group, First Place, “Images of Bloomington by Shannon Zahnle,” Shannon Zahnle
Magazine Cover Design, First Place, April/May, October/November, and December/January, Kaye Lee Johnston and Shannon Zahnle
Editorial Writing, First Place, “Consequences,” Malcolm Abrams
Coverage of Minority Issues, Second Place, “A Towering Presence and Man of God,” Jeremy Shere
Non-Deadline Story or Series, Second Place, “Gay Bloomington: Then & Now,” Mike Leonard
Personality Profile, Second Place, “Making It in L.A. IU’s Brice Fox Chases His Dream,” Danielle Paquette
Arts and Entertainment Writing, Second Place, “How True was ‘Breaking Away’?” Mike Leonard
Features Photography, Second Place, “Fire at Lake Monroe: Images of Bloomington,” Shannon Zahnle
Multiple Picture Group, Second Place, “Lake Monroe in Winter,” Peter Hamlin
Design Other Than Cover, Second Place, “Oh, the Delights You’ll Find at the Lilly Library,” Kaye Lee Johnston
Criminal Justice Reporting, Third Place, “Human Trafficking: Not Just a Problem in Other Places,” Carmen Siering
Education Reporting, Third Place, “The Remarkable Rise of Chancellor Jennie Vaughan and the Evolution of Ivy Tech,” Elisabeth Andrews
Multiple Picture Group, Third Place, “Comedy in Bloomington,” Shannon Zahnle

2013

Coverage of Minority Issues, First Place, Growing Up Black in Bloomington,” Elisabeth Andrews
Multiple Picture Group, First Place, “Raymer’s Bloomington,” Steve Raymer
Design Other Than Cover, First Place, “100+ Best Things to See and Do in Bloomington,” Kaye Lee Johnston
Arts and Entertainment Writing, Second Place, “Sunday Morning with Mellencamp,” Mike Leonard
Medical or Science Reporting, Second Place, “At the Outer Limits,” Janet Mandelstam
Column Writing, Second Place, “My Place or Yours,” Christine Barbour
Multiple Picture Group, Second Place, “Autumn in Monroe County,” J. Bruce Baumann
Magazine Cover Design, Second Place, October/November 2013, Kaye Lee Johnston and Shannon Zahnle
Design Other Than Cover, Second Place, “Growing Up Black in Bloomington,” Kaye Lee Johnston
Best Journalism Website, Second Place, magbloom.com, Lynae Sowinski and Kaye Lee Johnston
Arts and Entertainment Writing, Third Place, “Catching Up with Kenny Aronoff,” Mike Leonard
Non-Deadline Story or Series, Third Place, “The Legacy of Schindler’s List,” Lee Ann Sandweiss
Environmental Reporting, Third Place, “Saving ‘Big Cats,” Adam Kent-Isaac
Multiple Picture Group, Third Place, “Growing Up Black in Bloomington,” Shannon Zahnle
Editorial Writing, Honorable Mention, “The Fast-Food Rip-Off,” Malcolm Abrams
Multiple Picture Group, Honorable Mention, “Saving ‘Big Cats,” Steve Raymer

2012

Best Journalism Website, First Place, Lynae Sowinski and Kaye Lee Johnston
Arts and Entertainment Writing, First Place, “The Lotus Festival,” Elisabeth Andrews
Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting, First Place, “The Young Turks of Technology,” Jeremy Shere
Coverage of Minority Issues, First Place, “A Sentimental Journey,” Lee Ann Sandweiss
Column Writing, First Place, “My Plate or Yours,” Christine Barbour
Features Photography, First Place, “Make Way Bloomington, Here Come the Brains!” Steve Raymer
Arts and Entertainment Writing, Second Place, “IU Jacobs School of Music: The Next Generation,” Elisabeth Andrews
Multiple Picture Group, Second Place, “IU Jacobs School of Music: The Next Generation,” Shannon Zahnle
Design Other Than Cover, Second Place, “36 Spots Where the Burgers Are Tops,” Kaye Lee Johnston
Features Photography, Third Place, “Laser Surgery,” Shannon Zahnle
Multiple Picture Group, Third Place, “Autumn in Monroe County,” J. Bruce Baumann
Design Other Than Cover, 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
Design Other Than Cover, First Place, “It’s a Wonderful Town,” Kaye Lee Johnston
Design Other Than Cover, Third Place, “Growing Your Own,” Kaye Lee Johnston
Design Other Than Cover, Honorable Mention, “The Girls of Meadowood,” Kaye Lee Johnston
Coverage of Government or Politics, First Place, “The Duanys’ Amazing Journey,” Elisabeth Andrews
Editorial (All publications), First Place, Malcolm Abrams
Headline Writing: Features (Magazine), Third Place, Malcolm Abrams
Sports Reporting (Magazine), Third Place, “Little 500: Then & Now,” Elisabeth Andrews
Arts/Entertainment Feature (Magazine), Third Place, “The Life & Legacy of T.C. Steele,” Nancy Hiller
Lifestyle Feature (Magazine), Third Place, “The Girls of Meadowood,” Lee Ann Sandweiss
Lifestyle Feature (Magazine), Honorable Mention, “Homes: Where the Livin’ Is Easy,” Lee Ann Sandweiss
Personality Profile (Magazine), Second Place, “Lee Hamilton,” Elisabeth Andrews
Personality Profile (Magazine), Honorable Mention, “Ger’s Journey,” Elisabeth Andrews
Coverage of the Environment (All publications), First Place, “To Make Bloomington More Sustainable,” Jeremy Shere
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
Coverage of Children’s Issues, Second Place, “A Life-Changing Journey,” Debra Kent
Medical/Science Reporting, Second Place, “IU School of Medicine Giving Hope and Saving Lives in Kenya,” Sylvia McNair and Elisabeth Andrews
Best Cover Design, Second Place, “Bernstein in Bloomington,” Kaye Lee Johnston
Best Feature Photograph, Third Place, “One Fine Day in Bloomington: Bloomington Kiss,” Ivona Hedin
Best Design Other Than Cover, Third Place, “Made in B-town,” Kaye Lee Johnston
Feature (Magazine), Honorable Mention, “Bernstein in Bloomington,” Debra Kent
Business Reporting, Honorable Mention, “Made in B-town,” Elisabeth Andrews
Coverage of the Environment, Honorable Mention, “A Green Love Affair,” Nancy Hiller
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
Best Feature Photograph, First Place, “Denis Sinor,” Steve Raymer
Best Education Coverage, First Place, “Harmony, a School Like No Other,” Elisabeth Andrews
Best Multiple Picture Group, First Place, “A Hoosier 4th of July,” Daniel Orr
Best Sports Reporting (Magazine), First Place, “Roller Derby,” Ron Eid
Best Editorial (All publications), First Place, “Van Wanted,” Malcolm Abrams
Feature (Magazine), Second Place, “The Killer Who Fell from the Sky,” Pamela Keech
Medical/Science Reporting, Second Place, “The Origins of Everything,” Jeremy Shere
Best Multiple Picture Group, Second Place, “The IU Campus in Spring,” Daniel Orr
Lifestyle Feature (Magazine), Second Place, “Art Lives Here,” Lee Ann Sandweiss
Arts/Entertainment Feature, Second Place, “1,000 Nights of Jazz,” David Brent Johnson
Best Design (Magazine), Second Place, “The Killer Who Fell from the Sky,” Carla Miller
Best Headline Writing: Features (Magazine), Second Place, “A Woman and Her Morels,” Malcolm Abrams
Best Headline Writing: Features (Magazine), Second Place, “A Woman and Her Morels,” Malcolm Abrams
Medical/Science Reporting, Second Place, “The Origins of Everything,” Jeremy Shere
Best Multiple Picture Group, Second Place, “The IU Campus in Spring,” Daniel Orr
Lifestyle Feature (Magazine), Second Place, “Art Lives Here,” Lee Ann Sandweiss
Arts/Entertainment Feature, Second Place, “1,000 Nights of Jazz,” David Brent Johnson
Best Design (Magazine), Second Place, “The Killer Who Fell from the Sky,” Carla Miller
Best Headline Writing: Features (Magazine), Second Place, “A Woman and Her Morels,” Malcolm Abrams
Best Sports Reporting (Magazine), Second Place, “Good Guys to Have Around,” Ron Eid
Personality Profile (Magazine), Honorable Mention, “Denis Sinor: Scholar with a Dash of Derring-Do,” Janet Mandelstam