The Virginia Quarterly Review, a national journal of literature and discussion, recently received two nominations for National Magazine Awards in the categories of fiction writing and general excellence for magazines with circulation under 100,000.
According to VQR Editor Ted Genoways, the magazine received six nominations last year: One was received in the category of general excellence, two in fiction, two in essays and one in review and criticism.
Genoways, however, said he is not discouraged by the decrease in nominations this year.
"We're just glad that we still have the two nominations," Genoways said. "There are plenty of good magazines that go years without getting any nominations at all."
Genoways cited various reasons for the decline in nominations.
"There's always a bit of luck involved, not just in terms of what the judges' tastes are," Genoways said. "A lot of the work we publish is sometimes difficult to categorize. It's always sort of an up-and-down process ... These things are sort of cyclical."
Only 27 magazines nationwide received two or more nominations this year, among them were Rolling Stone and Time, according to Genoways.
"We're quite pleased that we've got the two nominations this year," Genoways said. "It keeps us in good company."
Since VQR began submitting its work for consideration by the National Magazine Awards three years ago, VQR has acquired a total of 10 nominations. The magazine has been nominated in the categories of general excellence and fiction every year. Last year was the first year VQR won in these two categories.
The awards, often called the "Oscars of the magazine world" are now in their 42nd year, according to Marlene Kahan, executive director of the American Society of Magazine Editors, which cosponsors the awards with the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.
Magazines themselves apply for the awards, selecting the categories in which they wish to be judged. In judging submissions, ASME looks for "magazines printed online that consistently demonstrate superior execution of editorial objectives, noteworthy journalistic enterprise and imaginative design," Kahan said.
James Southall Wilson created VQR in 1925 at the request of then-University President Edwin A. Alderman. The magazine is a "national journal of literature and discussion" and accepts works of writing from across the nation in all fields, according to its Web site.
Award winners will be announced May 1 at a gala evening event hosted by ASME in New York.
Read More
U.Va. loses over $60 million in federal research cuts
By Bertie Azqueta | YesterdayThe impacted grants include three from the NIH, seven from the NEH, one from the United States Agency for International Development and four from the State Department.
Department of Education reverses course, awards Federal Executive Institute to U.Va.
By Ford McCracken | 4 days agoThe ED had previously awarded the institute to Charlottesville City Schools.
Students reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis
By Bertie Azqueta | 5 days agoAt the University, students shared a range of perspectives on his legacy of reform, inclusivity and his impact on the global Catholic community.
