NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) today named Oklahoma Living, a publication of the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, the winner of the 2017 George W. Haggard Memorial Journalism Award.
Oklahoma Living also won the 2016 Haggard award, making the magazine the first back-to-back winner in more than 25 years. The award was presented at NRECA’s annual meeting in Nashville.
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson congratulated magazine editor Anna Politano and the entire magazine staff.
“Oklahoma Living showcases the value of relevant local journalism while doing an outstanding job of highlighting the cooperative principles through compelling coverage and engaging content,” Matheson said.
“Statewide publications are an effective communications tool to reach co-op members. I’m proud of the Oklahoma Living staff for their commitment and dedication to continue improving the magazine each month. Receiving the respected George W. Haggard Memorial Journalism Award is a testament to their hard work,” says Chris Meyers, general manager of the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives. “This publication is well-regarded by readers across the state and does an outstanding job at conveying the cooperative message.”
The Haggard Award recognizes the electric co-op publication that demonstrates the most forthright, concise and balanced presentation of ideas advancing electric cooperatives and their members.
“We are honored and humbled to be named the 2017 George W. Haggard recipient. Since its establishment in 1948, Oklahoma Living’s mission has been to communicate the values of rural electric cooperatives. Each year, we continue to evolve to better serve co-op member-owners throughout the state,” says Anna Politano, editor of Oklahoma Living magazine. “It takes a lot of team work to produce a publication that is effective and endearing to its audience. I’m proud of each Oklahoma Living contributor for their passion and hard work.”
Oklahoma Living has a circulation of more than 325,000 and is published monthly by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives based in Oklahoma City. Judges selected Oklahoma Living based on the strong, consistent, and positive voice that Oklahoma Living carries for electric co-ops.
More than 6,000 representatives from electric co-ops across the nation are attending NRECA’s annual meeting, which runs from Feb. 25-28 in Nashville and sets NRECA’s organizational and legislative agenda for 2018. Co-op representatives also hear from NRECA officials, key public figures and business experts about issues affecting electric cooperatives and their consumer members. The annual meeting is held in conjunction with TechAdvantage, a technology learning event and expo that features more than 300 exhibitors showcasing their state-of-the-art technologies, equipment and services.
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.
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