From the Nominator

It’s always our goal to provide readers with a variety of compelling content that gives a rough sense of the breadth of the Penn community, and its impact on the world in ways large and small. These two issues represent our best shots at that in 2019. Both offer cover stories that are deeply reported, and do an effective job both of capturing the people profiled and addressing important and broader social issues. Other features touch on academic work, sports, and university history—but not always in nostalgic terms. One piece centers on an alumnus who was a notorious 19th century “filibuster,” widely despised in Central America to this day. We give a lot of space in the magazine to essays in our “Views” section—bringing in new voices is important to us—and these lineups are exceptionally strong and vivid. For the rest, the other sections on news, arts, and alumni profiles include an interesting and varied mix of stories. The magazine’s graphic design, illustrations, and photography match well with the text, and are visually appealing all on their own.

From the Judges

Penn tackles university storytelling in a refreshing way. The general-interest component is great; the content is relevant even if you know nothing about the institution. Of special note were features on a psychologist who combats “toxic masculinity” in boys’ schools, and an article about an American mid-1800s guerrilla expansionist who is still reviled in Central America to this day.The “View” essays in the front of the book convey a varied range of voices, and the magazine in general presents an appetizing buffet of content and visuals for readers.