Asbury Park Press Summer Guide receives national recognition

The 2023 Asbury Park Press Summer Guide received an Honorable Mention in the Special Section category from the Society for Features Journalism.

The 2023 guide was up against publications across the country with circulations up to 90,000.

"To be clear, winning this contest is no easy feat," SFJ said on their website. "Our judges fielded nearly 1,000 entries this year, so a huge congratulations goes to the three winners in each category. In some cases, limiting the winners to three simply could not be done, so there are a few ties and honorable mentions."

Every Memorial Day Weekend, the Asbury Park Press publishes the Summer Guide, which is full of things to do, places to eat, festivals to attend, concerts to see and more. The 2023 theme was nostalgia.

"Receiving this recognition is a testament to the relentless dedication and innovative spirt of our features and sales team," said Karen Guarasi, general manager of the Asbury Park Press. "It reflects our commitment to excellence and passion for providing great content. Our annual Guide to the Jersey Shore continues to be a powerful vehicle for the business community to reach our loyal and engaged audiences."

Sarah Griesemer, a food writer, has edited the Summer Guide since 2021.

"The success of our Summer Guide, which is a months-long project, is due to many people and departments working together," she said. "From the newsroom to advertising to our design center, everyone plays a part. It is my favorite project of the year, as I get to show off all the great things the Jersey Shore has to offer."

In May, the Asbury Park Press published the 2024 Summer Guide with the theme Fun & Games.

SFJ, which was founded in 1947, "is dedicated to promoting, honoring and celebrating the craft of features journalism — stories that illuminate everyday lives and the rich diversity of our individual experiences."

Members are editors, writers, videographers, podcasters, photographers, freelancers, designers and student journalists from across the United States and Canada.

Bill Canacci can be reached at bcanacci@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Asbury Park Press Summer Guide receives national recognition