2009 People's Media Awards: Contributors of the Year

We are very excited to announce the winners of Associated Content's 2009 People's Media Awards!

From hundreds of nominations submitted by our community, five winners were selected as our contributors of the year. Each honoree exemplifies the spirit of Associated Content's publishing platform and content community - be sure to visit their profiles, check out their wonderful content and send them a note of congratulations!


The winners of the 4^th Annual PMAs...

Contributor of the Year: Crystal Ray
Crystal Ray joined Associated Content just a few months after the 2005 launch, and has been producing a steady stream of engaging, evergreen articles ever since. From her very first piece of content ("How to Make a Seascape Gel Candle") to more recent articles like "Food Storage Solutions for a Small Home," Crystal's AC profile is a wealth of useful information in Home Improvement, Gardening, Lifestyle and more. All in all she has published close to 1,900 articles that have racked up a staggering 14 million page views. In 2009 alone, she created 450 pieces and created more than 6 million satisfying experiences for her readers. In addition to sharing her expertise with the outside world, Crystal has also helped scores of other contributors find their way over the years. Don't miss her indispensible guide Writing Headlines for AC. She previously won a Best of AC Award for Gardening content.

>> Read Crystal Ray's PMA acceptance speech

Community Spirit Award: Lyn Lomasi
This is the first year we're giving out a PMA for Community Spirit, and there could not be a more fitting honoree than the talented and inspiring Lyn Lomasi. Although she became an official "Community Guide" in 2009, she has been helping newbies and spreading her personal brand of practical positivity around the community ever since 2007 (when she was known as "Momie Toulottes"). Lyn is also an accomplished Contributor in her own right - this productive momtrepreneur has published more than 800 articles on AC and entered the "page view millionaires" club in 2009. Earlier this week, Lyn celebrated her 3rd ACnniversary, marking three years of wonderful contributions to the AC library and community. Lyn previously won a Best of AC Award for Parenting content.

>> Read Lyn Lomasi's PMA acceptance speech

News Contributor of the Year: Saul Relative
Saul Relative is one of AC's most prolific and engaging news contributors. He applies a snarky and humorous bent on the headlines, tackling all topics and sparing no one. Whether he's writing on local news, political scandals or the latest entrant to the celebrity dead pool, Saul's sharp-edged style keeps his audience in the know and on their toes. He's also a prodigious record breaker. In July, Saul became the first Contributor to receive more than 1 million page views in a month and at the close of 2009, he logged the highest-ever annual performance with over 7 million views. Be sure to follow his profile for an entertaining take on the hottest news of the day!

>> Read Saul Relative's PMA acceptance speech

Rookie of the Year: Juniper Russo Tarascio
Juniper Russo Tarascio joined AC in late 2008. In the ensuing year, she followed in the footsteps of AC veterans like Crystal Ray by steadily building a library of vibrant, evergreen content. The information she shares is based on her expansive and diverse areas of interest and expertise; her profile notes that she's an "Eclectic Autodidact, Herbalist, Nutritionist, Doula, Activist, Vegetarian, Pet Guardian and Dedicated Mother" - and all of this comes across beautifully in the Health & Wellness, Lifestyle and Green Living content she creates. So far, she has published more than 400 articles and reached Clout 10 with over 400,000 views. This woman is going places - keep your eyes on her in the years to come! Juniper previously won a Best of AC Award for Green Living content.

>> Read Juniper Russo's PMA acceptance speech

Audio / Video Contributor of the Year: Tiffany Pridgen
Tiffany Pridgen joined Associated Content in 2006 and created lots of fun and helpful how-to videos in 2009, including a variety of pieces that added an extra dimension to our Halloween and Thanksgiving hub pages. Whether she's helping you hem a pair of pants without a sewing machine or showing you how to roast pumpkin seeds, her resourcefulness and calm, informative approach make her a natural teacher and guide. Her thorough and informative tutorials cover the basic essentials (How to Fold a Shirt) to the niche and specialized (How to Divide a Hosta Plant). Martha, move over!

>> Watch Tiffany Pridgen's PMA acceptance speech

Congratulations to all of this year's talented winners, and special thanks to our entire community of Contributors for the amazing work you published on Associated Content in 2009!