February 8, 2021
A closer look at CASE awards: Seek magazine
Submitted by Division of Communications and Marketing
When the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, or CASE, recently announced 42 District VI awards for Kansas State University creative work, six of those awards recognized Seek magazine.
Seek magazine is the university's flagship research magazine and invites readers to "See" "K"-State's research, scholarly and creative activities, and discoveries. The magazine includes a print publication as well as the website k-state.edu/seek.
Most notably, Seek magazine earned a grand gold award in the targeted constituency magazines category. The award collectively recognized the spring 2019 issue of Seek and the fall 2019 issue of Seek. CASE grand gold awards recognize entries that are "extremely exceptional or game-changing." Grand gold awards are rare and are the highest level of recognition in the program.
The other five of the six CASE awards for Seek magazine include three gold awards, one silver award and one bronze. The awards recognize the fall 2019 issue and include:
- Gold — Fall 2019 Seek research magazine in the periodicals and magazines design category.
- Gold — Fall 2019 Seek research magazine in the magazines on a shoestring category.
- Gold — "Minding the mind: How scientists study our changing brains" from the fall 2019 issue of Seek magazine in the feature writing category.
- Silver — Fall 2019 Seek research magazine in the institutional relations-research publications category.
- Bronze — Biosecurity Research Institute photo from the fall 2019 Seek research magazine in the photography category.
"Seek magazine provides an opportunity to share the amazing work being done in research, scholarly and creative fields on our campuses," said Jeff Morris, K-State vice president for communications and marketing. "The collaboration on this project mirrors the collaboration that occurs every day at K-State."
Seek is a collaboration among the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Division of Communications and Marketing and other university communicators. A 15-member in-house team — including designers, photographers and writers — created the fall 2019 issue of Seek magazine.
"These CASE awards are a testament to the strength of our researchers and communications professionals across campus," said Beth Montelone, K-State interim vice president for research.
The CASE award judges offered the following feedback in several of the categories.
Judge feedback on the gold entry in the periodicals and magazines design category:
"The layout of K-State's fall Seek magazine was engaging; it makes the reader want to turn the page. It also uses a good variety of visual images (photos, infographics, etc.) to create a dynamic feel and has good connection to K-State's brand."
Judge feedback on gold entry in the feature writing category:
"Well written. The scientific information is explained in easy-to-understand language, and the research is presented nicely. It's easy to see the connections between the different research areas and their benefits."
Judge feedback on the silver entry in the institutional relations-research publications category:
"We liked the clever name of this magazine, which allows readers to 'See K'-State. The team presents a nice variety of stories, and the combination of shorter told stories and additional content on YouTube is spectacular. Some things are simply easier to see, and watching a researcher enter a lab with proper protocols and exit a lab provide viewers an inside look at a unique process."
Judge feedback on the bronze entry in the photography category:
"This photo's nice use of lighting creates interest for subject matter that is difficult to make interesting. We liked the colors and the subject in motion. The cleanliness of the photo is a good visual fit for the topic of safety training."
Since publication of Seek began in spring 2016, the magazine has received 19 total CASE awards, including an international Circle of Excellence award.
 |
This Biosecurity Research Institute photo from the fall 2019 issue of Seek magazine received a bronze award in the photography category. |