Isthmus tallied five finalist wins in the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Publishers national contest for 2026.
Isthmus placed first for best illustration (Kyle Olson for his curling cover in December 2025, pictured below).
“Such a pleasing cover, both in style and execution!” the judges wrote about Olson’s entry. “Love the overhead view, the illustration style, and the palette. I don’t think the illustration could possibly feel more integrated with the publication title. So cohesive. Congratulations!”
Artists Megan Stout (Hippie Christmas) and Courtney Dicmas (Pet Yoga) were also finalists for best illustration.
“Such a smart illustration style — so whimsical and smile-inducing. Love all the different colored lines and some of the lines being negative space,” the judges wrote about the Pet Yoga entry. “So skilled. And the way the pets fit into the owners’ bodies is just so clever. Well done!”
“So successful in many ways: the composition, the integration with the publication title, conveying the message of the piece,” the judges wrote about the Hippie Christmas entry. “Really pleasing palette and hand. And everything teeters so perfectly! Well done.”
Editor Judith Davidoff won second place for best newsletter (Isthmus Insider). “Friendly and chatty while also being journalistically well done,” the judges wrote. “I would look forward to this newsletter in my inbox.”
Davidoff received an honorable mention for best column (From the editor). “Excellent work speaking the truth to power and doing the alt weekly’s job of operating as the fifth estate, critiquing the fourth estate,” the judges wrote. “Keep up this great work!”
Davidoff posted about the AAN Publishers national contest winners in this Isthmus Insider entry.
The 2026 AAN Awards featured 57 publications competing across 32 categories, with more than 800 entries total.
AAN, a 501c(6) organization representing over 120 news media organizations throughout North America, has member publications reaching millions of educated and influential adults in print and digitally.
