417 Table Talk Named National Award Finalist

417 Magazine is proud to announce that its food newsletter, Table Talk, is in the running for a national award from the City and Regional Magazine Association. 

Written by 417 Magazine Managing Editor Claire Porter and designed by 417 Magazine Audience Development Manager Juli Rose Sullivan, the free weekly newsletter and accompanying blog provides more than 5,400 local food-lovers with colorfully written information surrounding restaurant openings, closings, new menus, must-try dishes, must-sip drinks and more. "It has been an honor and a delight to write Table Talk and to connect passionate—and hungry—local foodies with the exciting, eclectic and ever-blossoming dining scene here in 417-land every single week,” Porter says.

In 2019, Porter and Sullivan teamed up to revamp Table Talk, introducing a new layout that highlights more colorful photos, fosters a personal connection and engages readers with links to the food news and stories they crave. The goal of the redesign was to lessen the text-heavy, sluggish feeling of our previous design by instead using links and enticing headlines that drive readers to a blog with the week's news, updates and content in a post on our website. Not only does this strategy give readers and the businesses included in the newsletter an avenue to share the posts on their social networks, but it also serves as a more permanent, searchable place for our audience to revisit news long after they've deleted the newsletters from their inboxes. 

Other CRMA newsletter finalists include Boston Magazine, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Philadelphia Magazine and Rhode Island Monthly. Magazine professionals from around the country choose the awards finalists each year in categories including editorial, design, online, multiplatform storytelling and general excellence. 417 Magazine is proud to be part of the City and Regional Magazine Association, which serves as a community for magazines of varying circulations. The winners will be announced in May.