McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Senior Editor Kimberly Marselas has been honored with a top prize for writing and also an Award of Excellence for her blogging in the 2022 APEX awards program. Staff Writer Danielle Brown shared in the Grand Award for writing, teaming with Marselas to deliver unparalleled reporting on the issue of healthcare worker vaccine mandates during the pandemic.

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News also won an Award of Excellence for overall content on its website, mcknights.com, following up on its Grand Award of a year earlier.

The publication has now earned 12 Grand Awards and 64 overall in the APEX program, which recognizes excellence in publishing by professional communicators.

APEX judges bestowed the Grand Award on Marselas and Brown for their multiple cutting-edge articles on vaccine mandates, which have continued to roil McKnight’s readers as they cope with the effects of COVID-19. This trio of breaking news bulletins captivated tens of thousands of readers and are just a sample of the swift, insightful reporting the duo were recognized for. 

Marselas’ award-winning blog writing also focused on coping with COVID and the issue of vaccines. She covered everything from early in the get-out-the-shot efforts, to lagging efforts by the workforce, to the White House’s vaccination mandate and its subsequent appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the award-winning submissions, she reasons, cajoles, urges and ultimately endorses “tough love” for vaccination holdouts. The fact that a heavily conservative Supreme Court ultimately sided with her position, further buttressed her views. 

“Our readers need things told to them straight, and that’s what they get in these outstanding blogs,” noted McKnight’s Editorial Director John O’Connor.

mcknights.com has garnered numerous top honors in a variety of journalism and other professional awards program. The expansive website features fresh news and columns every day, as well as weekly podcast installments, a variety of feature articles and a broad representation of custom publishing items.

The McKnight’s brands won eight awards overall in this year’s APEX program. McKnight’s Senior Living earned a Grand Award and two Awards of Excellence, while McKnight’s Home Care earned a Grand Award and an Award of Excellence.

The 34th annual APEX Awards program generated 1,213 entries in 14 major categories, organizers said. A full list of winners can be viewed on the event’s website.