The Oxford American is a quarterly magazine that focuses on the American South.
42-453: The magazine was founded in late 1989 in Oxford, Mississippi , by Marc Smirnoff (born July 11, 1963). The name "Oxford American" is a play on The American Mercury , H. L. Mencken 's general interest magazine which Smirnoff long admired. The magazine's debut issue was published on Saturday, March 14, 1992. The cover of the first issue featured a fire-engine red background with white text and
84-415: A "photo-realistic" painting by Oxford painter Glennray Tutor of an abandoned gasoline pump. Three more issues were published, including one featuring previously unpublished photographs by Eudora Welty . The magazine then ceased publication in mid-1994 for lack of funding. In April 1995, author and Oxford resident John Grisham secured financing to bring the magazine back into publication. The magazine had
126-428: A chance to defend themselves. One reporter concluded that " The Oxford American board didn’t have any clear misbehavioral conduct by Sminoff with which to warrant termination." Smirnoff and Fitzgerald maintain that the allegations against them were the retaliatory actions of disgruntled employees and that they were not given a chance to defend themselves. In September 2012, when Roger D. Hodge replaced Warwick Sabin as
168-453: A few weeks before Issue 78 of the magazine was published, several editorial employees (including a recently fired senior editor and a recently fired intern) made allegations of sexual harassment against founder/editor Marc Smirnoff and managing editor Carol Ann Fitzgerald. Within a week, the two were fired and publisher Warwick Sabin became interim editor. Smirnoff and Fitzgerald denied the allegations made against them and said they were not given
210-633: A household in the city was $ 38,872, and the average household income was $ 64,643. The per capita income for the city was $ 29,195. About 12% of families and 32.3% of the population were below the poverty line . In addition to the historic Lafayette County Courthouse, the Square is known for an abundance of locally owned restaurants, specialty boutiques, and professional offices, along with Oxford City Hall. See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Lafayette County, Mississippi and
252-531: A new look and was printed on coated paper stock with a higher page count and new advertisers. In 2000, Grisham published a serialized version of A Painted House in the Oxford American . Although the magazine had a successful following, it was still not a successful business venture and in September 2001 stopped publication for a second time. The magazine began its third incarnation in late 2002 and
294-466: A quarterly. The magazine's editorial offices are on the first floor of Main Hall on the university grounds. In 2008, a business secretary was discovered to have been embezzling money from the magazine since 2007. The secretary, who reported to the magazine's publisher Ray Wittenberg, pleaded guilty to theft and forgery and was briefly imprisoned and ordered to pay $ 102,000 in restitution to the magazine. In
336-552: A single print issue or a major digital package to the comprehensive examination of one subject No award was given in 2000 or 2001. "Investment Outlook 1981," by Gordon Williams and team Maynard Parker, Editor culture and people of the Mediterranean, May Daniel Alarcón, Editor Previously known as Service to the Individual (1974—1985). Honors magazine journalism that serves readers’ needs and aspirations. No award
378-586: A special 25th anniversary issue, garnering praise from Washington Post book critic Ron Charles , who described the Oxford American as a "regional magazine that defies the regional label." Across three issues that year, the magazine published excerpts of Jesmyn Ward 's novel Sing, Unburied, Sing , which went on to win the 2017 National Book Award in Fiction. In March 2018, the Oxford American published its 100th issue, featuring an original cover painting by Wayne White . Oxford, Mississippi Oxford
420-616: Is assigned to a judging group that averages 15 judges, including a judging leader. Each judging group chooses five finalists (seven in Reporting and Feature Writing); the same judging group selects one of the finalists to be the winner of the Ellie Award in that category. Judging results are subject to the approval of the National Magazine Awards Board, which is composed of current and former officers of ASME,
462-631: Is known for its heavily forested hills made up of red clay. The area is higher and greater in relief than areas to the west (such as the Mississippi Delta or loess bluffs along the Delta), but lower in elevation than areas in northeast Mississippi. The changes in elevation can be noticed when traveling on the Highway 6 bypass, since the east-west highway tends to transect many of the north-south ridges. Downtown Oxford sits on one of these ridges and
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#1732772310696504-687: Is located in Oxford. Oxford is home to the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi's School of Pharmacy. The Center is the only facility in the United States that is federally licensed to cultivate marijuana for scientific research, and to distribute it to medical marijuana patients. The city operates public transportation under the name Oxford-University Transit (OUT), with bus routes throughout
546-526: Is owned by the University of Mississippi. National Magazine Awards The National Magazine Awards , also known as the Ellie Awards , honor print and digital publications that consistently demonstrate superior execution of editorial objectives, innovative techniques, noteworthy enterprise and imaginative design. Originally limited to print magazines, the awards now recognize magazine-quality journalism published in any medium. They are sponsored by
588-537: Is partially the home of the main campus of the University of Mississippi , known as "Ole Miss" (much of the campus is in University, Mississippi , an unincorporated enclave surrounded by the city), and of the Lafayette-Yalobusha Center of Northwest Mississippi Community College . The North Mississippi Japanese Supplementary School, a Japanese weekend school , is operated in conjunction with
630-572: Is the 14th most populous city in Mississippi , United States, and the county seat of Lafayette County , 75 miles (121 km) southeast of Memphis . A college town , Oxford surrounds the University of Mississippi or "Ole Miss". Founded in 1837, the city is named for Oxford , England. Purchasing the land from a Chickasaw, pioneers founded Oxford in 1837. In 1841, the Mississippi State Legislature selected it as
672-532: The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) in association with Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism , and are administered by ASME in New York City. The awards have been presented annually since 1966. The Ellie Awards are judged by magazine journalists and journalism educators selected by the administrators of the awards. More than 300 judges participate every year. Each judge
714-516: The Lyceum-The Circle Historic District , University of Mississippi. The city is served by two public school districts, Oxford School District (with the majority of the area) and Lafayette County School District (with small outerlying sections). The former operates Oxford High School . It is also served by three private schools: Oxford University School, Regents School of Oxford and Magnolia Montessori. Oxford
756-525: The Oxford American . The magazine has won four National Magazine Awards , including a National Magazine Award in General Excellence (in February 2016), and is noted for its annual Southern music issue, which includes a complimentary CD . It has also featured previously unpublished work by William Faulkner , Margaret Walker , James Agee , and James Dickey . In 2017, the magazine published
798-557: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 26.7 square miles (69.2 km ), of which 26.6 square miles (68.9 km ) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km ), or 0.35%, is water. The campus of the University of Mississippi , west of downtown, is an unincorporated area surrounded by the city. The city is located in the North Central Hills region of Mississippi. The region
840-826: The 1890 Constitution of Mississippi , they continued to build their lives in the face of discrimination. During the Civil Rights Movement , Oxford drew national attention in the Ole Miss riot of 1962 . State officials, including Governor Ross Barnett , prevented James Meredith , an African American, from enrolling at the University of Mississippi , even after the federal courts had ruled that he be admitted. Following secret face-saving negotiations with Barnett, President John F. Kennedy ordered 127 U.S. Marshals , 316 deputized U.S. Border Patrol agents and 97 federalized Federal Bureau of Prisons officers to accompany Meredith. Thousands of armed "volunteers" flowed into
882-517: The Clear Creek Recreation Area on Sardis Lake . The streets in the downtown area follow a grid pattern with two naming conventions . Many of the north-south streets are numbered from west to east, beginning at the old railroad depot, with numbers from four to nineteen. The place of "Twelfth Street", however, is taken by North and South Lamar Boulevard (formerly North Street and South Street). The east-west avenues are named for
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#1732772310696924-532: The Mississippi legislature selected Oxford as the site of the state university, which opened in 1848. During the American Civil War , Oxford was occupied by Union Army troops under Generals Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman in 1862; in 1864 Major General Andrew Jackson Smith burned the buildings in the town square, including the county courthouse. In the postwar Reconstruction era ,
966-421: The Oxford area. Meredith traveled to Oxford under armed guard to register, but riots by segregationists broke out in protest of his admittance. That night, cars were burned, federal law enforcement were pelted with rocks, bricks and small arms fire, and university property was damaged by 3,000 rioters. Two civilians were killed by gunshot wounds, and the riot spread into adjacent areas of the city of Oxford. Order
1008-490: The U.S. presidents in chronological order from north to south, from Washington to Cleveland ; here again, there are gaps: there is no street for John Quincy Adams , who shares a last name with John Adams ; "Polk Avenue" is replaced by University Avenue; and "Arthur Avenue" is lacking. Oxford has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) and is in hardiness zone 7b. As of the 2020 United States Census , there were 25,416 people, 10,351 households, and 5,089 families residing in
1050-785: The University of Mississippi sits on another one, while the main commercial corridors on either side of the city sit in valleys. Oxford is located at the confluence of highways from eight directions: Mississippi Highway 6 (now co-signed with US-278 ) runs west 25 miles (40 km) to Batesville and east 31 miles (50 km) to Pontotoc ; Highway 7 runs north 30 miles (48 km) to Holly Springs and south 18 miles (29 km) to Water Valley . Highway 30 goes northeast 33 miles (53 km) to New Albany ; Highway 334 ("Old Highway 6") leads southeast 19 miles (31 km) to Toccopola ; Taylor Road leads southwest 9 miles (14 km) to Taylor ; and Highway 314 ("Old Sardis Road") leads northwest, formerly to Sardis but now 11 miles (18 km) to
1092-432: The University of Mississippi, with classes held on campus. The Baptist Memorial Hospital - North Mississippi, located in Oxford provides comprehensive health care services for Oxford and the surrounding area, supported by a growing number of physicians, clinics and support facilities. The North Mississippi Regional Center, a state-licensed Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID),
1134-453: The aftermath of the embezzlement, the University of Central Arkansas demoted Wittenberg, loaned the magazine additional funds and assumed control of the business operations of the magazine, instituting the university's spokesman, Warwick Sabin, as publisher. In February 2009, a "mystery donor" gave the magazine $ 100,000 to repay the IRS debt incurred as a result of the embezzlement. In July 2012,
1176-595: The award went to seven different magazines and in 2011, to eight. Since 2012, the award has gone to six magazines. Starting 2016, it is defined into four groups: "News, Sports and Entertainment", "Service and Lifestyle", "Special Interest", "Literature, Science and Politics". Previously known as Visual Excellence (1970–1979). Honors overall excellence in print magazine design. Merged with Photography in 2019. Honors overall excellence in print magazine photography. Merged with Design in 2019. Merged from two former categories. Divided awards into "News and Opinion" – Honors
1218-488: The city and University of Mississippi campus. Ole Miss students and faculty ride free upon showing University identification. Mississippi Central Railroad provides freight rail service to the Lafayette County Industrial Park in Oxford. University-Oxford Airport is a public use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) northwest of the central business district of Oxford. The airport
1260-413: The city. As of the census of 2010, there were 18,916 people, with 8,648 households residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 72.3% White , 21.8% African American , 0.3% Native American , 3.3% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.5% of the population. The average household size was 2.09. The median income for
1302-576: The dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and veteran judges. Finalists in each of the Ellie Award categories receive certificates of recognition. The winner in each category receives a reproduction of Alexander Calder's stabile "Elephant", the symbol of the awards since 1970. Among the notable changes for 2017 are the expansion of the Design and Photography categories to include digital entries and
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1344-585: The magazine's editor, Samir Husni, a journalism professor at the University of Mississippi and a former consultant to the magazine speculated on the uncertain future of the "iconic" magazine without its founder, Smirnoff. In December 2012, the New York Times remarked that Smirnoff had been 'the most important editor out of the South since Willie Morris." Hodge stepped down in May 2015. In October 2015, Eliza Borné
1386-532: The site of the state's first university, Ole Miss. Oxford is also the hometown of Nobel Prize -winning novelist William Faulkner , and served as the inspiration for his fictional Jefferson in Yoknapatawpha County . Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar , who served as a US Supreme Court Justice and Secretary of the Interior , also lived and is buried in Oxford. At the 2020 US Census, the population
1428-451: The suspension of the Fiction award. Honors print and digital magazines in several categories based on content and audience. Businessweek received the first ever award in 1973. No award was given from 1974 through 1980. When General Excellence returned as a category in 1981, it was given to four magazines per year until 1998, when five magazines received General Excellence awards. Six magazines received awards in 2002. From 2003 to 2010,
1470-440: The town recovered slowly, aided by federal judge Robert Andrews Hill , who secured funds to build a new courthouse in 1872. During this period many African American freedmen moved from farms into town and established a neighborhood known as "Freedmen Town", where they built houses, businesses, churches and schools, and exercised all the rights of U.S. citizenship. Even after Mississippi disenfranchised most African Americans in
1512-919: The visual excellence of print and digital magazines covering politics, business, technology and entertainment. – and "Service and Lifestyle" – Honors the visual excellence of print and digital magazines covering fashion, food, travel and design. Previously known as Photo Portfolio/Photo Essay (2004–2006) and Photo Portfolio (2007–2010). Honors the use of original photography in a feature story, photo-essay or photo portfolio. Dennis Freedman, Vice Chairman and Creative Director Arthur Hochstein, Art Director Will Dana, Managing Editor Fabrice G. Frere, Creative Director and COO David Harris, Design Director Elisabeth Biondi, Visuals Editor Introduction by A.O. Scott Photographs by Steven Klein Jackie Nickerson, Sharna Osborne, Alex Prager, Viviane Sassen and Sam Taylor-Johnson Honors publications that have devoted
1554-599: Was 25,416. Oxford and Lafayette County were formed from lands ceded by the Chickasaw people in the Treaty of Pontotoc Creek in 1832. The county was organized in 1836, and in 1837 three pioneers—John Martin, John Chisom, and John Craig—purchased land from Hoka, a female Chickasaw landowner, as a site for the town. They named it "Oxford", intending to promote it as a center of learning in the Old Southwest . In 1841,
1596-479: Was finally restored to the campus with the early morning arrival of 3,000 nationalized Mississippi National Guard and federal troops, who camped in the city. More than 3,000 journalists came to Oxford on September 26, 2008, to cover the first presidential debate of 2008 , which was held at the University of Mississippi. Oxford is in central Lafayette County in northern Mississippi, about 75 miles (121 km) south-southeast of Memphis, Tennessee . According to
1638-728: Was given in 1981. " Kidney Stone " " The Knife " "There is Life after Farming," February "Bootstrap Plans to Beat Tough Times," April "Rescue from Suicide," by Bonnie Pollard, September "What Distressed Farmers Need Most," by Dick Braun, November "How to Talk about Substance Abuse," September "Teachers Against Child Abuse," January/February 1992 "Home Truths," by Liz Comte Reisman, November "Lessons in Life," by Laura M. Holson and Liz Comte Reisman, December "Part 2: Mom, Can You Spare $ 100,000?," by Walecia Konrad, October "Making Managed Care Work for You," by Tessa DeCarlo, September "The New Erector Set," by Jim Thornton, May "The Ache
1680-633: Was headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas . The magazine was published in conjunction with the AtHome, Inc., group of magazines. Due to insufficient advertising revenue, it again stopped publication in late 2003. After $ 500,000 in financing was secured, the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas , assumed the role as publisher and the magazine began publication once again in December 2004 as
1722-654: Was named Executive Director of the Oxford American Literary Project, the non-profit organization that publishes the magazine. In 2017, the Oxford American Literary Project announced the Oxford American Jeff Baskin Writers Fellowship, "to support the writing of a debut book of creative nonfiction." Molly McCully Brown was named the inaugural recipient of the fellowship, which includes a $ 10,000 living stipend, housing, and an editorial apprenticeship with
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1764-404: Was named editor. In October 2012, the Oxford American and the University of Central Arkansas renewed its alliance for five years on the understanding that the magazine will repay its debt, currently at $ 700,000, to the university. The magazine's chairman of the board, Richard N. Massey, pledged to repay the debt at a rate of about $ 69,000 a year over about five years. In January 2016, Ryan Harris
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