The Florida Magazine Association (FMA) is celebrating its 50^th anniversary. The largest state magazine and media association in the nation is made up of more than 200 publishing professionals all based in the sunshine state.

Since 1957, the FMA has recognized the achievements of Florida magazine publishers, writers, editors, artists, photographers, printers and marketers. In 1987, the annual awards competition became the Charlie Awards named after Charles G. “Charlie” Wellborn, Jr. Wellborn, MA 1958, was a UF College of Journalism and Communications Public Relations professor and created courses in editing, graphics and business/technical communications that were the core of the public relations and magazine curriculum at CJC for many years. The coveted Charlie Awards now represent the pinnacle of achievement in Florida magazine publishing.

A Georgia native, Lt. Col. Wellborn served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War, received two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars. His leadership of the Florida magazine industry, including FMA, earned Wellborn FMA’s 1973 Achiever of the Year Award. Wellborn retired from UF and passed away in 2002 at age 77.

Posted: September 29, 2016
Category: College News
Tagged as: Charlie Awards, Col Charlie Wellborn, Florida Magazine Association, FMA