Readers Choice, which gave Southwest Mississippians the chance to choose their favorite individuals and businesses in dozens of categories last year, will return for its 2023 run in August.
When Readers Choice opens on Aug. 1, any visitor to the Enterprise-Journal website will be able to nominate an individual or business in 71 different categories. The nominating period continues for three weeks.
Nominations are limited to individuals and businesses whose primary location is in Pike, Amite or Walthall counties — the area that makes up most of the Enterprise-Journal’s print and online audience.
When nominations close, up to four finalists will be announced in each category. Voting for the winners will begin Aug. 29, continuing for another three weeks.
Winners will be announced on the website and in the newspaper on Sept. 23.
Like last year, almost all of the categories are in four groups: retail, food & drink, home and professional services. A fifth group for community-wide awards will include four competitions: Best Customer Service, Best Local Business, Best Place to Work and Most Unique Business.
Readers Choice 2023 includes 10 new categories:
• Best Bank Teller; and Best Loan Officer.
• Best Convenience Store Employee.
• Best Food Truck.
• Best Roofer; and Best Flooring Company.
• Best Dental Hygienist.
• Best Doctor; and Best Eye Doctor.
• Best Nurse Practitioner.
“In 2022, our first Readers Choice got lots of attention on our website,” editor Jack Ryan said. “People made a total of 20,000 nominations, and once the finalists were listed, there were 51,700 votes cast for them.
“All of us who are working to set up the second edition of Readers Choice hope that more people participate this year. It’s a great way to bring positive news to our website, and we plan plenty of stories about nominees and finalists in the coming weeks in the newspaper.
“Readers Choice gives everyone the opportunity to honor the best parts of Southwest Mississippi, and they’ll get extra attention in both the newspaper and on our website. It’s a different and fun way to present the messages of local businesses to our readers.”
