CultureMap columnist Ralph Bivins has been named a winner in the “Best Columnist” category of the National Association of Real Estate Editors 61st Annual Journalism Awards.

Award winners in 25 categories were selected by a panel of expert judges from the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.

A collection of Bivins’ columns for CultureMap received a second place in the national competition for best real estate columnist. Ken Harney, a national columnist for the Washington Post Writers Group, took the first place prize.

Judges provided this comment about Bivins’ work for CultureMap: “This writer has the ability to be entertaining, thus keeping a reader wanting more, while discussing serious topics dealing with real estate. This makes not only for a lively read but an informative one. Clearly, this writer knows the difference between a column and a feature.”

The award ceremony took place at the NAREE Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference in San Antonio last week.

Shannon Behnken of the Tampa Tribune was honored with NAREE’s annual award for Best Overall Entry by an Individual. The best Freelance Collection Award went to Mary Umberger for her freelance contributions to the Chicago Tribune. The Ruth Ryon Best Entry by a Young Journalist honor went to Alyssa Abkowitz of SmartMoney Magazine.

The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) is a non-profit association founded in 1929.