Note: Lola Digital Media is AllGear Digital as of December 2022.
Lola Digital Media is proud to announce that Outdoor Media Summit has recognized Adam Ruggiero as “Editor of the Year.” The award was granted by a panel of judges at the industry event, held last month at Lake Tahoe, California.
Ruggiero is the Editor-in-Chief of GearJunkie, a Denver-based digital publication founded in 2006. Ruggiero has held the top editorial position since 2020. He oversees a staff of 20+ editors and writers, and he also hosts a regular podcast for GearJunkie.
GearJunkie’s audience has grown steadily under Ruggiero’s tenure. Millions of readers now follow the site for the latest industry news, trends, personality profiles, adventure tales, and in-depth product reviews.
The award marks the second straight year that a GearJunkie editor has held the Outdoor Media Summit honor, with Editorial Director Sean McCoy receiving recognition in 2021.
Judges cited Ruggiero’s unwavering priority for editorial excellence and a willingness to “risk his reputation to inform the public of the uncomfortable truth.”
As an example of this ethos, the judging panel noted a contentious story by Ruggiero confronting media’s misprioritization of traffic over research. “For true journalism to survive, it takes this kind of courage to speak the truth without knowing for sure that others will back you in the end,” the panel wrote.
Ruggiero started his career with GearJunkie in 2015 as a freelance writer, moving up the ranks through various editorial roles. He has edited and published thousands of stories and traveled extensively to test gear and report for the site.
“Adam’s energy is contagious, and his sharp eye for detail, as well as true empathy for writers and contributors, create a rare personality and an admirable leader,” said Stephen Regenold, the founder of GearJunkie.
Beyond Ruggiero’s award, the Outdoor Media Summit recognized several other standout personalities. In full, the conference awarded the following people and media outlets:
- Editor of the Year: Adam Ruggiero, GearJunkie
- Lifetime Achievement: Earl B. Hunter Jr., Black Folks Camp Too
- Story of the Year: “How to Save a Ski Town,” Outside magazine’s Gia Liu
- B2B Story of the Year: “Backcountry Reimagines,” Outside Business Journal’s Kristin Hostetter & Andrew Weaver
- Best Podcast: “Hit Play Not Pause,” Selene Yeager
- Podcast Episode: “Running for Real,” Jordan Marie Daniel episode (host Tina Muir)
- Best Blog: OutThere Colorado, Spencer McKee
- Video of the Year (long-form): “The Approach,” The North Face
- Video of the Year (short-form): “Plastic in Camel Stomachs,” 5 Gyres.
ABOUT LOLA DIGITAL MEDIA: Lola Digital Media owns and operates best-in-class media brands that fuel readers’ passions. Based in Los Angeles, the company was founded in 2018 and runs a portfolio of digital publications and media brands.
ABOUT OUTDOOR MEDIA SUMMIT: Held annually since 2015, Outdoor Media Summit is a conference that brings together the top writers, editors, influencers, and brands of the outdoor industry. The three-day summit includes dozens of workshops that teach communicators skills such as storytelling, marketing, and monetization.
