THE ALLIANCE OF AREA BUSINESS PUBLISHERS 2023 EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS LIST OF WINNERS
DESIGN CATEGORIES
1. Best Cover – Magazine
Bronze: Twin Cities Business; “Regaining Altitude”; Mike Novak, Mike Norseng
A beautiful combination of typography and visual sets apart this non-traditional approach to a cover. The layered image and negative space drive the eye to middle of page, where the type treatment subtly suggests a story that is materializing. Reversing the nameplate turns down its volume and gives it a cloud-like feel that enables the other elements to carry the focus.
Silver: Biz New Orleans; “10 Top Real Estate Influencers”; Sarah George
Arresting color palette and effective lighting make the faces pop off the cover in this strong group portrait. This cover exudes energy. Type is well positioned, and the monochrome type treatment gives it a contemporary feel.
Gold: D CEO Magazine; “When Business Gets Political”; Hamilton Hedrick, Jill Broussard This absolutely gorgeous cover combines sophistication and technical prowess. The styling, pose, crop, facial expression, lighting, and typography all work together to create a powerful feeling of strength and gravity.
2. Best Feature Layout – Magazine
Bronze: Hawaii Business; “20 for the Next 20”; Kelsey Ige, Aaron Yoshino, Michelle Mishina, Josiah Patterson, Christian Kahahawai
Black and gold, 20 names, large heroic numerals, and a lovely use of negative space immediately catch attention. Upon turning the page, the reader is immediately rewarded with colorful, vivid, and beautiful portraits. The type treatments and grid system are modern and inventive while providing a wonderful texture and canvas for the beautiful likenesses of the 20 honorees.
Silver: D CEO Magazine; “From the Battlefield to the Boardroom”; Hamilton Hedrick Fatigues and skyscrapers cleverly introduce the concept of executives with military experience. The specific profiles are flawlessly executed combining clean and sophisticated typography with dramatically lit portraits and collections of informative historic service photos. The imagery, details and graphic elements provide a multitude of visual entry points all while the design maintains a wonderful balance, sense of hierarchy and consistently engaging visual experience.
Gold: Biz New Orleans; “Executives of the Year”; Sarah George, Greg Miles
Dramatic and beautifully split color portraits of powerful executives take center stage, but a large supporting cast of bold gradients, sophisticated colors, technologically and digitally influenced typography and some unconventional design choices contribute to an extremely interesting and impactful feature layout. The use of negative space, scale and a profound sense of hierarchy creates a wonderful sense of visual harmony from one spread to the next. A real beauty behind this feature and its design is how each of the individual elements relate formally and conceptually to one another, each of them working together to create a sum, a comprehensive design and visual experience that is greater than any of its parts.
3. Best Overall Design – Magazine
Bronze: Biz New Orleans; Sarah George
Bright and distinct covers with well executed photography and bold typography create a visually appealing introduction for each issue. The overall design benefits from a wide range of experimentation and innovation with graphic elements and relentless attention to the little things. Author Illustrations, unique drop cap treatments, small silhouettes of subjects, and beautiful and complex grid and rule arrangements all contribute to great page designs and an exciting and interactive read.
Silver: 405 Business; Rod Whitson, Jordan Regas, Kayte Spillman, Christopher Lee, Charlie Neuenschwander
The state of Black-owned businesses, the business of basketball, and purpose-led leaders are all compelling subjects. The incorporation of amazing and powerful photography, interesting illustrations and conceptual and idea-based designs help elevate the stories and visual storytelling in a captivating manner. The page designs are clean and consistent, providing readers with content that is easy to navigate while allowing the more important and dominant visuals to take priority.
Gold: D CEO Magazine; Hamilton Hedrick
A standard of sophistication, visual prowess and innovative design grace the pages in a way that compliments the brand and challenges the readers, all while feeling natural, just right, and perfect for each story. Even a story on business and politics is superbly married by beautiful visuals and a conceptual approach. The typography and designs are unconventional, and it’s obvious that the designers are not afraid to try something new. The photography is drop-dead gorgeous and the use of illustrations are both complimentary and visually exciting.
4. Best Front Page – Newspaper
Bronze: Crain’s Chicago Business; “Interrupting Homelessness”; Thomas J. Linden, Jason McGregor, Karen Freese Zane
A striking, emotional lead photo effectively draws readers into the big story. The arrangement of other elements helps guide readers through the stories on offer.
Silver: Crain’s Detroit Business; “Crude Awakening”; Karen Freese Zane
The strong lead headline and gas pump imagery work well together to convey the subject matter. The unusual shape, framed by white space, makes the layout breathe and stand out. The data chart is also well integrated into the design. Secondary elements support the overall page hierarchy.
Gold: Indianapolis Business Journal; “Developer Buys Site For Soccer Stadium”; Audrey Pelsor Two of the key questions related to a big story — where and when — are answered right there in the visuals. Great use of annotated photograph to explain the location and context of the land purchase. The project timeline graphic also provides a useful storytelling element that is well positioned on the layout. All the pieces are packaged together nicely.
5. Best Feature Layout – Newspaper
Bronze: San Fernando Valley Business Journal; “Construction Special Report”; Nina Bays, Marci Shrager
The opening image of construction equipment provides a wow factor and evokes the idea of childhood toys. Clean, simple, consistent layouts across the pages allow the imagery to dominate. Font choices and color palette contribute to the overall effectiveness
Silver: Mainebiz; “Business Leaders of the Year”; Matt Selva
Strong environmental portraits give context and are well played to invite readers into each part of the story. The design does a nice job of navigating the story around the ad stacks. Typographic details on the Q&A format of the text create a nice texture and make it accessible and approachable.
Gold: Crain’s Chicago Business; “40 Under 40”; Karen Freese Zane
Beautiful portraits capture personality and emotion. The images are well positioned and sized across the layouts. Each page has good visual hierarchy. The color palette is interesting and fresh.
6a. Best Overall Design – Small Tabloids
Bronze: Delaware Business Times; Jacob Owens, editor; Katie Tabeling, reporter; Sabrina Gonzalez, research, digital and engagement coordinator; Chris Johnson, art director; Shelby Mills, graphic designer
The nearly full-page cover images provide a wonderful opportunity to introduce the lead story to readers. Large well-displayed photos also enhance the lead story inside, and other feature packages, especially Spotlight. All of these images, and many of the smaller ones elsewhere in the book, focus on people, not buildings or places or things. This approach humanizes the business community and is an avenue to build engagement with the readers. The Page 3 “By the Numbers” info bits are a reliable eye grabber.
Silver: Greater Wilmington Business Journal; Suzi Drake, contributing designer
Lead art and story deliver strong covers. Images enhance the promos and Index package. Subscribe Now is a smart small feature on the cover. Photography is displayed well, throughout the book., especially with the Business of Life packages. One of the strongest elements is the clean, colorful Economic Indicators info graphics on Page 3. Page topping subject/department labels are effectively sized and placed to make navigation quick and easy. The Top Inbound Moves list is an interesting and useful info box, highlighting where new residents and businesses are coming from.
Gold: San Fernando Valley Business Journal; staff
Covers are very newsy, with a high story and promo count, which serves busy readers very well. The design is lively throughout with attention to features. While there is no shortage of reporting content, large images with main and feature stories is extremely useful in attracting and informing readers. Banners and color are effective navigation aids. There is an abundance of visual entry points, including story/company info breakout boxes. The typography is classic, readable and functionally provides clean, clear hierarchy to the stories and images. Lists are a strong feature, using alternating pastel color rows that make the type much more readable than gray background rows. Valley Stocks is a strong, informative collection of data in a easy to read visual format. The bold use of large visuals throughout the book sets this book apart.
6b. Best Overall Design – Medium Tabloids
Bronze: Mainebiz; Matt Selva, art director
Large poster-like art dominates the cover, along with supportive typography, to provide strong promotion to the lead stories inside. The Table of Contents enjoys good use of white space and color in the typography. The info bits on Focus: Wealth Management/Retirement are informative, easy to read. Photography display is consistently strong throughout, especially with the lead package. The portraits and supplemental art in Business Leaders of the Year are wonderfully large, engaging and informative.
Silver: Springfield Business Journal; Heather Mosley, lead designer and photographer; Rebecca Green, designer and photographer; Katelyn Egger, designer and photographer; Christine Temple, executive editor
There’s a lot to like with this publication, including strong covers with dominant art, generous use of large images inside, and strong bold headline fonts that not only attract attention and guide the reader but also deliver contrast to inside pages. The use of controlled white space is consistent and enhances an open look and feel to every page. A Day in the Life package leans into abundant photography and a unique timeline. Behind the Lens is a wonderful look behind the scenes of the lead package. SBJ Contents on page 3 is an inviting navigation tool. Week on the Web is an interesting visual and content package. The Education lead package is graced with a tasteful color palette of interesting illustrations and informative visuals that are open and airy, Office (e)NV(y) shows readers spectacular office environments and delivers an engaging and informative two-page Details picture grid.
Gold: Worcester Business Journal; Mitchell Hayes, art director
The designer and editors do an admirable job of assigning, collecting and displaying strong art of local business people, companies and events. The covers emphasize this with large lead art and highly visible promos top, side and bottom. This carries into the content and display of photography throughout the books, including The Year of the Startup and Focus: Banking & Finance/Life for cash. Most stories are accompanied by well executed breakout lists and charts. Recurring informative and interesting nuggets include Verbatim, Worcester 300 Trivia Contest, The Ticker and Flash Poll. The typography is clean, legible and the bold subheads are effective in communicating content and in inserting a bit of white space in layouts. 40 Under 40 can often present a challenge but the portraits, white space, layout and photo outtakes deliver an attractive package.
6c. Best Overall Design – Large Tabloids
Bronze: Crain’s Detroit Business; Karen Freese Zane, associate creative director; Beth Jachman, design and copy Editor; Kayla Byler, art director
The covers provide a strong window into the content inside, utilizing large attention grabbing lead photos, additional stories and art promos that create a vibrant jumping off point. Typography throughout successfully uses bold san serif headlines, liberal use of informative decks, colorful page and subject headings and pull quotes. For special packages such as 40 Under 40 and Forum, there’s a switch to serif typography that retains the bold headline and lighter decks to stay consistent with the overall feel of the book. Inside art is plentiful, most pages including multiple images.
Silver: Crain’s Chicago Business; Thomas J. Linden, creative director; Karen Freese Zane, associate creative director; Jason McGregor, digital design editor
The team here swings for the fences with the Property Tax Reform illustration and the bold 40 Under 40 package, yet also hits a winner with the more modest and fun typographic page 6 Takeway package. Overall the books are newsy and served well by the familiar bold san serif headlines contrasting with decks and text. That bold typography makes for powerful covers and major stories inside. Both local photography and stock/handout photos are displayed effectively inside and attention is paid to color palettes that enhance charts and boxes. The quality of photos, their size and layout, and the space allotted to them, make the 40 Under 40 package truly wonderful.
Gold: Los Angeles Business Journal; Nina Bays, creative and production manager; Marci Shrager, art director
A generous use of photography and art coupled with attention to detail strengthen these books. The cover images and package hold their own without surrendering to the several stories and promos surrounding them. Sweet Roll is an inviting package that combines images of a favorite snack with info bites of several donut shops that serve Angelenos. The Hospitality section includes a selection of well displayed venue photos. The accompanying Wedded Bliss package features informative and useful charts within thematic art as well a package of illustrative photos. The Wealthiest Angelenos package is massive and impressive. The
typography is unique from the rest of the book, the text boxes “The Buzz” in addition to expected details, and manages to keep it brief and readable. Attention to detail includes very clean typography using one color for section labels and another color for subjects below each section. Almost every story has a company or personal bio box. Page labels make it easy to navigate the books. The publication’s polls are accompanied by the requisite chart but also a short related brief with art. A list of minority-owned businesses grew into a package of highly visible and readable stories.
7a. Best Use of Photography/Illustrations – Newspapers
Bronze: Indianapolis Business Journal; Sarah Ellis, Julie Kirkendoll, Audrey Pelsor, Brad Turner
There is a good variety of visual approaches. The use of illustrations is fun and amusing.
A portrait of an arts organization founder in front of a mural is particularly lovely. The infographic about Super Bowl locations provides a good visual reference for the story.
Silver: Greater Wilmington Business Journal; Suzi Drake, T.J. Drechsel, Michael Cline Spencer, Madeline Gray, Daria Amato, Brianne Wright, Mark Weber
Documentary images effectively show people out doing things. A variety of environmental portraits also beautifully depict their subjects in a relevant manner. Photos are well sized on the pages. Illustration examples are whimsical and informative.
Gold: Crain’s Chicago Business; Thomas J. Linden, Karen Freese Zane, Jason McGregor, John Boehm, Geoffrey Black, Oriol Vidal, Andrea Levy, Cornelia Li, David Plunkert, David Junkin
Rich colors and technical mastery elevate this visual portfolio. There is a strong combination of portraiture, illustration and graphics. Portraits for the 40 Under 40 feature do a particularly good job of capturing the personalities. Illustrations examples for multiple stories are interesting stylistically and set the right tone for the material.
7b. Best Use of Photography/Illustrations – Magazines
Bronze: Florida Trend; Gary Bernloehr, Jason Morton
Visuals are presented in combination of interesting ways that include well-executed illustrations, informative graphics and documentary photography. Cover images are eye-catching and pop off the page. Environmental portraits that accompany the Icons feature are particularly strong. Breathing Space opening image is attention-grabbing, beautiful and played well across the pages.
Silver: Biz New Orleans; Sarah George
Overall there is solid use of photography. Portraits accompanying the executives feature stand out for their unusual lighting and overall quality. Other photos feature unusual angles, shapes, and patterns. Child care story illustration is interesting stylistically and uses a distinctive color palette.
Gold: D CEO Magazine; Hamilton Hedrick
Meticulously executed portraiture, with strong lighting and good framing, elevates the overall look and feel of the designs. The portraits capture personality across a wide diversity of characters. Photo illustrations effectively bring to life conceptual stories that are difficult to visualize. The Burnout Battle photo illustration is particularly solid and well played on the layout.
ONLINE CATEGORIES
8a. Best Use of Multimedia
Bronze: Florida Trend; “Break Through”; Robb Lee, David Denor
Leading innovation, Red 6 and Enterprise Florida team up to find solutions by connecting
Florida to the international market. Florida Trend captures important conversations from the companies’ leaders through a high-quality production video.
Silver: Ottawa Business Journal; “Lifetime Achievement video profile”; Michael Curran, Terry Marcotte, Don Marcotte
Looking back to the life of Pat Butler, this entry presents a compelling story about his family and career with archive video, great editing, and a well-rounded text piece to support it.
Gold: Crain’s Chicago Business; “Crain’s Forum”; Jason McGregor, Cassandra West, Geoffrey Black, Steve Hendershot, Alex Garcia, John R. Boehm, Alyce Henson, Cornelia Li, David Junkin
From affordable housing to violence to mental health, excellent reporting is showcased through a variety of different media. Each story adds immersive elements including audio and photographs to bring the difficult subject matter home. The overall design is seamless, keeping the audience engaged from beginning to end.
8b. Best Podcast
Bronze: Hawaii Business; “The Hawaii Business Podcast”; Steve Petranik, editor, Unyong Nakata, host
The podcast exudes warmth with a familiar and conversational approach to Hawaii’s business scene that highlights guests’ personalities and feels deeply rooted in the local culture. The host’s personable approach is based in active listening and leads to deep, multifaceted conversations that track the breadth of guests’ careers.
Silver: Business News; “At Close of Business”; Jordan Murray, host, Jesinta Burton, host, Gary Adshead, contributor
A well-defined structure adds to the utility of the podcast, with the news briefing providing the latest headlines and the in-depth interviews with Business News contributors adding context. The show’s quality and consistency are even more impressive given that the podcast is produced and released on a daily basis, and the information included seems exactly tailored to the medium.
Gold: Indianapolis Business Journal; “The Freedom Forum”; Angela B. Freeman, host Tackling the increasingly pressing issue of diversity in the business world, host Angela Freeman is at once charismatic and incisive in her interviews. She creates a space wherein guests are able to be forthcoming about their experiences, and the podcast’s excellent production compliments their conversations with a unique and clearly-defined sound.
9. Best Daily Email
Bronze: Business News; “Afternoon Wrap”; Sean Cowan, Mark Beyer, Mark Pownall, David Turnock, Claire Tyrrell, Matt Mckenzie, Simone Grogan, Liv Declerk, Isabel Vieria, Jordan Murray, adia Budihardjo, David Henry
Simple, clean and concise – this is what “Business News” brings to the table visually, giving from the go a solid understanding of what the e-mail offers even if the reader only has time for the briefest of glances. The selection of topics which the content covers is wide, but visual markers make it easy to find what one wants and dive in as deep as time or interest allows.
Silver: Arkansas Business; “Arkansas Business Morning Roundup”; Kyle Massey, Scott Carroll A strong selection of the top stories for the day is made even simpler to consume with the simple but clever use of bold text to highlight key names and events; that way the essential information for each story pops out and helps to grasp the essential information, which can easily be explored further if desired. The outline format makes for a quick and efficient reading experience when only a short time allows.
Gold: Des Moines Business Record; “PM Daily”; Emily Barske
Quality and variety stand out as the strengths of the “Business Record,” with brief but comprehensive news information offered alongside myriad other types of content, whether it’s lighter journalistic work, essential stock information or even the day’s weather. The result is a quick, visually pleasant and solid way to start and finish the day better informed and better prepared.
10. Best Specialty E-Newsletter
Bronze: Des Moines Business Record; “Fearless”; Emily Kestel, editor
The newsletter does an excellent job of directly addressing the reader in its opening, which makes the content feel more personalized while also giving a quick and useful summation of the highlights. The “In The Headlines” section is especially effective at rounding up the most timely and pertinent local stories of interest to the newsletter’s specific audience.
Silver: Crain’s Chicago Business; “Health Pulse”; Jon Asplund, reporter
The newsletter contains a wealth of specialized and deep reporting which looks at the broader health landscape while prioritizing some Chicago-specific stories. The run-down does an effective job of quickly summarizing timely news that covers the breadth of the specialty topic, from health sciences, to business, health care and beyond.
Gold: Indianapolis Business Journal; “The Rundown”; Peter Blanchard, reporter, Taylor Wooten, reporter, Greg Weaver, Managing Editor
In a well-designed and self-contained package, the newsletter quickly recaps the biggest political stories of the week for the local business community. The newsletter bolds the names of important players within those stories, so readers can quickly scan and prioritize stories of particular interest to themselves. Not only does the newsletter concisely and efficiently recap the major stories of the week in Indiana politics, it also provides a forecast of upcoming political appearances in other media. In all, the newsletter feels specifically tailored and neatly splits the difference between including a wealth of information in an easily digestible format.
JOURNALISM CATEGORIES
11. Best Scoop
SMALL
Silver: Delaware Business Times; “DSU, Christiana Care in talks on Med School, Jacob Owens, editor, Katie Tabeling, associate editor
The staff was listening in via dial-in public access when officials at Delaware State University began talking about plans to establish a new medical program. DSU had forgotten about the public access and was forced to release a statement afterward that the paper had reported the story correctly. The scoop was followed by regional media.
Gold: The Business Journal, Fresno; “PG&E lags in connecting new homes”; Edward Smith, reporter, Gabriel Dillard, managing editor
The reporter pieced together comments from various sources to learn that Pacific Gas & Electric Co. had a backlog of several months for hooking up new housing to the power grid. This became a major problem for homebuilders and the owners of other construction projects. A local councilmember picked up on the story and created a storm of outrage and a flurry to following stories.
MEDIUM
Silver: Hartford Business Journal; “Ambitious $280M expansion plan to reshape CT Children’s Hartford campus”; Robert Storace, reporter
By reading over obscure regulatory filings, the reporter was able to get details for what would become a major development for the city. The resulting story, complete with impressive art and graphics of what this new hospital project would mean, surprised all other media, which had to scramble to catch up.
Gold: Arkansas Business; “UA Fends Off Auburn’s Attempt to Hire Yurachek”; Gwen Moritz, contributing editor
Strong sourcing led to a scoop over the sports world that Auburn University tried to poach the University of Arkansas athletic director. Arkansas was able to keep him with a raise and contract extension. News and sports outlets in SEC country soon followed up on the scoop.
LARGE
Silver: Indianapolis Business Journal; “Developer buys site for soccer stadium”; Mickey Shuey, reporter
With everyone wondering where the new Indy Eleven soccer stadium would be built, the reporter used city records and shoe-leather reporting to piece it together. Finally, he found the property and the developer. As he closed in on the story, the developer relented and provided details of the $1 billion development. The story was followed by all local broadcast and print media.
Gold: Crain’s Chicago Business, “Water Tower Place lender taking over Mag Mile mall”; Alby Gallum, reporter
This story was earth-shattering for downtown Chicago – and the end of an era for the once high-flying Water Tower Mall. Strong reporting and sourcing resulted in more than just a scoop. This story detailed why the pandemic soured the owner on being able to restore the high- end mall to its former glory.
12a. Best Feature, Single Story
SMALL
Silver: Insight on Business; “Well worn”; Amelia Compton Wolff, editor
The story of Russell Moccasin’s century-old business has many layers. The writer capture the humanity of the family business and its highly trained employees. The complexity of making of a vintage and heirloom product, worn by two former presidents, is woven throughout the narrative. The story’s news peg – an ownership change (the third in 128 years) – takes care to blend the warm friendships and relationships of old and new, making for a satisfying story.
Gold: dbusiness; “Is Crypto the Next Bubble?”; Tim Keenan, reporter
The entry is a well-written explanatory feature at a timely moment in the short history of crypto currency. Beyond an inviting narrative that appeals to readers of all ages, the story is broken up with excellent graphics that unveil the details of crypto currency in bite-size and digestible nuggets. The completeness of the story, combined with outstanding writing, perform a valuable public service.
MEDIUM
Silver: Virginia Business; “Everything is Not Awesome”; Katherine Schulte, reporter
The story of how Virginia captured Lego is a cautionary tale about the importance of volume in the economic development business. Told with wonderful detail, the story reveals the massive effort to land Lego. But it also details the reasons behind the failure to capture any other significant employers in the past seven years. The story offers important context behind the headlines.
Gold: Twin Cities Business; “Why campus tours keep college presidents up at night”; Adam Platt, reporter
The entry offers excellent insights into the ever-changing world of college recruitment.
The story takes us on a college tour, where a demographic shift has translated into fewer students and a new level of competition. The well-written narrative brings forward many of the surprising nuances of the current generation. It is an informative and surprising tale for both parents and college presidents.
LARGE
Silver: D CEO; “When Business Gets Political”; Brandon J. Call, reporter
The entry is a strong, original story that details the debate inside businesses as leaders try to wade through rising political temperatures and divisions. The decision to take a stand can have a strong impact on future employment and business. The writer lays out the pluses and minuses, offers strong data and offers resources that can offer advice in this difficult time.
Gold: Florida Trend; “Difficult by Design”; Mike Vogel, reporter.
This is a delicious and detailed story of the goings on in the ultra rich community of Palm Beach, where even movie stars have home design plans rejected by an opinionated architectural board. In one case, actor Sylvester Stallone wants to replace a chain link fence with a wooden gateway but runs into lengthy resistance. It is a cautionary tale about the entanglement of wealth, power and government. The story offers rare access to sources, fantastic quotes and real behind-the-scenes insight.
12b. Best Feature, Series
SMALL
Silver: Vermont Business, “Amtrak Returns to Vermont”; C.B. Hall, Timothy McQuiston.
After 69 years without passenger trains, service was restored to several cities in Vermont, and the milestone is recorded with solid business reporting, authentic historical perspective and personal insight. The writer records with a fine balance both the eager anticipation and the measured skepticism the accompanies such a development. This kind of even-handed reporting serves readers well.
Gold: 405 Business, “The State of Black-Owned Businesses”; Rod Whitson, Jordan Regas, Kayte Spillman, Christopher Lee, Charlie Neuenschwander, Greg Horton, J.D. Baker, Marcus Eakers.
Starting a discussion about the disparities and barriers that confront Black businesses was the ambitious goal of this series, and it succeeded admirably. The mix of history, profiles and direct conversation with Black leaders reflects a commitment to sharing important information with the audience. The stories have currency, the reporting is extensive, and visuals add impact to an essential piece of journalism.
MEDIUM
Silver: Biz New Orleans, “Why Didn’t I Think of That?”; Ashley McLellan.
Smart subject choices and a clear, bright writing style make this collection of feature items a standout. The series includes an upscale nail salon, a mother-son business making affirmation cards for kids and the owner of a streetwise, design-forward electric bike company. Capable editing, stunning photos and attention to detail make this a winner.
Gold: Des Moines Business Record, “In Search of the Big Catch”; Michael Crumb.
This well-written and expertly presented series about the back end of luring big-ticket events to the city demonstrates knowledgeable reporting and skillful writing. Presenting a deep, inside look at the strategy and talent behind the process shows how editorial experience and good judgment can satisfy readers. As a bonus, the inventive presentation illustrates how planning and collaboration can produce an award-worthy result.
LARGE
Silver: Indianapolis Business Journal, “The Impact of EVs in Indiana”; Susan Orr, Leslie Bonilla Muniz.
This excellent series rounds all the bases by presenting the opportunities, as well as the challenges, of accommodating the expected transition to electric vehicles. From conversations with industry leaders to a look at university research and the practical matter of building enough charging stations, the series addresses a range of key considerations. This is a must-read for consumers, investors and members of the industry.
Gold: Crain’s Chicago Business, “Crain’s forum”; Cassandra West, Steve Hendershot, Katherine Davis, John R. Boehm, Alyce Henson, Geoffrey Black, Jason McGregor, Karen Freese Zane.
This superb series of articles under the Forum umbrella surround the topics from all sides, giving them the weight they deserve and the attention they need. In one, a solution-based approach to homelessness demonstrates that, while still tangled in a web of economic, political and social controversy, the issue must not be ignored and perhaps can even be resolved. In another, reporters examined homicide rates in police districts to highlight the inequality of safety throughout the city. In a third, a package of stories illustrates the disparities in health care that have been accelerated by inflation, worker shortages and the impact of COVID-19. Helpful graphics, dynamic visuals and thoughtful commentary contribute to the overall excellence of this entry.
13. Best Personality Profile
SMALL
Silver: The Business Journal; “From Reedley to the Ivy League, farm entrepreneur achieves national success”; Frank Lopez
A fascinating look at a business that’s four generations strong. This is the anti-brain drain story – it focuses on a subject bringing knowledge back to her home community, and the reader learns a bit about heirloom tomatoes along the way, too.
Gold: Vermont Business; “Raj Bhakta”; Joyce Marcel
This entry paints a highly detailed picture of its subject – even the unlikeable parts. The writer employs deep reporting and a deft and colorful voice to keep readers engaged and learning about an entrepreneur making a name for himself.
MEDIUM
Silver: Biz New Orleans; “Captain New Orleans”; Kim Singletary
Highly effective storytelling kicks off a piece that deftly communicates the impact of the subject’s work through anecdotes and details. This is a person making a difference in the lives of kids, and his passion comes singing through.
Gold: Twin Cities Business; “Daniel Del Prado’s Growing Culinary Empire”; Adam Platt Creativity and well-honed interviewing skills converge for a profile that’s truly satisfying. The passion and personality of this subject quickly comes through in his quotes, and an inventive structure gives readers a passenger seat to his daily life.
LARGE
Silver: Business News; “Michael McGowan”; Claire Tyrrell
This profile effectively puts a human face on a very bureaucratic role. As a result, it succeeds in communicating vital information about what makes both this subject and the housing market tick.
Gold: Crain’s Cleveland Business; “Rick Manning still loves what he does”; Joe Scalzo
A reader can’t help but get immediately wrapped up in this story from its play-by-play lead through its well-reported details. The writer packs a lot of information into a piece that hits personality out of the park.
14. Best Body of Work, Single Writer
SMALL
Silver: The Business Journal, Fresno; Edward Smith
This writer’s portfolio demonstrates the impact that development can have on the less wealthy. His well-sourced stories connect policies to real people’s lives and feature a strong focus on environmental and housing equity.
Gold: Insight on Business; Amelia Compton Wolff
This versatile journalist excels at both feature writing and explanatory journalism. Vivid descriptions put readers at the scene of a historic footwear company, while strong interviewing skills reveal how local businesspeople have been affected by a war in Europe and other supply chain disruptions.
MEDIUM
Silver: BizTimes Milwaukee; Cara Spoto
Compelling leads plus in-depth reporting help readers understand the importance of safe places to walk, affordable places to live and historic places to transform. The reporter also does an expert job of cultivating a range of sources to inform the community discussion.
Gold: Twin Cities Business; Adam Platt
Crisp writing grabs readers’ attention, and strong details keep it. Whether explaining the sometimes-nonsensical way pandemic aid was distributed to restaurants or the Twin Cities’ airport’s efforts to overcome, these stories enlighten and entertain.
LARGE
Silver: Florida Trend; Mike Vogel
Fascinating details gleaned from court records and other public documents provide the basis for spell-binding stories about how even the wealthy can face home improvement roadblocks and how one attorney prompted insurers to cry foul.
Gold: Crain’s Chicago Business; Dennis Rodkin
Whether reporting about the impact of rising interest rates on would-be flippers or the history of a treasured neighborhood, the writer brings great context and diverse voices to his work. His multi-part audio series about Bronzeville, a historic neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, is a gem.
15. Best Recurring Feature
SMALL
Silver: Insight on Business; “Personalities”; Amelia Compton Wolff, editor, Kate Bruns, Insight on Manufacturing editor
Intriguing subject choices helped these profiles stand out as they shed light on less- common career paths and the business choices that underpin them. The carefully crafted Q&A format leads the reader smoothly through the stories.
Gold: dbusiness; “Closing Bell”; Ronald Ahrens, author
Engaging prose brings the past to life in these features that succinctly illustrate the rise and fall of iconic and once-iconic elements of Detroit. Solid research unearths details that reward readers new to the topic as well as those with prior knowledge.
MEDIUM
Silver: Journal of Business; “Whatever Happened”; Mike McLean, deputy editor
Resisting the amnesia of the modern news cycle, this feature gives closure to stories that everyone once was talking about but now only wonder about. With well-gathered detail, the stories show how far reality strays from expectations, both for people and companies.
Gold: Hartford Business Journal; “Startups, Technology & Innovation”; Robert Storace, staff writer, Skyler Frazer, staff writer, Matthew Broderick, contributor
Searching for fresh takes on old businesses, this series spotlights budding business models in areas such as television content, nursing home staffing and milk. The authors include business economics without losing sight of the people behind the business plans.
LARGE
Silver: Florida Trend; “Icon”; Art Levy, associate editor
This Q&A-style profile series leads its subjects into topics others fear to go, offering cutting insight into political misrepresentation, gridlock and sexism from subjects with widely diverse life experiences.
Gold: Crain’s Chicago Business; “Takeaway”; Laura Bianchi, freelance reporter
Tight writing distinguishes this series, which effortlessly packs information and heart into a small package. An eye for the unconventional keeps the stories interesting and unpredictable.
16: Best Coverage of Local Breaking News
SMALL
Silver: No award.
Gold: Greater Wilmington Business Journal; “Wilmington East Wind Energy Area Leased For $315M”; Johanna F. Still, reporter
Infrastructure and utilities can often be a topic of little interest, until they aren’t, and what this story does is reveal in comprehensive but understandable detail, giving a clear look not just at what the wind farms will bring, but what the larger economic development will mean. This is a strong example of process reporting and how that can lead to rewarding coverage of a story that affects more people than may even be aware.
MEDIUM
Silver: Worcester Business Journal; “Auburn solar company abruptly closes”; Katherine Hamilton, reporter
More and more organizations are using social media to announce business-related matters, and what started as a Facebook post led to a well-reported look at a business decision that left dozens of people hanging out to dry. Dogged following of the company’s decision led to more information and more questions, and more digging into a troubled history.
Gold: Virginia Business: “Walmart shooting”; Kate Andrews, reporter
It’s hard enough to cover a mass shooting as it happens, with the information about who and why and how change minute to minute. With skilled dexterity, the reporter managed to cover the essential details and most relevant information while also providing larger contextual information about similar situations, bringing in expert sources to enhance the coverage and information service provided by the story.
LARGE
Silver: Crain’s Detroit Business; “Oakland Hills Country Club fire”; Arielle Kass, Nick Manes, Kurt Nagl, Kirk Pinho, reporters; Laurén Abdel-Razzaq, editor
Fires are not typically the purview of business-centered news organizations, but the team took it beyond the day’s events and painted a much broader picture to show what the club means and meant to the community and just what this fire threatened. This solid reporting shows what can happen with out-of-the-box thinking and quick reaction.
Gold: Indianapolis Business Journal; “Stellantis plans $2.5B electric-vehicle battery plant in Kokomo”; Leslie Bonilla Muñiz and John Russell, reporters; Lesley Weidenbener, editor
Covering a news conference and being quick on the draw with information and updates is task enough, but the added value of listening and taking a comment that may not seem relevant, and then digging on it, ended up yielding even greater dividends with added coverage. The result took a strong story everyone else could to an even better exclusive no one else thought to look for.
17. Best Investigative Reporting
SMALL
Silver: New Hampshire Business Review; “The Geography of NH Bankruptcy”; Bob Sanders This in-depth look at New Hampshire’s bankruptcy problem does a fantastic job of explaining the ‘why’ of state’s predicament. There is a great use of data analysis to create a ranking that immediately lets all state residents know where their community stands.
Gold: dbusiness; “Inside Out”; Norm Sinclair
A fascinating look at the way Michigan’s attorney general used a little-known one-man grand jury process to bring about justice in the wake of the Flint water scandal. Deeply reported, well-sourced and clearly written.
MEDIUM
Silver: Arkansas Business; “Medical Marijuana Licensing Under Fire”; Mark Friedman, senior editor; , Kyle Massey, assistant editor
Good use of documents to raise questions about the medical marijuana licensing process in Arkansas. Gives the public a window into an otherwise veiled process that gave away licenses worth millions of dollars.
Gold: Hartford Business Journal; “Stacking the Odds”; Skyler Frazer
Using records obtained through a Freedom of Information request, Frazer conclusively showed what many suspected: that some well-funded individuals gamed the system to win recreational marijuana licenses. Frazer also explored the equity issues related to the problem.
LARGE
Silver: Business News; “A Combined 2,243 Days on the Waiting List”; Matt Mckenzie
A data-fueled examination of development delays caused by Australia’s Environmental Protection Agency’s approval process. Matt Mckenzie’s analysis gives a stark view of the lengthy approval process and examines its impact,
Gold: Crain’s Chicago Business; “Utility watchdog dozes while Peoples Gas slams customers with more than $600 million in surcharges ”; Steve Daniels
Steve Daniels details how a Chicago utility has made millions in surcharges from customers without appropriate regulatory review. The result: Chicagoans were paying more on top of already skyrocketing utility bills. Great explanatory journalism with an edge.
18. Best Explanatory Journalism
SMALL
Silver: Corridor Business Journal; “What’s Next for Business Travel?”; Richard Pratt, business reporter
The reporter brings to bear an impressive number of sources to illustrate how local airport business travel is trending since the pandemic, explaining which types of business travel are returning more quickly and which more slowly.
Gold: Greater Wilmington Business Journal; “Airport Trends”; Miriah Hamrick, reporter Breaking down the push and pull between airport fees, airline ticket prices, passenger volume and rental revenue, this story clearly explains the long-term growth strategy of a regional airport and its impact within the regional transportation system.
MEDIUM
Silver: Twin Cities Business; “The Woes of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund”; Adam Platt, executive editor
The story expertly combines reporting details and statistics to offer a compelling explanation of how arbitrary choices in the way rescue funds are allocated are having stark outcomes on local restaurants.
Gold: Providence Business News; “Battle Lanes”; Nancy Lavin, PBN Staff
Multiple viewpoints, history and data give context to a local issue with economic, political and environmental implications. The reporting blends hard data and human feeling in a way that helps readers understand the issue from several angles.
LARGE
Silver: Baton Rouge Business Report; “Baton Rouge Real Estate Market overview”; J.R. Ball, executive editor, David Jacobs, staff writer, Julia-Claire Evans, staff writer, Allan Schilling, managing editor
A comprehensive look at the local residential and commercial real estate markets shows how national housing pressure play out in Baton Rouge. The story is told well through text, data and photos.
Gold: Hawaii Business; “Public Schools Report”; Cynthia Wessendorf, associate editor
A mountain of sources, data and history give an exhaustive look at how Hawaii schools are dealing with the pandemic and a legacy of budget shortfalls and performance challenges. The story illuminates both human figures and structural elements in a compelling way.
19a. Best Beat Story, Economics and Finance
SMALL
Silver: Greater Wilmington Business Journal; Johanna F. Still, reporter
Making sense of the numbers behind economic development is a daunting task, but this coverage explains it all to readers with clarity and purpose. The collection includes profiles of the people behind the numbers as well.
Gold: Quad Cities Regional Business Journal; Steve Tappa, Jennifer DeWitt, Kenda Burrows Strong pieces explain the economic impact of events, such as the economic impact of a local hockey franchise, the upgrade of a new dam, and a thorough examination of what benefit would come from a new film commission effort. All pieces provide ideas for area business owners on how to profit from change.
MEDIUM
Silver: Mainebiz; Renee Cordes, reporter
An impressive collection of stories explain facets of the regional economy, including how local credit ratings impact projects, the impact of changes to local banks and a strong analysis of local mergers and acquisitions. These stories show good grasp of numbers and authoritative writing.
Gold: BizWest; Lucas High, reporter
These stories are holistic – covering the community from all points of view, not just business owners. The coverage does a great job of putting economic events into context.
LARGE
Silver: Crain’s Chicago Business; Steve Daniel, reporter
Great sourcing in the Chicago banking community is evident with this collection that includes a strong analysis on the fizzle of private equity deals, bank merger issues and an up- close look at the snafu caused by Old National’s takeover of First Midwest. There also is clear, concise writing throughout.
Gold: Indianapolis Business Journal; Susan Orr, reporter
A wide collection of stories that explain economic impact, including how a strong dollar affects Indiana, how the local tech industry is affected by less funding, and how local businesses cope with labor shortages. These are sophisticated pieces on the local economy that are hard to get. The stories are written with a voice of authority.
19b. Best Beat Reporting, Real Estate
SMALL
Silver: Greater Wilmington Business Journal; Cece Nunn
The breadth of the reporting on this beat by this reporter really sets it apart, from stories about hotel ownership and development issues to the housing affordability crisis.
Gold: The Business Journal, Fresno; Edward Smith, reporter
This publication shows the strength of beat reporting with its breaking stories and good “gets” on big news and unusual angles.
MEDIUM
Silver: Hartford Business Journal; Mike Puffer
These stories showed consistent quality and good writing. The reporter has an authoritative voice in his work and good people connections in each story.
Gold: Biz New Orleans; Drew Hawkins
This entries showcased some great reads on hot topics. This reporter shows a different take on the usual business news with more interest for the “common” person, showing the relevance to all readers. This work shows an authoritative voice with great writing.
LARGE
Silver: Crain’s Chicago Business; Danny Ecker and Alby Gallun
This entry shows a high quality of work with coverage of the many different angles in a story. That diversity of sourcing and information made for an engaging read and included valuable information and detail.
Gold: Hawaii Business; Janis Magin Meierdiercks
The stories by this reporter and publication are must-reads for people in the industry.
Each is comprehensive and written with such authority, so that even complex topics are written in such detail the average person feels smarter for having read. There’s a great diversity of topics in this entry to keep readers engaged and great specificity in the writing.
19c. Best Beat Reporting, Tech and Innovation
SMALL
Silver: The Business Journal, Fresno; Frank Lopez, Ben Hensley
The use of easy-to-understand data driven reporting and clear, concise writing made technology make sense to a general audience. Readers could quickly grasp the impact of the Bitwise expansion into the region or the novelty of the shrimp farm in the desert in quick reads that make it clear Fresno is just as much a tech hub as its California sister cities.
Gold: Quad Cities Regional Business Journal; Kendra Burrows, Jan Touney, Jennifer DeWitt Who’s to say 16th Century technology isn’t innovative? Excellent explanatory reporting on the upgrades to locks and dams along the Upper Mississippi River anchors a strong collection of enterprise stories that demonstrate the publication’s broad definition of innovation. The beat is well covered by a diverse team of staff and freelance journalists enterprising meaningful stories about everything from modernizing waterways, to immersive technologies, to the transformation of an abandoned library into one of Iowa’s cutting-edge buildings.
MEDIUM
Silver: Rochester Business Journal; Andrea Deckert
The world talked about the images sent back from the James Webb Space Telescope, but only the people of Rochester could appreciate the work their neighbors put in for 20 years to help make it happen. This collection of stories showcases the technological advances born in the community and affecting the world.
Gold: Des Moines Business Record; Sarah Bogaards
The work stands out for this hyperlocal, human-centered reporting. All three stories give readers a broad view of what innovation looks like in the Des Moines area. Carving an Entrepreneurial Niche read like a fantastical tour of the village of Fairfield, leaving readers wanting to tour its utopia, where people challenge themselves to pave the way for everyone else.
LARGE
Silver: Indianapolis Business Journal; Susan Orr
Finding a way to fight the shortage of lithium-ion batteries during a supply chain shortage; running a for-profit computer coding academy on the brink of bankruptcy; raising seafood in a landlocked locale: three different stories on three very different topics, all demonstrating the ways Indianapolis is innovating today. Orr’s reporting demonstrates the business community’s work doesn’t need to be high-tech to be innovative with excellent enterprise reporting, creative story selection and a captivating writing style.
Gold: Crain’s Chicago Business; John Pletz
Attention-grabbing headlines help these impactful stories jump off the page. People across the U.S. have been talking about the crime rates in Chicago for years, but here we get the real story of what it means in what was once one of the city’s up and coming neighborhoods. The entire body of work shows consistent clarity in writing, and introduces readers to the names behind the big brands fighting to keep up every day.
20. Best Ancillary Publication
SMALL
Silver: Delaware Business Times; “Careers & Stuff”; Tina Irgang, Kim Fortuna, Today Media Custom Publications
Parents, their children and adults thinking about getting that first job or making a career change will find this publication helpful. The strong, wide-ranging content is easy-to-read and features a great deal of visual variety.
Gold: Greater Wilmington Business Journal; “Real Estate”; Vicky Janowski, Cece Nunn, Suzi Drake, Johanna Cano, Miriah Hamrick, Johanna F. Still
This creative dual publication – one half focusing on commercial real estate and the other half residential – features strong covers, good typography and colorful snippets to capture readers’ attention. The content is well-rounded with writers unafraid to delve into issues, such as the affordable housing crisis.
MEDIUM
Silver: Hartford Business Journal; “The Innovators Issue”; Greg Bordonaro, Harriet Jones, Michael Puffer
The beautiful, artistic cover sets the tone. Engaging leads and crisp, colorful photos highlight the diversity of the area’s innovators in the sciences, arts, business and nonprofit communities. Strong reporting ensures the profiles have depth.
Gold: Arkansas Business; “Greenhead”; Chris Bahn, Brent Birch, Todd Traub, Dean Wheeler From the gorgeous cover to the beautifully illustrated pieces throughout, this magazine is a treat. The “My Question Is” feature allows readers glimpses into the personalities of key figures in the hunting world, and the publication exudes authority on a multitude of issues. The use of photography is exceptional.
LARGE
Silver: Baton Rouge Business Report; “Capital Assets”; JR Ball, Hoa Vu
This publication’s unique approach to storytelling starts with photographs that go beyond traditional profile pictures. The “Rising to Life” photo essay on Mid City nicely captured the beauty of that area’s diverse neighborhoods.
Gold: D CEO; “Dallas 500”; Christine Perez, Hamilton Hedrick, Brandon J. Call, Will Maddox, Ben Swanger, Kelsey J. Vanderschoot
The striking cover highlighting the Dallas area’s diversity is just the first reason this issue is an exemplar. The issue is well-organized by industry and features entertaining Q&As with all 500 leaders. That is quite a feat.
21. Best Bylined Commentary
SMALL
Silver: No award.
Gold: dbusiness; “Letter From the Editor”; R.J. King, editor
After decades of multiple challenges, Detroit is garnering recognition for its resilience and ongoing transformation. The author recognizes past leadership in technology as he looks to the city’s Smart City future and its major industry shift to electric vehicles. Each column utilizes lessons from history to provide insight to where the city stands today and is poised to be in the future. Important points are backed with relevant data, evidence and personal observation.
MEDIUM
Silver: Virginia Business; “Inside View from the Editor”; Richard Foster, editor
In the spirit of seeking accountability and advocating for civic progress, the columns issue a forceful calling out of the governor on his positions and priorities. They include useful context of the state of affairs to ground the columns.
Gold: Hartford Business Journal; “Editor’s Take”; Greg Bordonaro, editor
Strong reporting informs each column, using detailed information to address serious, weighty local issues. A current debate over a raise for legislators gives rise to a larger consideration of the structure of the legislative bodies and how they fulfill their roles. The real estate column includes historical perspective and some clear recommendations. All of the columns appear focused on championing the city.
LARGE
Silver: Florida Trend; “Editor’s Page”; Vickie Chachere, editor
Vivid writing, strong opening lines and a friendly, approachable voice create a visual imagery that carries the reader quickly and easily through these columns. They highlight positive community achievements such as personal financial literacy education prior to high school and a return of local pride in Florida’s revived lunar mission.
Gold: Crain’s Detroit Business; “Voices”; Dustin Walsh, senior reporter
Detroit is much more than the home of the auto industry. Columns cover diverse topics including the fate of Kellogg’s breakfast cereal manufacturing, illegal marijuana infiltrating the state’s legal weed pipeline, and questions about a subsidy for a potash mine. These are well- reported with clear writing and ample details to unpack the intersection of business and politics.
22. Best Editorial
SMALL
Silver: Delaware Business Times; “A tale of two Wilmingtons”; Jacob Owens
Jacob Owens uses a set of contrasting events to make a clear point about the city’s challenge with gun violence. The narrative writing style is effective and powerful.
Gold: Vermont Business; “Carrots might not be that healthy”; Timothy McQuiston
A well-reported piece with good use of statistics and other data to show the impact of a quasi- judicial health insurance regulator’s efforts to control costs. Timothy McQuiston clearly sets up the issue and methodically breaks it down.
MEDIUM
Silver: BizWest; “Marshall Fire should serve as wake-up call for dangers in wildland-urban interface”; Christopher Wood
Christopher Wood details the lessons to be learned from a devastating fire and provides specific recommendations of what should be done in its aftermath to prevent future disasters.
Gold: Journal of Business; “City leaders need to impose moratorium on ineptitude”; Linn Parish Linn Parish crafts a strong argument against a building moratorium enacted by city officials.
Strongly worded, well reported and makes a clear argument against the policy.
LARGE
Silver: Crain’s Detroit Business; “MSU mess will make next hire even harder”; Michael Lee
Michael Lee makes a strong argument that the public election of Michigan State University’s board has been a key factor in ongoing disfunction since the Larry Nasar scandal. Incisive analysis with specific recommendations for a remedy.
Gold: Crain’s Chicago Business; “‘The Madigan Enterprise’ is Just the Beginning”; Ann Dwyer A sophisticated unpacking of a political indictment, with important historical context and a list of possible actions that could help the city reign in the kind of excesses that are discussed. Ann Dwyer takes on not only the bad actor, but also the culture that enabled him.
BEST OF SHOW CATEGORIES
23. Most Improved Publication
Corridor Business Journal; John Lohman, Andrea Rhoades, Becky Lyons, Julia Druckmiller, Alexandra Olsen, Richard Pratt, Noah Tong and Vicki Dean
The publication’s improvements are immediately visible. The brighter, heavier paper, reconfigured front cover and bolder headlines are just the beginning. The content is more fresh and current, and its coverage focuses on people and smaller businesses in a way earlier issues didn’t. The overall effect is a weighty publication that feels vital and important to its audience.
24. Best Website
Bronze: Crain’s Detroit Business; Staff
Words like, “federal health” and “Detroit house” and “viral video” demonstrate that the staff understands how to get readers to its site via SEO. Once there, the elegant navigation helps cut down on clutter, creating a more accessible website for readers.
Silver: South Sound Business; Alex Schloer, Jeff Burlingame, Joanna Kresge, John Stearns, Stephanie Quiroz, Blake Peterson, Hailee Wickersham
A clean, simple design makes it easy for the audience to find the news it needs to know.
With a good top-down design structure and free from an overload of tools, the website puts consuming into the user’s hands.
Gold: Business News; Sean Cowan, Mark Beyer, Mark Pownall, Claire Tyrrell, Matt Mckenzie, Andreas Koepke, Simone Grogan, Isabel Vieira, Nadia Budihardjo, David Henry, Liv De Clerk, Nicholas Clarke, Jordan Murray
The minimalist design makes the homepage easy for readers to parse and navigate so they do not have to work to find the news and stories important to them. There are clear, descriptive labels on the images mixed with a combination of simple headlines and subtext.
25. Best Magazine
Bronze: dbusiness; R.J. King, Tim Keenan, Jake Bekemeyer, Justin Stenson, Stephanie Daniel and Steven Prokuda
The Ticker section in this publication’s front-of-book consistently offers items of interest and importance and serves as a fitting welcome to robust issues. Cover features take on vital regional topics with thorough reporting, and its overall design helps elevate the content.
Silver: 405 Business; Rod Whitson, Jordan Regas, Kayte Spillman, Christopher Lee, Charlie Neuenschwander and Greg Horton
Inventive coverage and striking photography team up in this impressive entry. A feature about Black-owned business owners was thoughtful and beautifully packaged, while a story about the Oklahoma City Thunder was creatively told via graphics. Altogether, this publication offers a dynamic window into its community’s business world.
Gold: D CEO; Christine Perez, Hamilton Hedrick, Brandon J. Call, Will Maddox, Ben Swanger and Kesley J. Vanderschoot
From impactful and gorgeous covers to an engaging End Mark department, this magazine is vibrant in both content and visuals. Hard-hitting pieces tackle serious subjects and a diversity of profiles introduce readers to people they should know. Beautiful photography and a refined design round out magazine that’s packed with vital know-how and know-who.
26a. Best Newspaper – Small Tabloids
Bronze: Greater Wilmington Business Journal; Vicky Janowski, editor, Suzi Drake, contributing designer, Cece Nunn, assistant editor, Johanna Cano, reporter, Miriah Hamrick, reporter, Johanna F. Still, reporter
Readers are treated to extensive coverage of local breaking news packed into a small tabloid format. Front pages are cleanly designed and use centerpieces to highlight the main stories. Many of the news stories are forward looking and capture what readers need to know.
Silver: Quad Cities Regional Business Journal; Jennifer DeWitt, editor, Kenda Burrows, senior reporter, Dave Thompson, content editor, Becky Lyons, creative & specialty projects director, Julia Druckmiller, graphic designer
This newspaper, launched last year by an independent family-owned company, shows how an upstart can excel with local community coverage and strong use of photos. Printing this on glossy, high-quality paper ensures that each issue will have a longer shelf life with readers.
Gold: San Fernando Valley Business Journal; Charles Crumpley, editor & publisher, James Brock, managing editor, Hannah Welk, managing editor, Michael Aushenker, reporter, Howard Fine, reporter, Zane Hill, reporter, Mark Madler, reporter, Antonio Pequeno IV, reporter
This publication was the clear winner, punching above its weight on so many levels. Bold front page design, headlines and photos invite readers to explore the stories that cover relevant businesses with breaking news and features. It’s well designed from front to back and includes navigational cues to help guide readers.
26b. Best Newspaper – Medium Tabloids
Bronze: Hartford Business Journal; Greg Bordonaro, editor, Mike Puffer, staff writer, Skyler Frazer, staff writer, Robert Storace, staff writer, Drew Larson, web editor, Hanna Snyder Gambini, staff writer
This publication regularly provides in-depth reporting on breaking news and enterprise stories on subjects that matter to readers. For example, the staff takes deep dives into economic development, housing and recreational cannabis. Charts and maps help illustrate the stories in other ways.
Silver: Providence Business News; PBN staff
This newspaper offers its readers articles that are uniformly compelling and well-written.
Standing features, such as Q & As and restaurant columns are written at the same level as enterprise stories and news features. Front covers are packed with color and navigational pointers to what’s inside. A hefty, glossy, book of lists is packed with useful information.
Gold: Arkansas Business; Mitch Bettis, publisher, Lance Turner, editor, Wayne DePriest, art director, Jan Cottingham, managing editor, Gwen Moritz, contributing editor, Scott Carroll, online editor, Mark Friedman, senior editor, George Waldon, senior editor, Marty Cook, assistant editor, Kyle Massey, senior editor, Bonnie Jacoby, vice president of business sales
Clean, consistent, design on the front page and inside make this an inviting newspaper for its readers. The cover uses photos, graphics and color to highlight enterprise stories that often zoom in on key themes, such legal medical cannabis. The newspaper uses lists, enterprise and investigative reporting to focus on subjects that are meaningful to readers.
26c. Best newspaper — Large tabloids
Bronze: Indianapolis Business Journal; IBJ staff
Readers looking for comprehensive coverage of business news in central Indiana will find it packed into the pages of this tabloid. A wealth of breaking news stories is highlighted on the front page and inside. Readers also get to dive into well-reported special features. One standing section provides business news briefs from around the state.
Silver: Crain’s Chicago Business; staff
This newspaper serves its audience well with a smart selection of coverage that focuses on breaking news and special features. The staff uses photos, illustrations, maps and charts well to help show the stories. The “40 Under Forty” list is an attention getter for its inclusivity, design, candid portraits and strong human interest.
Gold: Los Angeles Business Journal; Charles Crumpley, editor-in-chief, James Brock, managing editor, Hannah Welk, reporter, Michael Aushenker, reporter, Howard Fine, reporter, Zane Hill, reporter, Mark Madler, reporter, Antonio Pequeno IV, reporter
This publication is a standout for packing a wide variety of breaking, feature and explanatory news coverage consistently with every issue. The front-cover layout is rich with images, headlines and teasers that attract the reader’s attention. It’s easy to navigate thanks to a table of contents and inside-the-book design features. Engaging writing keeps the reader’s attention. Kudos for the deeply researched lists that employ photos, colors and design in a novel manner.
