Magazine of the year finalists named

American Medical News, CFO, Computerworld, Fortune Small Business, Spectrum, Lawn & Landscape, Macworld, PC World, Professional Builder, and R&I are the finalists for the 2008 Magazine of the Year award from the American Society of Business Publications in the 80,000-ciculation-and-higher category.

Architect, Associations Now, Automotive News, Chain Leader, Control, Exhibitor, Health Leaders, Information Security, Oregon Business, and The Scientist are the finalists in the below-80,000 circulation category.

In the Magazine of the Year competition, judges evaluate three consecutive issues from each entrant, examining their writing, reporting, and editing; their usefulness to and interactivity with readers; editorial organization; and layout and design.

Sensitivity to the changing needs of an audience is always a most critical factor, said one judge. In 2008, that changing need was the declining economic environment most industries were experiencing.

“The best magazines find ways to bridge the gap between the ‘real world’ of the general economy and the specific environment of the business publications,” the judge said.

Despite a lagging economy that has reduced editorial staff size and magazine page counts, Magazine of the Year finalists “are not letting [readers] feel the pinch,” another judge said. She pointed to the ‘well-written content and research that pulls readers into articles that are complemented with valuable, useful, and frequently resourceful graphics, pull-quotes, sidebars, typography, and other tools of our trade.”

Along with finalists for the Magazine of the Year, awards will be presented to the top publications in 45 other print categories during the 31st Azbee Awards of Excellence banquet Thursday, July 16, at the Washington Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C., starting at 6 p.m.