The Los Angeles Business Journal was named “best newspaper” by the Association of Area Business Publications, for the second consecutive year.

It was one of seven awards won by the Business Journal, more than any other publication, at the AABP’s annual conference held July 15 in Kansas City.

“This publication truly sets a standard,” the judges wrote. “Its stories are thoughtful and challenging, whether they are dissecting the true economic effect of a major arena about to be opened or conducting a post mortem of a sale of a major company. The Journal also offers quick-paced and unexpected features while making sure to cover the routine business news.”

The Business Journal also won first place in the “best explanatory journalism” category, for the third year in a row this time for its “Forgotten Angelenos” series.

“This is a rare and powerful combination of hard numbers and lost souls,” the judges wrote. “The Business Journal steps outside the upscale world of stock options and dark suits to examine, in detail and in context, the lives and hard times of those the boom is leaving behind. This is top-flight reporting and writing.”

Matt Toledo, president and publisher of the Business Journal, said the awards this year were particularly satisfying because they recognized the paper for taking a nontraditional approach to business news.

“Rather than take the well-worn path, our news team is constantly innovating, pushing to get behind the scenes and beneath the surface,” Toledo said. “Getting nationally recognized for those efforts is always satisfying.”

Other awards won by the Business Journal were second-place finishes in the “best overall design,” “best feature,” and “best local spin of a national business/economic story” categories.

Third-place awards came in the “best use of photography/illustrations” and “best coverage of local breaking news” categories.

The other big winners at this year’s AABP conference were Crain’s Chicago Business and Crain’s New York Business, each of which won five awards.