The Los Angeles Business Journal was honored with seven awards, including the top prize for general excellence, at the annual Alliance of Area Business Publishers conference.
The Business Journal was named best newspaper in the larger circulation category. Also, the San Fernando Valley Business Journal, an affiliate publication, also won the top prize for general excellence in the small tabloid category.
“The staff understands its market so beautifully,” the judges wrote. “This is a publication that knows how to keep its readership informed and entertained while offering a reflection in the community. The writing is bright; reporters dig deep.”
Publisher Matt Toledo noted that it was the fifth time in six years that the publication was honored with the premier distinction.
“I am profoundly proud of everyone on our news and production teams for their individual contributions that made this possible,” Toledo said. “I want to especially acknowledge Editor Charles Crumpley for his leadership. It is his vision, integrity and passion that inspires great individual efforts which collectively allow us produce great news products for our readers.”
Reporters James Rufus Koren, Howard Fine and Alfred Lee and Design Director Robert Landry were honored for their work.
Koren was recognized for best feature and Landry for best feature layout and for special section design. All three awards were for “Wealthiest Angelenos – Riches Under the Radar.” The judges mentioned that Landry sized photos for impact and showed sharp attention to info graphics and that Koren showed intuition and enterprise and noted the strong voice he used to tell the tale of a billionaire who would have preferred anonymity.
Fine won a “best scoop” award for an article about Occidental Petroleum Corp. leaving its Los Angeles headquarters. The judges said he pieced together a convincing report despite company denials.
Lee was honored for a portfolio of his work, which included an investigation into a program that gives green cards to foreigners who create jobs in the United States. That article also garnered a separate award in the best investigation category.
“Lee’s hallmark is an unwillingness to let a story go until it’s completely and well told,” the judges said.
The San Fernando Valley paper won the top award in the small tabloid category.
“This publication puts a premium on delivering a news-rich product to a wide range of population centers in Southern California,” the judges wrote. “It is exemplary in its ability to provide both quantity and quality in authoritative news reports. Not only does coverage have breadth, but it often digs deep.”
Reporter Elliott Golan at the Valley journal won a gold meal for his article on a development project in Glendale.
“Golan was the first reporter to tease out the details of the complicated deal, which called for an office building and parking structure to be demolished to make way for 500-live and work units in the heart of the city,” the judges wrote. “Golan even advanced the story by quoting some who worried about an unsustainable housing boom in the city.”
The awards were given in Baltimore this weekend at the AABP’s annual conference. The organization represents local business publications from across the United States. Judges were the faculty of the University of Missouri journalism school.
