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BiB
SABEW
BEST in
BUSINESS
16th Annual Awards Sixth Floor Museum - Dallas April 9, 2011
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
SABEW 2010
Best in Business Winners
Welcome winners and guests to the 16th Annual Best in Business awards, at
the historic Sixth Floor Museum in Dealey Plaza in Dallas. Many thanks to our
sponsors, Bloomberg and the Donald W. Reynolds National
Center for Business Journalism.
DIGITAL
BLOG
Digital 2: 500,000 - 2.5 million
Ilyce Glink
Home Equity Blog by Ilyce Glink
CBS MoneyWatch.com
“Solid info, creative use of multimedia.”
Digital 3: > 2.5 million
Holden Lewis
Holden Lewis' mortgage blog
bankrate.com
“Old school, but it works. The right
combination of attitude and insider
information.”
Market Insider with Patti Domm
CNBC.com
“Nice volume and some good insights.”
CREATIVE USE ACROSS
MULTIPLE PLATFORMS
Digital 2: 500,000 - 2.5 million
Daniel P. Ray, Angela Morris, Matt Schulz, Connie
Prater,Tyler Metzger
Credit Card Readability Project
CreditCards.com
“The video is catchy and makes a surprising
point - I certainly learned something from the
presentation. The article content is also strong
and I admire the work.”
Solana Pyne, Erik German, Mark Scheffler,
Thomas Mucha
Rise of the Megacities
GlobalPost
“Content is very strong. Something
unexpected from each part. Feels different
than much of the recent reporting on similar
topics.”
Digital 3: > 2.5 million
Allison Linn, John Schoen, Patrick Rizzo, Kari Huus
and Jim Seida
Still Made in America
MSNBC.com
“Allison Linn's main article does an excellent
job in taking us through the reasons for the
decline in American manufacturing jobs, but
then goes beyond that to delve into the
nuances of which manufacturing jobs remain
and how fewer workers are producing more
goods. The individual profiles of American
manufacturers gives the package some heft.
The interactive features felt like eye-candy to
me. Sidebars: Cozy Coupe was a nice case
study that took a popular product and
demonstrated, with participation from the
company, how this product works in U.S.”
Scott Eden, Robert Holmes, Brittany Umar, Kevin
Levick, Joel Regus, Meredith Longo and Arthur
Lenehan
The Shanghai Numbers
The Street.com
“This is a solid investigative series, shedding
light on a hot part of the stock market that is
little understood -- Chinese RTOs. It takes a
complex and important topic and explains it in
a variety of ways, telling what could have been
a dry story through compelling narratives and
interesting characters. Moreover, by delving
into potential stock fraud with a certain class
of Chinese stocks, the series provides an
important public service. The animation
explaining how RTOs work also was very
effective. I watched that first and it gave me a
frame of reference for the entire series. Welldone investigative piece with numerous
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
examples of the stock plays in question, and
excellent interactive graphics.”
Caleb Silver
America's Foreclosure Crisis
CNN Money.com
“This series does a good job of telling the
human stories behind the foreclosure criss
through video. The video profiling the
squatters in the foreclosed home in
Rochester, NY, in particular, was effective and
eye-opening. The one with the Florida
investors buying foreclosed properties showed
people on the other side of the foreclosure
phenomenon. But, like the squatters, the
foreclosure investors were also taking vacant
properties and getting people to live in them
again. Which to me was the overall message of
the series. Squatters: The piece didn't address
the question of how these folks could move in
with nobody noticing. Having said that, this was
the most interesting piece of the three and a
story I haven't seen elsewhere.”
EXPLANATORY
Digital 1: < 500,000
Joel Kirkland and John Fialka
Gas Rush : The New Energy Frontier
ClimateWire
“The biggest energy boom in this century is
the production of natural gas from shale
deposits that underlie much of the
northeastern U.S. and some south central
states. This heavily reported series looks at the
multi-billion dollar business that is
transforming regional economies and changing
U.S. energy policy while posing environmental
risks and regulatory difficulties.”
Digital 2: 500,000 - 2.5 million
Solana Pyne/Erik German, Mark Scheffler, and
Thomas Mucha
Rise of the Megacities
GlobalPost
“Mass migration, booming populations and
globalized trade are swelling cities worldwide,
and these forces are powerfully concentrated
in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Both well-written and produced, this multimedia series introduces
readers to the coming dystopia that is
urbanization. The writers perhaps said it best:
"The future is here, and it smells like burning
trash."
Kathleen E. McLaughlin, Sharron Lovell, Mark
Scheffler, and Thomas Mucha
Borderland: China's 14,000 mile
struggle
GlobalPost
“Colorful writing and beautiful photography
come together to present a robust look at the
ragged 14,000 mile-long Chinese border that
separates the country from 14 countries.
China's ethnic lines are blurred by intense
concentrations of ethnic minorities and
economic forces are driving constant change –
not to mention human trafficking and appetite
for rare animals.”
Digital 3: > 2.5 million
MarketWatch Staff
The Nuclear Option
MarketWatch
“A compelling package on an undertold story,
presented with clarity, clear-headedness and a
look at all the angles from safety to investors
to consumers.”
Claes Bell, Sheyna Steiner, Holden Lewis, Leslie
McFadden and Jay MacDonald
Financial reform -- the nuts and bolts
for everyday consumers
bankrate.com
“The judges were impressed by bankrate.com's
creative use of graphics and other elements,
and felt that the package broke down a
complex topic in a simple and clear way.”
Meredith Stark; Allen Wastler;Viktor Cea; Albert
Bozzo; Frederick LaSenna; Brian Beers and Oliver
Quillia
Marijuana & Money
CNBC.com
“A sober, well-rounded look at a topic that
wouldn't normally be given a business-news
treatment. The depth and polish of the package
made CNBC.com's treatment stand out.”
FEATURE
Digital 2: < 500,000
Elizabeth Lesly Stevens
Viola Fraud
The Bay Citizen
“This featured approach to the investigation of
a San Francisco area investor Ponzi scheme is
well-researched with many lovely little details
borne of exhaustive reporting. This entry takes
you into the North Beach neighborhoods to
expose why a charming Guiseppe Viola was
able to con not only investors, but Citibank as
well.”
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
Digital 2: 500,000 - 2.5 million
Connie Prater, Daniel P. Ray and Anna Bleker
Money and Prison
CreditCards.com
“Meaty content worthy of top place: strong
storytelling, reporting and detail, solid
writing, clear and concise. The judges found
its solid reporting to be superior and did
not see gratuitous interactive elements.”
Jason Overdorf, Poh-Si Teng, Mark Scheffler, and
Emily Lodish
INDIA: ARMED AND DANGEROUS
GlobalPost
“The judges admired this piece for its
richness in details and how it lays out one of
the new challenges facing this fast-growing
society..”
Mark Scheffler,Thomas Mucha, and GlobalPost
staff
Energy Entrepreneurs
GlobalPost
“The judges saw crisp storytelling and
thought the best ones told how creative
individuals did something to make life better
for others. “
Digital 3: > 2.5 million
David Goldman
4G is a myth
CNN Money.com
“Mobile-phone users were well served by
this story, showing the enormous gap
between the technical requirements and the
marketing hype behind fourth-generation
wireless service. The graphic above the
headline illustrated the issue with the kind of
clarity found in the text, and the embedded
video interview added valuable perspective.”
Scott Eden, Kevin Levick, Meredith Longo,Ty
Wenger
The Pirates' Toll: High Stakes on the
High Seas
The Street.com
“Reporting that literally covers the
waterfront. Writing that could have come
from an adventure novel. Photos that provide
compelling images. This story combines
them into a thorough, and thoroughly
modern, tale of those who engage in the
centuries-old practice of piracy off the coast
of Somalia.”
Annalyn Censky
Hunting the lion burger butcher
CNN Money.com
“Snappy writing and solid reporting that
highlighted the issues posed by trafficking in
wild game meat. By following the supply
chain, the story provided an enlightening
behind-the- scenes look at an industry that
spawned an Internet sensation.”
GENERAL EXCELLENCE
Digital 2: 500,000 - 2.5 million
Eric Schurenberg, Rachel Elson, Jack Otter, Jane
Bryant Quinn, Carla Fried, Ilyce Glink, Nathan
Hale
CBS MoneyWatch.com
Overall the site was excellent with lots of
insightful and well reported work.
GlobalPost staff
GlobalPost
“Almost absurdly innovative and ambitious,
GlobalPost attempts to do nothing less than
bring the world to the readers’ fingers tips.
The brand features a far flung editorial
infrastructure, new news ideas on now to
create everything from video segments to
news walls. When the day comes that
GlobalPost opens a business publication,
watch out. These people know the news
business. And they know what they want to
do. Fascinating operation.”
Jonathan Dahl
SmartMoney.com
“This category was tight, well contested and
filled with excellent work.”
Digital 3: > 2.5 million
MarketWatch Staff
MarketWatch
“MarketWatch was on top of every big story
of the day: gold prices, iPad 2 announcement.
Its reporting and writing were very solid. Its
24-hour coverage of foreign markets is
impressive. It provides a nice mix of markets
and personal finance coverage. Its design is
superior: meaty without being cluttered.
Foreign markets is impressive. “
Meredith Stark, Allen Wastler, and Viktor Cea
CNBC.com
“CNBC is very good at what it does best:
covering the markets aggressively and with
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
strong video. It deserves kudos for
transparency in prominently placing
"Corrections" link on its home page.”
Chris Peacock, Lex Haris, Caleb Silver, and Rich
Barbieri
CNN Money.com
“CNNMoney's enterprise work really shines,
as does its interactive graphics.”
INVESTIGATIVE
Fred Schulte, Lagan Sebert and Ben Protess
The New Taxman
Huffington Post Investigative Fund
This is a very thorough package that exposes
a little-known problem that's becoming bigger
as more local governments run into budget
troubles.
Scott Eden, Robert Holmes, Brittany Umar, Kevin
Levick, Joel Regus, Meredith Longo and Arthur
Lenehan
The Shanghai Numbers
The Street.com
“This told us about an international scam that
even many savvy investors didn't know
existed, and is costing them billions of dollars.
The online presentation was visually striking
and well-organized.”
Bill Dedman
The Clarks: An American Story of
Wealth, Scandal and Mystery
MSNBC.com
“This is a great tale, a well-told and interesting
mystery about an ultra-wealthy family and
drama that extends from a robber baron's
success to battles over the fate of an heiress.”
OPINION/COLUMN
Digital 1: < 500,000
Scott McCleskey
The Scott McCleskey Report
Complinet, Inc.
“It's tough to write about a topic that's
outside of people's normal lives. McCleskey
does a first-rate job of making securities
regulation relevant. He succinctly and clearly
presents issues in an informative, engaging
manner that gets his points across clearly,
often with refreshing wit.”
Reuters Breakingviews staff
Reuters Breakingviews
Breakingviews.com
“By assigning columns to a wide number of
people, the Breakingviews effort gains in
diversity of knowledge what it gives up in
consistent voice. Collectively, these columns
deliver specific and insightful analysis.
Moreover, it's not easy to write value-added
pieces based on events that occurred only
hours before. Shareholders and other
interested readers are being well-served. “
Joe Brancatelli
Seat 2B Business Travel Column
Portfolio.com
“It's a pleasure to read the work of columnists
who have a clear pipeline into the industry
they cover and actually know what they're
talking about. Brancatelli's work is clever and
accessible. Each column contains a sharp
insight that frequently delivers an "a-ha"
moment to readers.”
Digital 3: > 500,000
Morgan Housel, Anand Chokkavelu, and Brian
Richards
The Motley Fool: "Out On a Limb"
columns
The Motley Fool
“Morgan Housel's explanatory skills are simply
superb. Best of the class. Lively writing with a
strong voice and a sprinkle of humor. Willing
and able to take on the powers that be.
Thought provoking. He is so persuasive, he
almost makes us wish we had we had racked
up the national debt even higher.”
Paul R. La Monica
The Buzz by Paul R. La Monica
CNN Money.com
“Paul R. La Monica makes full use of his digital
medium, weaving in video and other
alternatives that broaden the offering for his
audience. These aren't print columns pasted
online. And his lively writing reaches its target
audience - average consumers.”
Adam Feuerstein
Adam Feuerstein's Biotech Columns
The Street.com
“Adam Feuerstein shows that everything you
always suspected about burn-rate bio-tech
companies is true. Feuerstein writes with
authority and depth. His columns pull back
curtains in the biotech industry. Actually, it's
more like ripping back curtains. Why can't
more columnists demand CEO resignations?”
INTERNATIONAL
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
BREAKING NEWS
James G. Neuger, Simon Kennedy, Meera Louis,
David Tweed, Mary Childs,Thomas R. Keene,
Anchalee Worrachate, Brian Parkin, Gabi Thesing
and Jana Randow
Saving the Euro
Bloomberg News
“The Euro package from Bloomberg provided
satisfactory context for a complicated story.
It did a nice job of demonstrating how the
crisis impacted global markets and to some
extent, politics.”
CREATIVE USE ACROSS
MULTIPLE PLATFORMS
The Wall Street Journal Asia staff
Dissecting China's Housing Market
The Wall Street Journal
“This was an innovative form of explanatory
journalism that made a complicated topic
accessible to a wider audience. The opening
piece was well-executed and visually
interesting. The graphic presentation was
creative and unique.”
Kathleen McLaughlin, correspondent; Sharron
Lovell, photographer; Mark Scheffler, video
editor/producer;Thomas Mucha, project editor
Borderland: China's 14,000 mile
struggle
GlobalPost
“A fascinating story that drew on a mix of
photos, text and video. The multimedia
components worked well with what was
clearly an exhaustive reporting challenge.”
Mark Scheffler,Thomas Mucha, and GlobalPost
staff
Energy Entrepreneurs
GlobalPost
“A compelling piece of journalism that
successfully leveraged the creative capabilities
of multimedia. Overall, the individual packages
demonstrated strong collaborative effort
with the emphasis on story-telling and added
up to a very interesting look at the people
driving the global push for clean energy. “
EXPLANATORY
India's Diabetes Paradox
Bloomberg Markets
“Great reporting and analysis on an
unexpected health crisis emerging in India as
many of that country's residents experience a
change in lifestyle and diet. India's economic
transformation is a truly international story,
and the emergence of diabetes among people
like Kaplana Sonar was expressed with
clarity, simplicity and depth. The story was
also well packaged with great photographs,
video and contextual links.”
The Wall Street Journal staff
What They Know
Wall Street Journal
“We were all wildly impressed with the depth
of reporting and analysis in this special
report. The data visualizations and
explanatory videos were very well done and
contributed to the power of the overall
report.”
Solana Pyne/Erik German, Mark Scheffler, and
Thomas Mucha
Rise of the Megacities
GlobalPost
“A truly international report rich in detail,
analysis and character-based reporting. Wellpackaged with high quality videos and
photographs, which helped describe this 21st
Century phenomenon in vivid detail. We
applaud the ambition and execution
demonstrated by the Global Post.”
FEATURE
From Russia With Cash
Bloomberg Markets
“Good combination of reportage and
background to create a readable personal and
business profile, loaded with information and
context. The extent and duration of access
the writer was given to the profile subject is
remarkable. This is a biography-caliber work. “
Bill Powell
Chanos vs. China
Fortune Magazine
“Lots of good business information, but
readable, with scenes and real people and lots
of good quotes from Chanos. Compellingly
written, both a terrific profile of a
controversial figure and an analysis of current
events that is certain to make the reader
very uneasy.”
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Tom Lasseter
Unvarnished China
McClatchy Newspapers - Washington bureau
“Well reported. Compellingly told. It exposed
me to a reality I'd never fathomed before. I
wish it had been longer with maybe some
more personal stories, of the living and dead,
included, but as a brief look into the stuff of
horror movies it was excellent. The story
about dead bodies in Chinese rivers and the
business they spawn is indeed an amazing
story. Truly one of those “Wow, is this for
real?” articles. And it did a splendid job of
looking at the business side – the economics
are all there, as well as the emotion.”
INVESTIGATIVE
Alexander Ragir and Michael Smith
Hunting Brazil's Tax Dodgers
Bloomberg Markets
“Bloomberg reporters obtained internal
documents and persuaded reluctant sources
to go on the record about how banking giants
helped wealthy Brazilians evade taxes,
producing a richly detailed page-turner.”
Kathleen E. McLaughlin, correspondent, Sharron
Lovell, photographer and Thomas Mucha, project
editor
Silicon Sweatshops
GlobalPost
“An ambitious effort illuminating how the
global supply chain impacts individual workers
with strong on-the-ground reporting tracking
down sick workers in their hospital room, for
example, and colorful storytelling.”
OPINION / COLUMN
David Marsh
Marsh on Monday
MarketWatch
“David Marsh brings a consistent voice and
historical perspective to his explorations of
European monetary policy, delivering fresh
insight and forward-thinking.”
NEWS AGENCIES
BREAKING NEWS
Phil Mattingly, Alison Vekshin and Christine Harper
Dodging the Regulation Bullet: How
Banks Co-opted Congress
Bloomberg News
“Bloomberg did a nice job with final passage
of the sweeping financial regulation bill,
capturing the importance of the breaking
news event and providing key analysis,
summed up by the headline that banks
avoided the possibility of much stricter
regulation.”
Roger Cheng, Kevin Kingsbury, Scott Morrison,
Kristina Peterson and Ian Sherr
Dow Jones Newswires: Hurd's
Departure
Dow Jones Newswires
“The reporters swung into action when this
unexpected news broke and quickly provided
a strong story with context and analysis. Then
they reached out to develop sources close to
the story to provide details that offered
helpful insight and went well beyond the
somewhat cryptic news release. Within a few
hours Dow Jones had a package that included
the main news abour Hurd's departure as well
as details of his severance package that
dominated the second-day coverage.”
CREATIVE USE ACROSS
MULTIPLE PLATFORMS
Carol Massar, Margaret Popper
Making the Case for Diversity
Bloomberg News
“Good journalism in a nicely executed
package.”
John Meehan, Manuela Badawy, Daniel Clark,
Claudia Parsons and Jeffrey Chen
Frontier Markets
Thomson Reuters Inc.
“Very good work in leveraging material across
platforms. Great stories, video and
interactivity.”
Gabriel Madway, Molly Riley, Greg Savoy, Richard
Baum and Deborah Lutterbeck
iPad Teardown
Thomson Reuters Inc.
“Interesting interplay between video and live
blogging. A solid cross platform execution.”
EXPLANATORY
Jesse Drucker
Hidden Havens
Bloomberg News
“So the ubiquitous Google has another dark
side. Since Google is an Internet fan favorite,
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the angle of this article makes it quite
compelling. The story holds significance for
so many people - from the everyday Google
user to Wall Street and U.S. taxpayers. The
writers did a great job in explaining how
Google uses a maze to profit in ways that are
legal but otherwise unfair. This is an excellent
story!”
Amanda Bennett
Medicine and Money
Bloomberg News
“This piece has wonderful narrative that is
touching and thought-provoking. It delves
into a tangled issue to which any consumer
can relate, particularly in the face of future
medical needs.”
Cam Simpson
Gold’s Affliction
Bloomberg News
“Along with the depth of information that
this piece offers about "gold's affliction,"
there is a strong explanation of the true cost
of this fine metal. The link between gold
prices and the lives of impoverished Africans
was surprising and provocative. For an
American readership, this article was a great
piece for offering a broader and different
perspective about the price of gold.”
FEATURE
Amanda Bennett
End of Life Warning at $618,616
Makes Me Wonder Was It Worth It
Bloomberg News
“Excellent piece that uses personal
storytelling to illuminate the most vexing
issues about our health care system. The
story focuses on just a few of the most
important numbers -- what the insurers got
billed for, and what they paid. Bennett is
refreshingly honest about a fundamental
problem, that almost nobody contemplates
costs when they're making decisions about
their health care. A personal and emotional
story told without treacle and backed up by
solid reporting. Graphics contributed mightily
to both the micro and macro views and were
yet further examples of the research that
bolstered this story.”
Michelle Conlin
In Foreclosure: The Wrong House
Associated Press
“Good story that highlights a new sidelight in
the national foreclosure story. Loaded with
strong examples. Terrific lead, strong writing
and great examples bolster an almost
unbelievable problem: completely mistaken
foreclosures. Just when I was thinking, ‘Wait,
how on earth could this happen?’ the writer
took me through the crazy process.”
Bernard Condon
Muni bond bust could do damage,
experts say
Associated Press
“Good story that raises questions about an
investment long considered safe. Interesting
story about a potentially big problem: the
dangers of what traditionally has been a fairly
safe investment, municipal bonds. This is a
must-read bond story. I think it's an issue
that all newspapers need to explore in their
towns and cities. It could be the next big
problem coming their way.”
INVESTIGATIVE
Jesse Drucker
Hidden Havens
Bloomberg News
“A jawdropping look at something we often
hear but rarely read about -- how major U.S.
corporations avoid paying taxes. Jesse
Drucker's diligence and clear narrative style
walks the reader through loophole after
overseas loophole to show the byzantine
methods employed by our biggest companies
to avoid paying tens of billions of dollars in
taxes each year. Whether or not one agrees
that the 35% U.S. corporate tax rate is too
high, the notion is nonetheless powerful that
if companies would pay what they owe, the
nation's deficit wouldn't be nearly what it is.
The reporting and synthesis involved in this
series are simply masterful.”
Murray Waas, Lewis Krauskopf and Jim Impoco
Wellpoint Routinely Targets Breast
Cancer Patients
Thomson Reuters Inc.
“At the height of the debate about health
care reform in the United States, Reuters
weighed in with a four-month investigation
that revealed shocking behavior by the
nation’s largest health insurer, Wellpoint. The
company had crafted computer algorithms to
target policyholders recently diagnosed with
breast cancer. The patients were then singled
out for what federal investigators described
to reporter Murray Waas as “aggressive
investigations” with the intent to cancel their
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policies, often based on the flimsiest of
pretexts. The stories had immediate impact,
and helped push forward changes in the
nation’s health care laws. In response to its
revelations, President Obama’s Health and
Human Services Secretary pushed the
company to end its rescission policy at once –
five months before the new healthcare law
would require it to do so.”
Justin Pritchard
Cadmium
Associated Press
“This entry started with a tip: an Ohio
chemistry professor had found the heavy
metal cadmium in a piece of children's jewelry.
Despite shrinking budgets and overwhelmed
reporting staffs, the AP had a laboratory test
103 pieces of kids’ bling from three states. The
resulting stories by reporter Justin Pritchard
prompted a federal investigation into how a
material even more poisonous than lead had
been used by Chinese manufacturers for
products sold at Walmart and other retailers,
and prompted a recall of 12 million drinking
glasses distributed by McDonald’s to promote
the “Shrek” movie series. “
OPINION / COLUMN
William Pesek
Bloomberg News
“Authoritative writing and ahead of the pack in
terms of his analysis. Clear writing about
complex topics. Takes complicated issues and
uses a language that readers can understand.
Tackles global issues. He has a strong voice.
His articles are well-written and include
punchy headlines.”
Matthew Lynn
Bloomberg News
“Matthew Lynn has strong opinions and states
his point clearly. He takes a stand more than
most and it's clear where he's coming from as
he makes his case. His articles are wellstructured.”
Al Lewis
Al's Emporium
Dow Jones Newswires
“Nice details on subjects like John Elway as an
alleged Ponzi scheme victim, the Segway, the
scheme that broke up the junior high school
friendship between Al Feld and Mark Jay
Jackson, Kenneth Marsh's Porsche and Don
Ward's stolen shoeshine stand. His subjects
are intriguing and his writing is compelling. In
each case, his writing and reporting made you
empathize with his subjects. He covers a wide
breadth of topics that demonstrate his range.”
PERSONAL
FINANCE
Alina Tugend
“Alina Tugend Personal Finance”
The New York Times
“Well focused. Conversational. Relatable and
actionable. What we like about these articles is
the common sense approach to money using
every day household items and circumstances.”
Paul J. Lim
Investing in 2010
Money Magazine
“Excellent package of a wide range of
investment options and cautionary advice,
explained clearly, engagingly and with plenty of
resources readers can use. Nice mix of
graphics and historical data. “Outstanding,
contrarian analysis that forces readers to think
more deeply about their personal financial
decisions. Lim uses historical data to help
predict future trends, helping readers to get
ahead of the curve.”
Jessica Silver-Greenberg
Credit Card Tricks
The Wall Street Journal
“Some of the most-comprehensive personalfinance reporting we've seen. Excellent
explanations of how banks and credit-card
companies are responding to new federal
limits on fees. Silver-Greenberg demonstrates
that banks will find a way to keep their
revenue streams. Great work.”
PRINT: DAILY
NEWSPAPERS
BLOGS
Circ. 25,000 - 200,000
Jon Chesto
Mass. Market blog
The Patriot Ledger
“Chesto "gets" the spirit of a blog newsy and
informative, with a slight edge but not too
much edge, conversational but still
professional. We liked the local orientation
that at the same time managed to capture or
allude to broader themes, His use of voice
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seems to come naturally. Hyperlinks were
useful, didn’t feel forced and certainly weren’t
overdone.”
Circ. 200,000 - 500,000
Financial Times staff
FT Alphaville
The Financial Times
“This is smart, sophisticated, crisply written
analysis of the day's biggest market and global
economy stories. This is diverse and wideranging content, presented with lots of voice,
verve and swagger not usually seen in typical
business writing. Financial data can sometimes
be so dry, but not in Alphaville, with phrases
such as, ‘Like a goodfella who broke omerta’ in
a post titled ‘Hal gets whacked’ about
Halliburton. Meanwhile, a multitude of voices
manages to maintain structure and keep on
topic. Bravo.”
Kirsten Valle Pittman
On the Economy
Charlotte Observer
“On the Economy offers well-written,
thoroughly reported yet concise reports on
the Charlotte economy, with an eye toward
explaining how larger trends affect the local
economy. For a one-woman show this
excellent blog touches on a variety of
subjects. A year later the topics are still
relevant, particularly in today's climate. Kirsten
Pittman's writing is approachable, a fact that’s
demonstrated in the lively comments section.
Overall, this is a smart daily dose of news-youcan-use, presented in a way that informs
business and non-business readers alike.”
Terry Maxon, Eric Torbenson and Dave Michaels
Airline Biz blog
Dallas Morning News
“The writing on this excellent Dallas Morning
News blog does what a blog is expected to
do. It takes news, and creates engaging
content. The judges thought blogging on SWAAir Tran deal was particularly strong, with
multiple, creative approaches: the law firm
feeding frenzy, what smart people are saying,
financial and legal aspects of the deal, political
commentary, etc. Overall, the Airline Biz blog
delivers a strong editorial focus on a single
topic important to Dallas-area readers, with
lots of personality and a sharp, unified voice.
Good stuff.”
Circ. 500,001 and over
Tom Fowler, Brett Clanton, Jennifer A. Dlouhy, and
Monica Hatcher
Fuel Fix Blog
Houston Chronicle
“WE LOVE THIS BLOG. It updates frequently,
it has its own URL, it's authoritative, it has
voice, you want to come back to it, it has lots
of sharing tools, etc etc. Doesn't seem to have
a huge audience, but definitely deserves
recognition.”
BREAKING NEWS
Circ. 25,000 - 200,000
Donna Goodison
TJX Layoffs
Boston Herald
“This was a very good read overall. The writers
were careful and included great details. This
entry was not just about the numbers; it made
everything seem real. There was a great
amount of color for the story. The idea to
include the mayor was great. The sidebar story
was the perfect way to include his reaction to
the closing.”
Jim Mackinnon, Jim Carney and David Knox
Thousands Sink Funds into Akron
Company
The Akron Beacon-Journal
“This appears to be same-day computer-aided
reporting, which is pretty special. It is very had
to spin and cross-check data in that time
frame. The writers' ability to find, parse and
report on these numbers under deadline
pressure is impressive.”
Paul Grimaldi, with Staff Reporters
CVS CEO Unveils a Surprise
Providence Journal
“The committee really appreciated the
reporting and writing in this story. The writers
aimed big, thought big and produced. There
was no thought of leaving some details for the
second day story. They packed everything in
for a clear and easy to read set of stories. The
committee enjoyed the way the writers
addressed the local and national impact. The
inclusion of the criminal and charitable
elements of the story were excellent. Overall,
a pleasure to read.”
Circ. 200,000 - 500,000
Terry Maxon and Eric Torbenson
Southwest Buys Airtran
Dallas Morning News
“A terrifically rich package, with deep industry
insight creatively told and with energy in print
and with fast-paced information online. The
package of stories, which showed the true
benefit of hard work and beat reporting,
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
answered clearly many of the questions likely
on readers' minds. The Dallas Morning News
told readers what was at stake in an important
local, national and international story.”
Detroit Free Press Auto Team
Toyota's Shocker
Detroit Free Press
“Important story that resonated with car
owners across America, and the world, and
one that is intensely important for the Free
Press's hometown. Through news, analysis and
opinion, this smart package explored all the
angles, along with great drama.”
Brandon Bailey, Steve Johnson, Chris O'Brien,
John Boudreau and Scott Duke Harris
Hurd Resigns
San Jose Mercury News
“A highly impressive all-round package about
the possible causes and ramifications of a
change that caught the American corporate
world by surprise. The San Jose Mercury News
team truly captured the unexpected nature of
Hurd's resignation but also quickly provided
answers for readers. The stories demonstrated
both the past years under Mark Hurd and
what potentially lies ahead for HP. “
Circ. 500,001 and over
Brett Clanton,Tom Fowler, Monica Hatcher,
Jennifer Latson,Terri Langford, Lise Olsen, Purva
Patel and Lindsay Wise.
Oil Spill
Houston Chronicle
“While no one could have anticipated the full
scope of the oil spill story on the day it broke,
the Chronicle's coverage was impressive, both
in capturing the human elements of the story,
and in crucial background material that even
today raise questions about how oil companies
conduct their business. This is exactly what
you would hope a local paper would do under
the circumstances.”
The Wall Street Journal Staff
Flash Crash
The Wall Street Journal
“The Journal did a great job explaining the
market's chaotic day, as well as telling the
story of how the so-called flash crash affected
the people caught up in it. All these months
later, the Journal’s initial cut at the first draft of
history – and fingering of likely culprits – holds
up remarkably well.”
Gretchen Morgenson and Louise Story
The SEC vs. Goldman Sachs
The New York Times
“This was a great example of how earlier
enterprise reporting can lead to unmatched
coverage of breaking news. Its account was the
most definitive and lucid piece about a
complex series of transactions. The graphics
helped complement the story.”
CREATIVE USE ACROSS
MULTIPLE PLATFORMS
Circ. 25,000 - 500,000
Aaron Kessler, Joaquin Sapien and Jeff Larson
Contaminated Drywall Cover-Up
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
“The Drywall Cover-Up story, from catchy
headline to interactive presentation, was par
excellence for this category. The thoroughness
of the reporting, the combination of human
elements and data driven information, and
more importantly the interaction between
those two elements, and the way they
informed each other, was unmatched. Both
entries in this category are excellent reports
that could have easily competed with the
largest media outlets. Both took advantage of
multiple platforms to deliver compelling
journalism.”
Marshall Allen, Alex Richards, Leila Navidi,Trent
Ogle,Tyson Anderson and Las Vegas Sun Staff
Do No Harm: Hospital Care in Las
Vegas
Las Vegas Sun
“I was "grabbed" by the intro to the story.
Powerful, and a great example of a systemic
problem that resonates with everyone who's
ever had a sick family member-- on a personal
level. the interactive web site-- from source
documents to personal stories to video-- is
the work of a highly professional and
dedicated news organization. The lead grabbed
me and it got better from there. Excellent use
of interactive elements, photography and
videography. Compelling journalism.”
Jessica Bliss, Sam Simpkins
Life In Limbo
The Tennessean
“The financial crisis has wrought untold harm
on our society, but so far most stories have
been about big banks, underwater mortgage
holders, and swindlers and scammers. This
story-- of people more or less born into crisis
-- is a story of people who will shape our
future world. Not an auspicious start for
them, but a solid and striking multimedia
presentation-- using the tools of this
generation I might add-- is an excellent
chronicle of their story and the challenges
they and all Americans will face in getting back
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
our footing. Amazing story telling. Compelling
and artfully told. And excellent use of
multimedia.”
Circ. 500,000 and over
David Leonhardt, Kevin Quealy and Bill Marsh
You Fix the Budget
The New York Times
“This entry put the "I" in interactive. It made a
tired discussion (what will Washington about
the budget) and brought it to life, showing the
choices, the possibilities and turning it all into
a personal event. Its main "puzzle" was fun to
play with as well as informative on multiple
levels. The entry successfully tied together
elements of the media -- print, interactive
graphics, video and social media. This entry
also became news itself as thousands of
people tried their hands at solving the budget
crisis. The NYT took these social components
and wove them into the core, by featuring
what others had said, bringing in new experts
to offer commentary, and extending the life of
the effort.”
Erin Aigner, David Barstow, Joe Burgess, Shan
Carter, James Glanz, Xaquín Gonzalez, Rob
Harris, Haeyoun Park, Sergio Peçanha, Graham
Roberts, Amy Schoenfeld and Archie Tse.
Gulf Oil Spill
The New York Times
“This effort gives readers an in-depth look at
the gulf spill by providing a fantastic multidimensional package that included both
riveting storytelling and online media
components. The paper’s use of immersive
interactive graphics helped readers
understand the scope of the spill through an
innovative oil spill tracker and a step-by-step
visual presentation outlined efforts to stop
the leak. The accompanying video explainers
took readers into the final moments before
the explosion and inside the blowout
investigation. The combined package was
gripping, comprehensive and expertly laid
out.”
WSJ Staff
What They Know
The Wall Street Journal
“The WSJ expertly deployed its considerable
resources on this important topic and
brought it to new life--and relevance--with
smart use of various media. Its use of
animation helped to explain a complex and
arcane topic matter to a broad audience (also
impressive- the reporter served as the
animator as well), and the easy to use but
powerful info-graphics personalized the
nefarious commercial activity happening
across popular sites and apps. What's more,
the WSJ's use of Twitter to keep the story
alive many months after it first appeared is a
terrific example of how multiple media can be
used to maintain a story's relevance well past
the issue date.”
EXPLANATORY
Circ. less than 100,000
Aaron Kessler & Joaquin Sapien
Contaminated Drywall Cover-Up
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
“The judges were unanimously impressed by
the scope and reporting tenacity of this
excellent national expose, a classic case study
for any book on great business reporting.”
Sherri Buri McDonald
Golden Temple
The Register-Guard
“The judges were unanimous in their support
for this riveting, almost novelistic, tale of
business intrigue within a once idealistic Sikh
commune that eventually became divided and
blinded by the possibility of fortunes to be
made from the sale of one of its ventures. It's
a reminder of how good business stories can
be when money is mixed into human nature.”
Circ. 100,000 to 200,000
Ronald Campbell
Immigrants and California Economy
The Orange County Register
“This was a wonderfully planned, wellwritten, perfectly executed piece about an
oft-written topic. It's hard to believe we can
read something about immigration and learn
something new given how much print the
topic has consumed already. But this series did
just that. Easy and enjoyable to read, thorough
yet concise and focused.”
Allison Schaefers
Homeless in Waikiki
Honolulu Star Advertiser
“A strong package, both visually appealing and
informative. The reporter handled the topic
well, explaining the various sides of
homelessness in this tourist paradise.”
Christine Tierney
China's Car Boom
Detroit News
“These stories do an excellent job explaining
the huge impact China will have on a critical
industry not only for Detroit, but the U.S.
economy. The stories are well written,
comprehensive yet concise. The stories strike
a nice balance between breadth -- global
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
impact -- and focus -- potential outcomes for
Detroit.”
Circ. 200,000 - 500,000
Dan Gearino and Joe Hallett
Green Dreams
Columbus Dispatch
“A comprehensive, well-sourced and well-told
look at Ohio’s drive to become the Silicon
Valley of the green energy industry. The series
laid out both the opportunities and challenges
the state faces, raising the important questions
of whether its green initiatives will ultimately
prove viable. The story was relevant for both
Ohio residents and a larger national audience.”
Olivera Perkins
Their Lives Unraveling
The Plain Dealer
“A very human look at how union underdogs
battled a big company and won. It showed how
employees and their union can prevent a plant
from closing. The reporting was superb, with
great narrative and anecdotes, and was told
with real dramatic flair. Reporter Olivia Perkins
was able to gain a level of trust of the
employees and capture the dialogue that
brought the story to life.”
Maria Panaritis
Surviving the Storm
Philadelphia Inquirer
“A really well-told narrative. It humanized the
shuttering of Chrysler dealerships nationwide.
It explored not only economic concerns, but
also the relationships between father and son,
between dealers and customers and between
co-workers. And while it focused on one family
business in Pennsylvania, it also put into
context the problems of the broader auto
industry.”
Circ. 500,001 and over
Jackie Crosby
How Best Buy Got Duped
Minneapolis Star Tribune
“A scrappy story by a scrappy paper that
explains how a 1990s business breakthrough -the reverse auction -- could be turned against
its sponsor.”
Mary Williams Walsh and Michael Cooper
Payback Time
The New York Times
“Walsh and Cooper make it chillingly clear
how states got into this mess, even as they
capture your emotions with the stories of the
retired victims of states' over-promising and
mismanagement.”
The Wall Street Journal Staff
On the Inside
Wall Street Journal
“Great investigation, but also a wonderful
explainer, for all of the insight it provided into
the way inside traders talk and the obstacles
authorities are up against in fighting them.”
FEATURE
Circ. 25,000 - 100,000
Staff writer Patrick Peterson
One Family's Impact
Florida Today
Patrick Peterson ably shows the impact of the
end of the space shuttle program--a turning
point in the history of Brevard County,
Florida--through the eyes of one family. The
story conveys the emotional and financial
impact of the loss of an industry with powerful
historical resonance. Literate and wellexplained, the piece also makes smart use of
graphics to tell the story.
Peter Frost, Senior Reporter
Risky Business
Daily Press (Newport News VA)
“Peter Frost deftly combines the tools of
narrative journalism and investigative
reporting. Frost shows great initiative in
piecing together the story of the fall of an
investment advisor using client interviews and
records from bankruptcy and divorce court. A
sobering tale of what happens when greed and
the lure of a "sure bet" turns into disaster. A
well documented piece that kept me engaged
from the start.”
Circ. 100,000 - 200,000
Philip Walzer
Final Shift
The Virginian-Pilot
“The judges were impressed with Walzer's
tale of the last shift at the International Paper
plant near Franklin, Ohio. This is an elegant
narrative of a poignant local story, with clever
details about the lead characters and insight
into what life was like on the last day of this
iconic place. In a part of the country that has
been devastated by the loss of manufacturing,
Walzer was able to give readers both in his
local community and beyond what the loss of
this mill would mean to both the people who
worked there and their families.”
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
Mary Ann Milbourn
Reversal of Fortunes
The Orange County Register
“It's always difficult to report on the media,
but to cover your own employer can be even
more challenging. The judges appreciated
Milbourn's ability to marry the tale of a
business empire in crisis with the inside story
of family greed and infighting that threatened
the future of a regional icon. The chronology
was strong, the narrative insightful.
Considering the reporter's daily work load, it
is a credit to Milbourn's reporting skills that
she was able to map out this longer-term,
broader tale while still covering day-to-day
breaking news.”
Allison Schaefers
The Pull of Paradise
Honolulu Star Advertiser
“An excellent example of why local news
coverage matters: marrying what is happening
in her backyard, but also has national interest.
A terrific idea with solid execution, the story
offered a compelling look at the romantic, and
somewhat bittersweet, history of a shuttered
national treasure -- all placed within the
context of the long-term impacts of the 1992
hurricane on Hawaii's tourism industry. The
judges appreciated Ms. Schaefers' ability to
explain why the Coco Palms was more than
just an eyesore, and did it in a story with an
elegant lede and a tale that was tightly written
and endearingly sweet.”
Circ. 200,000 - 500,000
The Boston Globe Staff
Upper Crust
Boston Globe
“An ambitious and nicely written tale of
immigration and the uneasy relationship
between rich and poor in the Americas. The
reporting and detail went well beyond the
legal documents .This story exhibited
extraordinary and courageous reporting.”
Dominic Gates
Dreamliner's Woes Pile Up
The Seattle Times
“Well-reported, informative story about the
challenges and difficulties Boeing faced building
a new generation of aircraft with an
outsourced workforce.”
David Migoya
High-End Hustle
The Denver Post
“Great shoe-leather reporting on an
investment scheme gone bust.”
Circ. 501,000 and over
Dan Browning and Kara McGuire
A Financial Advisor's Tragic Reckoning
Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Objectivity and restraint are hallmarks of this
story. The reporters related every juicy detail
without trying to portray the subject as simply
a crook or as a (slightly tainted) saint who
wanted only to make his investors whole.”
Matt Richtel
Your Brain on Computers
The New York Times
“This story is impressive in the way it
downloads hardcore information in a style that
is accessible to everyone. The reporter made a
perfect choice of a family to anchor the story.
He does a nice job combining real life
examples with expert voices and research. In
today's online/gadget-fueled world, the story
makes one stop and pause.”
David Segal
A Bully Finds a Pulpit on the Web
The New York Times
“This story grabs readers with the opening
anecdote and holds tight throughout with
good reporting, an insight into the world of
online commerce and fluid writing. The
reporter's strong interview skills, knack for
detail and flair and ability to spin a complex
tale into a readable story shine through. This
definitely is a story you feel compelled to
suggest to someone else.”
GENERAL EXCELLENCE
Circ. 200,000 and under
Norma Coile
Arizona Daily Star
“Excellent coverage of local and broader
issues during the recession, great use of
graphics and visual elements. Series on
Maricopa was good example of reporting and
analysis of a core story.”
The Times-Tribune Staff
Times-Tribune (Scranton,Pa.)
Times-Shamrock Newspapers
Patriot Ledger Business Staff
The Patriot Ledger
“Serves its readership extremely well with a
small staff, breaking stories and adding
important detail to unfolding news events, and
a clear, lively layout and page format.”
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
Lynn Hicks, David Elbert, Donnelle Eller, Philip
Brasher, Kayla Craig, Jeff Eckhoff, Karen Mracek,
Dan Piller and Tom Witosky.
Des Moines Register
“The Register shows a commitment to
consistent enterprise work. Its business
coverage appeals to a general audience, but
also carries an authoritative tone and detail
that connects with those curious about the
nitty-gritty of companies, industries, business
players and financial detail. The range of
coverage is somewhat limited – heavy on
agriculture – but its special series approaches
and topical feature formatting allow its
reporters to tap into people as well as
business topics. The pages are tightly edited,
and Register marshals staff from Washington as
well as Iowa to deliver the news.”
Susan Carney
Detroit News
“All automotive, all of the time. This staff's
coverage of the industry is as deep as it is
wide, from politics of auto manufacturing to
industry trends and rivalries, to finance, to
spot-news developments coming from major
players in the industry. The News' coverage of
Toyota's recall offers is a clinic into reporting
in layers of narratives and numbers and
breaking stories into digestible pieces. It is
clear this staff is steeped in the auto industry;
nice sourcing, a clear grasp of finance and
market trend, and tightly coordinated coverage
are hallmarks. Even when its enterprise work
moved elsewhere, such as in the takeout on
Corktown's Revival, the reports were deep
and nuanced.”
Kenneth R. Gosselin, Mara Lee, Janice Podsada,
Matthew Sturdevant, Ezra Silk, Eric Gershon, Dan
Haar and Rinker Buck
Hartford Courant
“The Courant does a great job of justifying the
local rag for even the most connected news
consumer. While at times it stretches the role
of business writers, it has an uncanny ability to
generate compelling local business content
without having to stretch or resort to pasteon relevance. Instead of relying on stale wire
feeds or ‘churnalism’ to fill its pages, Courant
staffers earn their keep by unearthing
interesting and unanticipated angles on news
that would otherwise be easy to skim.”
Circ. 200,000 - 500,000
The Seattle Times staff
The Seattle Times
The Boston Globe Business Section
Boston Globe
“The Globe's business editor said 2010 was an
ambitious year for them and that's an apt
description of the sections submitted. The
stories were smart, nuanced, and accompanied
by great visuals. The stories covered a range of
topics, and the Globe dealt with local topics in
a way that showed readers how the story fit
into a larger world.”
Circ. 500,001 or more
USA TODAY
USA Today Money Section
“The newspaper’s mission is crystal clear and it
delivers well with several pieces focused on
airlines and airports for business travelers.
There were several stories geared to busy
professionals looking for information on
managing their investments including the
financial market coverage, the Roth IRA piece
and mutual funds scorecard. Presentation of
the newspaper with color, photos and graphics
is tremendous and makes it an easy read. The
judges particularly liked the feature on five
entrepreneurs starting up businesses. It was a
very lively read with photos of each.”
The New York Times Business Staff
The New York Times
“The Times remains the standard for most
thorough and dedicated business section for a
general interest newspaper in America. Its
front page pieces on business, such as on the
job recovery, do an excellent job of mixing the
larger issues with the human element. The
section itself effortlessly takes the reader from
the boardroom to the consumer complaint
desk with a short stop at Wall Street and the
economy classroom. We especially liked the
coverage of the European debt crisis which
was thorough and sophisticated, and the
sector-by-sector election reaction pieces.”
Los Angeles Times Business Section
Los Angeles Times
“The paper is clearly committed to devoting
resources and space to business coverage.
Beyond its great and thorough coverage of
Toyota, the paper provides a great mix of
stories in its business section with a clever
columnist, interview. “
Dennis Fulton
Dallas Morning News
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
INVESTIGATIVE
Circ. Less than 100,000
Jeff Horwitz, Marc Hochstein
The Trouble with Force-Placed
Insurance
American Banker/SourceMedia
“American Banker writes with authority about
an issue of national significance. In clear, strong
language, the report reveals more problems in
the mortgage servicing industry and lax
oversight by regulators. It carefully outlines
conflicts of interest and what's at stake for both
consumers and commercial purchasers of
mortgages.”
Aaron Kessler and Joaquin Sapien
Contaminated Drywall Cover-Up
Sarasota (Fla.) Herald Tribune/ProPublica
“The Herald Tribune built on its previous
outstanding coverage of Chinese drywall by
teaming up with ProPublica to delve even more
deeply into the topic. The series details a lack of
regulatory accountability, which made it easy
for businesses to keep supplying and installing
Chinese drywall. The story has telling details
about how U.S. regulators were intimidated
during a visit to China and how Katrina victims
in New Orleans were victimized a second
time.”
Paige St. John
Florida's Insurance Nightmare
Sarasota (Fla.) Herald Tribune/ProPublica
“The Herald Tribune's extensive coverage
shows windstorm insurance for many Floridians
is a house of cards. Insurance companies have
gamed the system by using dubious models for
potential damage and using affiliated reinsurers
to reap windfall profits.”
Circ. 100,000-200,000
Philip Brasher
Egg Recall
The Des Moines Register
“A fine series of scoops on a hot national
story.”
Marshall Allen, Alex Richards and Las Vegas Sun
Staff
Do No Harm: Hospital Care in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Sun
“Excellent work -- exhaustive and intelligent
use of data in the public service, showing the
disturbing state of hospital care in Las Vegas,
both statistically and through the compelling
accounts of patients who suffered harms
including death. Especially trenchant were
findings that rates of infection were rising,
surgical errors were disproportionately high
rates, and indications that hospitals were
underreporting their most serious examples of
patient harms.”
Kirk Ladendorf and Laylan Copelin
Semantech leaves Austin
Austin American-Statesman
“Copelin and Ladendorf broke news in the
secretive realm of the deals states strike to
giving away taxpayer money to lure businesses.
They showed how the Sematech chip
consortium may not have delivered the jobs
promised to Texas in return for its incentives.
Even as credulous state officials defended the
deals, the reporters showed Sematech jobs
were being gutted in Texas in favor of new
locales in New York--without politicians'
knowledge. For the reporters to have scooped
the state's business development officials on a
key business relocating out of state and taking
jobs with it is very impressive.”
Circ. 200,000 - 500,000
Michael J. Berens
Seniors for Sale
The Seattle Times
“It's not often as journalists we get to say we
saved lives. This project meets that standard. It
serves the local community while telling a
national story that is gripping, tragic and
shocking, while remaining fair and balanced.
Strong research and powerful writing showed
lives were at stake because of a poorly
regulated industry. The series prompted needed
changes. Fine multimedia components as well.
This was a local story that had national
importance. It was well-researched from every
angle on a subject little known to many around
the country. It's a tragic and poignant story, well
researched, well written and accompanied by
gripping videos. This series provides a major
public service.”
Darren Barbee
SEC in Fort Worth
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“Everybody suspects that the SEC and other
authorities knew or should have known what
was going on in the boom before the crash. This
story uncovers in devastating detail exactly how
SEC officials turned a blind eye even when one
of their own people told them what was
happening. Meticulous research and attention to
detail telling an important story. The ineptitude
of the SEC's investigation of Bernie Madoff has
been widely reported, but this article is perhaps
even more troubling. An SEC official knew years
ago that there was a Ponzi scheme involving
Alan Stanford, but was rebuffed by internal
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
politics and appeared to face retaliatory
actions. A significant story that highlights how
a problem could have been unearthed several
years before. Fascinating inside look at
bureaucratic bungling inside a very important
agency that could have helped rescue many
unsuspecting investors. “
OPINION / COLUMN
Circ. Less than 200,000
Circ. 500,001 and greater
Bill Virgin
Bill Virgin Columns
Seattle Business Magazine
“A nice mix of topics.Very well written in a
concise conversational voice. Loaded with lots
of interesting giblets of facts. Gives the outside
reader a sense of what’s important to people
in Tacoma, especially their inferiority complex
they have with their neighbor to the north,
Seattle. Best of all is the elegant use of good
writing to amplify a point. To wit: “Here’s a
factoid to chew on to understand the
motivation behind the combination: When
Qwest merged with U S West in 2000, the
new phone company had 3 million residential
and business lines in Washington. At the end of
2009, the Utilities and Transportation
Commission reports, Qwest had 1.3 million
lines. "Could your business take that kind of
haircut in customer counts and still be a going
concern?”
Robert O'Harrow
Alaska Native Corporations
Washington Post
“The Washington Post took us into a deep
into Alaska to show how federal dollars are
spent (and misspent) in the nation's 50th
state, a place that's always been treated
differently financially. Besides the solid
investigation into how contracts were
awarded, the series told captivating stories
about real people who benefited and lost out
in the process.”
John Kostrzewa
Commentary on Commerce Concerns
Facing R.I.
Providence Journal
“A passionate voice that speaks to all Rhode
Island residents about the things that work
(not much) and need to be fixed. Like basic
services at the DMV and state finances. Best
of all, he has a nice knack of digging past the
executive summaries to search out the issues
that make for interesting and uncomfortable
questions.”
The Wall Street Journal Staff
In Medicare's Data Trove, Clues to
Curing Cost Crisis
The Wall Street Journal
“Great work that relied on both a well-crafted
computer data base and excellent real-world
examples of people and businesses. Medicare
is one of those topics that Washington both
loves and loathes. It's tough to get your hands
around, but the Journal did just that and
pointed out the legal abuses in the system.”
Dan Haar
Dan Haar Columns
Hartford Courant
“His columns show an abiding interest in the
very small business. Not in a romantic way.
Instead, he's interested in their problems and
their context. Really small business are
important to think about, he admits. But it's
larger businesses – say, 50 to 200 employees –
that really make an economy work. Plus, he
wrote a really powerful column about a
candidate – Dick Blumenthal – who was so
afraid of standing up for what he believes in –
that the solid, strong regulation works – that
he wouldn’t mention it in Senatorial race.”
The Boston Globe Staff
Upper Crust
Boston Globe
“A great example of taking a spot news story
-- a probe of the restaurant -- and digging
further to tell the real story. Another great
local story that rises to the national level, well
researched and written with flair. Story shows
an incredible contrast between a wellregarded pizza chain and treatment of the
labor force. Kudos for traveling all the way to
Brazil to show the international relationship.
Coverage also provided balance by showing
how money earned at Upper Crust helped
changes lives in Brazil.”
Walt Bogdanich
Radiation Boom
The New York Times
“Great storytelling here that reflected the
human risks and financial challenges involved
in radiation therapy.”
Circ. 200,000-500,000
John Gapper
John Gapper's Column
The Financial Times
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
“Clear explanations of complex material
accompanied by strong, rational points of view.
Gapper has knowledge and perspective to
write convincingly and the insight to perceive
the foibles and contradictions of his subjects.
The Facebook and Goldman columns illustrate
this talent powerfully.”
Alan Kline, Rebecca Sausner, Barbara Rehm,
Andrew Lathrop, Julie Dienes, Christopher Wood,
Matt Bleistein, Bonnie McGeer and Glen Fest
The 25 Most Powerful Women in
Banking
US Banker
Sheryl Harris
Sheryl Harris Columns
Plain Dealer, Cleveland
“Work demonstrates how effective a
columnist can be at forcing accountability on
behalf of consumers and citizens. Clear,
vigorous advocate for what's right.”
Craig Matters and Chris Peacock
Best Places to Live
Money Magazine
“Loved the added content and was surprised
by some of the towns that were chosen.”
Jay Hancock
Jay Hancock Commentary
Baltimore Sun
“Passion shows in Hancock's selection of
subjects and content. A wide range of
approaches, from accountability journalism to
forward-looking analyses to profiles.”
Circulation less than 500,000
Circ. 500,001 or greater
Loren Steffy
Houston Chronicle
“Lively, well written, provocative and
consistently interesting. He makes complex
topics come alive. His tax column was
especially fine. One judge had never read Steffy
before but is now a big fan.”
David Leonhardt
The New York Times
“Leonhardt is at the top of his game. He writes
about complicated economic topics with ease
and in a way that the average reader can
understand. He has an ability to strip away all
the noise and get to the heart of public policy
questions involving economics.”
Gretchen Morgenson
The New York Times
“These columns are helpful in pointing out the
major holes in legislation designed to help
reduce the chances of another financial crisis.
Many other news stories focused almost
exclusively on what the new law was supposed
to do, rather than whether it would actually do
what was intended.”
PRINT MAGAZINES
CREATIVE USE ACROSS
MULTIPLE PLATFORMS
All circulation groups
EXPLANATORY
Jason Gale
India's Diabetes Paradox
Bloomberg Markets
“A gripping tale of a disease and its economic
hold on the developing nation of India. By
interviewing expert after expert, the author
found that malnutrition among infants sets the
metabolic stage for this crippling disease later
in life. A well written, absorbing tale of the dark
side of developing countries.”
Edward Robinson
ETFs Gone Wild
Bloomberg Markets
“The author takes you inside the world of ETF
-- exchange traded funds -- and delivers a rare
view of this booming industry. Nicely woven
anecdotes give a nod to history while hinting
at more innovative products (or potentially
risky ones) to come. A great example of
explanatory journalism.”
Michael Peltz
Inside the Machine
Institutional Investor magazine
“The author takes you inside the 2010 Flash
Crash with a detailed look at multimillion
dollar business of high frequency trading. It's a
brash look at how hedge funds use computer
algorithms for statistical arbitrage, seeking to
exploit the price inefficiencies among different
securities. A complex topic for sure, but well
explained.”
Circulation more than 500,000
Roger Parloff
Seeds of Discord
Fortune
“This was a well-written piece that was
thoroughly researched and successfully cut
through lots of potential legal jargon to tell a
darn interesting story.”
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
Peter Robison, Asjylyn Loder, and Alan Bjerga
Amber Waves of Pain
Bloomberg BusinessWeek
“The judges all felt this was a thoroughly
researched article that took a complex topic
and spelled out why it is a problem. Aside from
being an excellent piece of explanatory
reporting, it also unveiled an issue that few in
the investment community recognized as
problematic.”
Pat Regnier, Michelle Andrews and Amanda
Gengler
Health-Care Reform
Money
The judges thought this was a smart piece,
most likely put together under the duress of
deadline. It did a good job explaining to the
Average Joe the sundry changes that the health
care revamp would bring.
FEATURE
Circ. less than 75,000
Glenn Hunter, and Steve Pate
Feature on Carol Reed
D CEO Magazine
Dean Starkman
Hamster Wheel
Columbia Journalism Review
Kathy Casteel
Tech Transfer
Inside Columbia's CEO (Columbia, MO)
Circ. 75,000 - 500,000
Anthony Effinger and Katherine Burton
From Subprime to Satellites
Bloomberg Markets
John Lippert and Mario Parker
New King Coal
Bloomberg Markets
Bill Alpert and Leslie P. Norton
Chinese Reverse-Merger Stocks
Barron's
Circ. 500,001 or greater
James Bandler and Doris Burke
Dangerous Liaisons at IBM
Fortune
“This story stings when you read it. A
scrupulously reported morality tale, complete
with sex, lies and audiotape, it shows how a
widely respected and seemingly good man can
go bad. Dramatic and relentless, but steering
clear of any sensationalism, the story opens a
window into the murky private market for
information about public companies, illustrating
how tips get traded among a handful of
privileged insiders. The reader comes away
feeling grateful not to be trapped in such a
tragic dilemma and alarmed that a limited
number of people-in-the-know continue to
benefit from confidential information. While
legal experts still struggle to define “inside
information,” this story shows us exactly what
it means -- by highlighting how it makes a few
people rich and how it can destroy other
people’s lives.”
Brad Stone and Bruce Einhorn
How Baidu Won China
Bloomberg BusinessWeek
“This story lays out in meticulous detail the
ways in which Baidu and its CEO Robin Li
elbowed past every rival. The story blows us
away with the startling detail that Li’s “fan club”
is a government-organized group of stooges -and that the very people who squeal and ask
for his autograph use Google when they want
to find something online. Above all, this story
tells readers a multitude of things they could
never learn on their own -- the ultimate test of
good journalism. It shows that Baidu became
one of the world’s biggest technology
companies largely through deals with the
Chinese government, many of them unsavory.
This story doesn’t just look back at the rise of
a corporate superstar, but also forward at how
the influence of the Chinese government may
help shape global business. Anyone who wants
a sense of what that future could look like
should read this story.”
GENERAL EXCELLENCE
All Circulation Sizes
Andy Serwer
Fortune
“Fortune Magazine may be known for its
namesake list, but it has always been a leader in
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
in-depth reporting and great writing and that
continues today. Fortune continues to have
the best reporting and writing among business
magazines exemplified by its stories last year
on the IBM executive ensnared in the insider
trading scandal and its profile of Walmart's
CEO, among many other stories.”
Craig Matters
Money Magazine
“Useful, readable, and visually engaging, Money
provides a reliable guide through personal
finance issues, and even makes intelligent stabs
at public policy. It specializes in putting a
human face to difficult personal finance issues
and unraveling complexity for the average
reader.”
INVESTIGATIVE
Circ. less than 500,000
Michael Smith
Wachovia's Drug Habit
Bloomberg Markets
“A nice piece of reporting. It strayed at times
from a single-minded investigative approach
but it was strong. Did a good job explaining
the broader context of the scourge of
Mexican drug cartels.”
David Evans
Profiting From Fallen Soldiers
Bloomberg Markets
“High impact. Judges were all taken by how
Defense Secretary Robert Gates hadn't even
known of the practice until this story. Hard
hitting, well written and colorful.”
Circulation over 500,000
Amanda Bennett and Charles Babcock
End of Life
Bloomberg BusinessWeek
“Terrific piece. It exhibited both hard-core
business reporting and a personal approach.”
OPINION / COLUMN
Circ. less than 75,000
Bill Virgin
Bill Virgin Columns
Seattle Business Magazine
“Bill Virgin calls out the pointless competition
between Washington State's private and public
tourism agencies; candidly addresses the new
workplace realities where money is king and
loyalty is dead; and bluntly states that
Washington is delusional about its edge in the
clean tech sector. He tackles local issues in a
no-nonsense way that combines an analysis of
the facts with a dose of attitude.”
Dean Starkman
Price of Admission/Hamster Wheel
Columbia Journalism Review
“Dean Starkman's commentary about the
journalism industry is biting and wry. It is clear
that Starkman understands what an opinion
piece should be -- opinionated. In a year when
the magazine industry delivered few entries
with strong positions on any of the many
business challenges we faced in 2010,
Starkman stands out because he takes a stand
and makes a point.”
Circulation more than 500,000
James B. Stewart
Common Sense
SmartMoney Magazine
“Uses experience and knowledge to teach and
prescribe investing tactics.”
Anne Kadet
Tough Customer
SmartMoney Magazine
“She finds interesting subjects to write about
and is entertaining.”
Walter Updegrave
Retirement Column
Money Magazine
“Good personal finance advice.
Knowledgeable and accessible style.”
PRINT: WEEKLIES
and BIWEEKLIES
BLOGS
Aaron Elstein
In The Markets with Aaron Elstein
Crain's New York Business
“Aaron Elstein's In the Markets blog offers
useful business and investing news that's hard
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
to find elsewhere. His blog post on the
"golden coffin" death benefits at Omnicom, for
example, was an interesting look at a company
that was curiously offering to continue to pay
high-level execs after they died. His post
"Whoppers from the bailout binge" also
caught our attention. Elstein juxtaposed public
comments from big banking execs next to the
number of times they borrowed money from
the Feds. The post was a straightforward yet
insightful way to show that Wall Street's exec's
words aren't always representing their
actions. We found Aaron's blogs unique, fun to
read and informative.”
Mason King
Restaurant Blog
Indianapolis Business Journal
“The Indianapolis Business Journal's Inside
Dish far surpassed the competition in our
eyes. Mason King's interviews with
restaurateurs feels personal as he details
some of their struggles and their triumphs
running restaurants in the Indianapolis area.
The video interviews he includes ad color and
vibrancy to the posts, allowing the reader to
get to know the owners of the restaurant and
see the inner working of their establishments.
These down-home, yet professionally
executed blog posts definitely caught our
attention.”
Shia Kapos
Shia Kapos "Taking Names" Blog
Crain's Chicago Business
“Reading Shia Kapos's blog for Taking Names
feels like a guilty pleasure. She digs up dirt and
takes no prisoners, especially when exposing
the University of Chicago's President for
dating a professor while still married and living
in the presidential mansion.”
BREAKING NEWS
Daniel Duggan
A&P stops rent on Farmer Jack spaces
Crain's Detroit Business
“Outstanding work tying all of the suits and
other documents into a comprehensive story.
Good work providing context on what is
happening now and what that might mean for
A&P's future. The chart showing each
bankruptcy was an added bonus for readers.”
Adrianne Pasquarelli
Ick! Bedbugs!
Crain's New York Business
“Nice work tying all the bed-bug incidents
together and giving context to what that
means for the business community.”
Kirsten Grind and Jeanne Lang Jones
Deals Burn Fisher Heirs' Fortune
Puget Sound Business Journal
“A good investigative piece that reads like a
narrative about a rich family's fall from
wealth. Superb job of using documents and
sources to explain what happened and why.
Good insight from those involved in both
sides of the investment plan that went
bust.”
CREATIVE USE ACROSS
MULTIPLE PLATFORMS
Editorial staff
25th Anniversary Issue and Micro-Site
Crain's New York Business
“One of the most dynamic and interesting
entries of the lot. This comprehensive package
included a variety of multimedia elements
including strong features and interactive
timelines that I thought were entertaining and
well integrated.”
Steve Serio and Jeff Hartvigsen
40 Under 40: Making a Difference in
Chicago
Crain's Chicago Business
“This package was very creative and very
unique. The interactive graphic would
definitely grab a reader's attention and keep
them clicking. I loved the individual videos and
stories and felt like I really got to know each
of the subjects. This package was well
integrated and well conceived.”
Kirsten Grind and Puget Sound Business Journal
Staff
WaMu Coverage
“It was impressive how Kirsten Grind
managed to make a breaking story into a
dynamic one. Not only did this journalist
scoop the competition, but she added useful
databases of information that couldn't be
found elsewhere. It was chock full of solid
reporting and used a wide breadth of tools
available on the site.”
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
FEATURE
EXPLANATORY
Theresa Agovino
Lew Ranieri and the Road to Hell
Crain's New York Business
“How to explain a $1.5 trillion commercial
real estate mess? Go to the beginning and
meet up with Lew Ranieri, the man who
devised the first financial instrument known
as a mortgage-backed security. Theresa
Agovino's story vividly tells how a series of
hotshot financiers in NYC sowed the seeds
for the CMBS disaster that has hit everyone
everywhere -- and what pioneer Ranieri
intends to do about it now. The color (the
parties with Elton John), the detail (lots of
terrific information on big players and local
properties) and the authoritative writing
make this a clear winner.”
Greg Hinz, Political Columnist and Steve Strahler,
Reporter
Daley by the Numbers
Crain's Chicago Business
“A top-notch story with great ambition and
detailed execution. This powerfully written
analysis of economic trends during the
Richard Daley era shows how his policies
helped create a global “city within a city,”
where incomes are high and amenities worldclass. But the Chicago mayor’s legacy also will
include continuing poverty, middle-class flight
and ballooning debt. Reporters Greg Hinz and
Steven R. Strahler back up all their
conclusions with a data-driven approach that
proves each point to the reader, and lays out
the challenges for the next mayor.”
Alfred Lee
Stem Cells Take Root in Koreatown
Los Angeles Business Journal
“How can patients seeking one of the most
controversial, experimental treatments in
medicine get help at a storefront in LA’s
Koreatown? Alfred Lee’s article about RNL
Bio Co. Ltd.’s stem cell program is a
surprising, multifaceted gem of a story. The
medical details, the regulatory hurdles, the
company’s history, the patients’ testimonials
and the appropriate skepticism are all here.
This is unique reporting and Grade A work.”
Matt Creamer
Creative Exodus in Adland
Advertising Age
“This story is beautifully written, wellreported and has a sharp angle -- key
elements of an exceptional feature story that
many other entries lacked. It is easy to see
why Matthew Creamer's article struck a
nerve within the advertising community, with
a frank, cheeky look at the industry Ad Age
covers.”
Daniel Miller
Cornering Downtown
Los Angeles Business Journal
“Profiles are the among the hardest feature
stories to write, and Daniel Miller delivered
with good sourcing, interesting anecdotes and
a huge "get" -- an interview with the quirky,
elusive protagonist who previously had not
spoken to the press. Says one judge: ‘This
story could be in any newspaper in the
country and stand up on Page One.’ “
Elaine Pofeldt, Xana Antunes and Elizabeth
MacBride
Debt Crumbles Cookie
Crain's New York Business
“Financing a small business is always an
interesting topic with broad appeal, but what
makes this well-written story about an
entrepreneurial couple struggling with debt
shine is the attention to detail, including the
vivid image of the central characters wheeling
their cookie cart on the subway. Plus, there is
a great tension among the couple-turnedbusiness partners who morph into ex-couplebut-still-business-partners.”
GENERAL EXCELLENCE
Editorial staff
Crain's New York Business
Crain's New York Business is a weekly for
“America's largest market that feels like it’s
up to the challenge. It sports smart front page
stories with attention-grabbing headlines. The
inside pages cover a nice range of industries,
and they're attractive to look at as well. The
judges particularly liked the diary-style
columns, such as "The Insider" and "New
York, New York," and hard-edged features like
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
one about the Rev. Floyd Flake. Crain's NY
often had a point of view and it wasn't afraid
to be irreverent when the subject matter
allowed. In short, it delivered the news -- but
it entertained too. And these days, no business
publication can afford not to.”
Staff
Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal
“Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal has
the advantage of being focused on one
industry, but what it does, it does very well.
Scoops at the front, excellent in-depth
reporting at the back, and a slew of
authoritative and pertinent industry news inbetween.”
Staff of the Puget Sound Business Journal
Puget Sound Business Journal
“Puget Sound Business Journal follows the
time-tested format for a local business weekly
- - it just does it a little better than the
competition. There is a lot of hard news in
there, but the journalism does more than just
describe newsworthy events, it tells riveting
stories too. The judges were particularly
impressed by how well the journal covered
the big people and companies in town, so
readers could get a sense of how Starbucks,
Amazon, Microsoft, and other international
corporations are changing the local business
scene. Individual stories that stood out
included the Dinsmore profile, the Fisher
heirs story and the Gates Foundation piece.”
INVESTIGATIVE
Kris Mamula and Anya Litvak
Big Pharma's Deep Pockets
Pittsburgh Business Times
“Well-written, straightforward and revealing
story that looks at all sides of this issue.”
Richard Clough
FirstFed's Fault Lines
Los Angeles Business Journal
“Excellent. Explains in a dramatic fashion, on a
human level, the unwinding of a major
institution in Los Angeles.”
Kirsten Grind
Seized and Sold: Inside the Hidden
World of Bank Closures
Puget Sound Business Journal
“Dramatic, sweeping view of the impact of the
banking crisis and the sometimes baffling
treatment by regulators. An important,
groundbreaking story.”
OPINION / COLUMN
Aaron Elstein
In The Markets
Crain's New York Business
“Elstein's work provided knowledgeable,
sophisticated and surprisingly accessible
analysis of, and insights into, the oftencomplex world of high finance.”
Radio/TV
BREAKING NEWS
CNBC Staff
Flash Crash
CNBC
“Great video report in the breaking news
category. As CNBC's Steffanie Marchese said:
"On May 6th 2010, America’s financial markets
broke. In just 16 minutes, the Dow fell more
than 600 points. At its bottom the Dow was
down 998 points, by far the largest point drop
ever. We didn’t know it yet, but viewers were
watching the first “Flash Crash” in market
history. And they were watching it in realtime. CNBC’s peerless team of reporters and
anchors was there every step of the way,
explaining what was happening, why it was
happening, and what it meant for the
markets." This report came across as urgent,
but not frantic. The team assessed the news
from all angles, giving the viewer as much
information possible in a short amount of
time as the news was happening.”
FEATURE
CNBC staff
Remington Under Fire
CNBC
“Through a painstaking investigation, CNBC
has raised public awareness about a possible
product-safety problem. The personal tales
provide the emotional backdrop that makes
this such a powerful story.
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
CNBC Staff
Marijuana USA
CNBC
“CNBC chronicles the growing acceptance of
marijuana for treating chronic pain and
reports on what may be the birth of a multibillion-dollar industry. The medical-marijuana
debate has been widely reported. But until
now, few people have understood that
marijuana in places like Colorado is becoming
legitimate big business—even as the federal
government and some states continue to
clamp down on it. With its richly-textured
narrative, colorful profiles and hard-hitting
look at this issue in all its complexity,
“Marijuana USA” is a provocative piece of
business journalism that has the power to
alter public perceptions.”
CNBC Staff
One Nation, Overweight
CNBC
“CNBC's One Nation, Overweight examines
the devastating toll of obesity on the lives of
people caught in its grip, the threat this
disease poses to America’s pocketbook and
possible remedies, both well established and
unconventional. It’s an excellent study—clear,
comprehensive and balanced—of what is
perhaps the biggest health menace in America
today. That Americans eat too much of the
wrong stuff is well known. Generally not well
understood, but explained here, however, is
the potentially broad financial impact of the
problem, from rising health-care costs to a
possible decline in America’s competitiveness.
It’s bound to provoke heated discussion
around the nation’s dinner tables and in
boardrooms alike.”
REAL ESTATE
Greta Guest
Greta Guest Coverage
Detroit Free Press
“Greta Guest's ambitious real estate coverage
tackles head-on the issues the paper's readers
face each day. The coverage is understandable
and explanatory. The use of real people, real
stories and a push for accountability from
corporations and other entities really makes
these stories shine. Given Detroit's situation
in the housing meltdown, these stories felt
timely, appropriate and actionable for readers.
Many of the stories were accompanied by
text boxes and sidebars offering hands-on tips
for homeowners.”
Amy Hoak
Amy Hoak's Home Economics
MarketWatch
“Amy Hoak uses crisp clear writing to break
down complex real estate topics for her
readers. Her columns get straight to the point
and relay a host of practical information in a
reader-friendly format. Her work focuses on
the intersection of housing and personal
finance, helping homeowners, renters, home
buyers and others make informed and
financially sound decisions.”
Jamie Smith Hopkins
Jamie Smith Hopkins Real Estate
Coverage
Baltimore Sun
“The Baltimore Sun's real estate coverage is
written for the reader, not the industry
professional. Real people, with real problems,
are used to frame complex issues. Jamie Smith
Hopkins' coverage captures the helplessness
that many homeowners in this economy feel
while also holding public officials accountable.
One judge called the Sun's real estate
coverage a "mixture of tales that need to be
told and watchdog journalism."
STUDENT
STORIES IN PROFESSIONAL
PUBLICATIONS
Theo Keith
Auto Workers
University of Missouri-Columbia
“Good use of real people, balanced, lot of
strong reporting. Compelling lede that nicely
comes full circle at the end. Well organized
and clear explanation of the complex Job
Bank system. Excellent use of numbers and
multiple sources. Solid. This story did a very
good job of explaining a complex subject (job
bank) and putting a face on the auto sector's
troubles: a) the sourcing was very well done
and the reporter chose strong quotes that
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
enhanced the story and humanized it, and b)
it highlighted problems with the auto sector
and unions and used numbers and quotes in a
way that put everything into context. Theo
Keith does a nice job of taking a complicated,
controversial issue and explaining what it
means to readers. This story is a great mix of
real voices, industry analysis and expert
opinion. It is nicely sourced and well written,
with strong details.”
STORIES IN STUDENT
PUBLICATIONS
“The writer took a complex topic and
simplified it for the reader. The article
addressed the contentious issue of copper
mining with deep analysis and a history of the
region. It took both sides into account and
explained in the issue in great detail. The
story also provided insight into how the
company has been courting multiple parties
to try and get the mining operation
approved. I really think she hit on a topic
worthy of any larger news outlet in this
country.”
Jennifer Johnson
Copper Mine Pact
Arizona State University - Walter Cronkite School
of Journalism and Mass Communication
Society of American Business Editors and Writers
Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications
Arizona State University, 555 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-496-7862
See you in Indianapolis next year!
The dynamic capital of
Indiana plays host to SABEW
in 2012. It’s a banner year for
the city, which will also host
the Super Bowl in February.
The Conference Center
at IUPUI will play host to the
49th annual SABEW
conference next March
15-17. Winners of the 17th
annual Best in Business
contest will also be honored.
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
SABEW wishes to thank its
2010 BEST IN BUSINESS JUDGES
Thank you to our 16th annual Best in Business Judges! Your hard work
and dedication is much appreciated.
Chris Adams, National Correspondent,
McClatchy Washington Bureau
Jon Chesto, Business Editor, The Patriot Ledger,
Quincy Mass.
Trif Alatzas, Digital Media, Baltimore Sun
David Cho, Deputy Business Editor, Washington
Post
Anjuman Ali, Mobile Editor,
washingtonpost.com
Mark Coatney, Editor, Tumblr
Bob Arnold, Editor in Chief, Standard & Poor's
Bridgette Colaco, Professor, Troy University
Linda Austin, Executive Director, Donald W.
Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism
Mary Cornatzer, Business Editor, (Raleigh)
News & Observer
Kimetris Baltrip, Assistant Professor, Kansas
State University
Dan Costa, Executive Editor, PC Mag
Rich Barbieri, Deputy Managing Editor,
CNNMoney
Joseph Barrett, Deputy Bureau Chief, Wall
Street Journal
Lori Becker, Managing Editor, Nashville Business
Journal
Shawn Bender, Multimedia Editor, Wall Street
Journal
Mike Cote, Editor, ColoradoBiz and Planet-Profit
Report
Alex Crippen, Senior Producer, CNBC TV
Marshall Crook, Multimedia Editor, The Wall
Street Journal
Charles Crumpley, Editor, Los Angeles Business
Journal
Jonathan Dahl, Editor in Chief, SmartMoney
Sharon Bernstein, Staff Writer/Assistant
Business Editor, Los Angeles Times
Rob Daumeyer, Editor, Cincinnati Business
Courier
Jake Bernstein, Reporter, ProPublica
Greg David, professor, City University of New
York
Becky Bisbee, Business Editor, The Seattle Times
Charley Blaine, Markets Columnist, MSN
Money
Renee DeGross Valdes, Editor, DecaturAvondale Estates Patch
Jonathan Blum, Principal, Blumsday LLC
Tom Demeropolis, Reporter, Cincinnati
Business Courier
Len Boselovic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Nik Deogun, Managing Editor, CNBC TV
Graham Bowley, Business Reporter, The New
York Times
Megan Dowd, Senior Editor Multimedia, Fox
Business Network
Kevin Bumgarner, Editor, Pacific Business News
Ed Dufner, Team Leader, Bloomberg
Jonathan Burton, Money & Investing Editor,
MarketWatch / The Wall Street Journal Digital
Network
Nick Dunn, Deputy Managing Editor, CNBC TV
Greg Cancelada, Online Business
Development, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Jim Ellis, Assistant Managing Editor, Bloomberg
Dominic Cappa, Editor, Columbus Business
First
Kelly Carr, Senior Online Producer, Arizona
State University-Reynolds Center
Emily Chasan, Reporter, Reuters
Allan Chernoff, Correspondent, CNN
Jesse Eisinger, Senior Reporter, ProPublica
Wendie Feinberg, Managing Editor/Vice
President, Nightly Business Report
Beth Fenner, Executive Editor, Money
Dave Flessner, Staff Writer, Chattanooga Times
Free Press
Alec Foege, Independent Journalist
Craig Freeman, Assistant Professor, Louisiana
State University
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
Doug Fruehling, Editor, Washington Business
Journal
Dennis Fulton, Business Editor, Dallas Morning
News
Linda Fung, Deputy Managing Editor, Dow Jones
Newswires
Kevin Gale, Editor, South Florida Business Journal
Alexandra Garcia, Video Journalist, Washington
Post
Lisa Gibbs, Senior Writer, Money
Laura Goldberg, Texas Business Editor, Houston
Chronicle
Bruce Goldberg, Assistant Editor, Denver
Business Journal
Abigail Goldman, Former Staff Writer, Los
Angeles Times
Peter Goodman, Business Editor,
HuffingtonPost.com
Tom Granahan, Senior Editor, Fox Business
Network
Rick Green, Senior Editor, Bloomberg News
Sam Grobart, Personal Technology Editor, The
New York Times
Eli Hoffman, editor in chief, Seeking Alpha
Duncan Hood, Editor, MoneySense
Kent Hoover, Washington Bureau Chief,
American City Business Journals
Tom Hudson, Co-Anchor, Nightly Business
Report
P.J. Huffstutter, Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times
Beth Hunt, Manager of Editorial Operations,
American City Business Journals
Andre Jackson, Editorial Editor, Atlanta JournalConstitution
Andrea Jones, Editor, Long Island Business News
Brian Kaberline, Editor, Kansas City Business
Journal
Steve Kaskovich, AME/News, Fort Worth StarTelegram
Lauren Keane, Innovations Editor, Washington
Post
Parris Kellermann, Managing Editor,
TheStreet.com
Matt Kempner, Business Assignment Editor,
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dan Haar, Columnist and Business Editor, The
Hartford Courant
Steve Kerch, Assistant Managing Editor,
MarketWatch / The Wall Street Journal Digital
Network
Glenn Hall, Editor in Chief, TheStreet.com
Chris Kirkham, HuffingtonPost.com
Kevin Hall, National Economics
Correspondent, McClatchy Washington Bureau
Tim Kiska, Lecturer, University of Michigan Dearborn
Allan Halprin, Managing Editor, AOL Money &
Finance
Bernie Kohn, Team Leader, Bloomberg News
Jamie Hammond, VP/GM, AOL Money &
Finance
Chris Hardesty, Copy Editor, The Wall Street
Journal
Lex Haris, Managing Editor, CNNMoney
Poppy Harlow, Correspondent, CNNMoney
Mia Haugen, Managing Editor, Forbes
Chuck Hawkins, Political Editor, The Wall Street
Journal
John Hechinger, Reporter, Bloomberg
Eric Helweg, Harvard Business Review
John Kostrzewa, Business Reporter, Providence
Journal
Aaron Kremer, Founder/Editor, Richmond
BizSense
Jack Lail, Multimedia Editor, Knoxville News
Sentinel
Steve Lambert, Publisher, San Gabriel Valley
Newspaper Group
Randall Lane, Editor at Large, Daily Beast
Jon Lansner, Reporter/ Columnist, Orange
County Register
Michelle LaRoche, Editor, Dow Jones
Bill Hennelly, Managing Editor, TheStreet.com
Andrew Leckey, Reynolds Chair and Professor,
Arizona State University
Ray Hennessey, director of business news Fox
Business News
Jim Ledbetter, Reuters
Tom Herman, Professor, Columbia University
Art Lenehan, Deputy Managing Editor
Multimedia, TheStreet.com
Brian Hershberg, News Editor, The Wall Street
Journal
Michael Lev, AME/Business, Chicago Tribune
Wayne Hicks, Managing Editor, Denver Business
Journal
Amy Hoak, Reporter, Marketwatch
Al Lewis, Columnist, Dow Jones Newswires
Lyneka Little, Freelance Reporter,
ABCNews.com / The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy
Blog
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
Dan Loving, Business Editor, Wichita Eagle
Tami Luhby, Senior Writer, CNNMoney
James Madore, Business Reporter, Newsday
Ali Malekzadeh, Dean, Xavier University
Sam Mamudi, Reporter, Marketwatch
Randi Marshall, Investigations/Enterprise
Reporter, Newsday
Robin J Phillips, Web Managing Editor, The
Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism
Kyle Pope, Editor in Chief, Observer
Todd Pruzan, Editor, Federated Media
Gary Putka, Projects Team Leader, Bloomberg
Frank Quaratiello, Business Editor, Boston
Herald
Lisa May, Asst. Editor News/Web, Newsday
Kim Quillen, Business Editor, The TimesPicayune, New Orleans
Lucy May, Senior Investigative Reporter,
Cincinnati Business Courier
Tim Race, International Business Editor, The
New York Times
Ryan McCarthy, HuffingtonPost.com
Steven Radwell, Editor, Fidelity
Greg McCune, Reuters
Laura Rich, Independent Journalist
Bill McWhirter, Visiting Instructor, Michigan
State University
Nicole Ridgway, Executive Editor, AOL
WalletPop/AOL
John Meehan, Global Executive Producer,
Reuters Insider
Patrick Rizzo, Senior Editor/Producer,
Msnbc.com
Jennifer Merritt, Deputy Personal Finance
Editor/WSJ Digital Network, Wall Street Journal
Larry Roberts, Team Leader, Bloomberg
Galen Meyer, Top page senior editor,
Bloomberg News
David Milstead, Independent Journalist
J. Jennings Moss, Editor, Portfolio.com
Thomas Mucha, Managing Editor, Global Post
Emiliya Mychasuk, Online News Editor,
Financial Times
Shahien Nasiripour, Reporter,
HuffingtonPost.com
Chris Nichols, Assistant Managing Editor of
News and Investing,Yahoo! Finance
Scott Nishimura, Business Reporter/Editor/
Blogger, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Al Olson, Deputy Business Editor, msnbc.com
Joanna Ossinger, Editor, Bloomberg News
Maggie Overfelt, Senior Technology Editor,
TheStreet.com
Mukul Pandya, Executive Director/Editor in
Chief, Wharton School of Business, University of
Pennsylvania
Mary Jane Pardue, Professor, Missouri State
University
Claudia Parsons, Deputy Enterprise Editor,
Reuters
Jan Paschal, Desk Editor Treasury News,
Reuters
Huntley Paton, Executive Editor,
bizjournals.com
Russell Pearlman, Senior Markets Editor,
SmartMoney
Christine Perez, Managing Editor, D CEO
Randy Roguski, Business Editor, Cleveland Plain
Dealer
Rick Rothacker, Banking Reporter, Charlotte
Observer
Chris Roush, Walter E. Hussman Sr.
Distinguished Scholar, UNC-Chapel Hill
Felix Salmon, Blogger, Reuters
Jodi Schneider, Tax Issues Team Leader,
Bloomberg Washington
Mitchell Schnurman, Columnist, Fort Worth
Star-Telegram
Erick Schoenfeld, Managing Editor,
TechCrunch
Judith Schoolman, New York University
Eric Schurenberg, Editor in Chief, CBS Money
Watch
Patrick Scott, Senior Editor Business and
Investigations, Charlotte Observer
Al Scott, Editor, Puget Sound Business Journal
Ciro Scotti, The Daily Beast/Newsweek
Tom Shine, Deputy Editor/News, The Wichita
Eagle
Kevin Shinkle, Assistant Business Editor, The
Associated Press
Caleb Silver, Executive Producer,
CNNMoney.com
Gary Silverman, U.S. News Editor, Financial
Times
Joanne Skoog, Editorial Consultant, American
City Business Journals
Paul Smalera, Senior Editor, Fortune.com
Maya Smart, Independent Journalist
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
Marty Steffens, SABEW Chair, University of
Missouri
Neil Westergaard, Editor, Denver Business
Journal
Rick Stine, Senior Editor, Dow Jones
Newswires
Chris Westfall, Senior Finance Editor,
TheStreet.com
Hal Straus, Community Editor, Washington Post
Robbie Whelan, Real Estate Reporter, Wall
Street Journal
Matthew Strozier, Real Estate Editor, The Wall
Street Journal
Joanna Sullivan, Editor, Baltimore Business
Journal
Curtis Tate, McClatchy Newspapers
Washington Bureau
Lance Williams, Editor, Nashville Business
Journal
Dave Wilson, Columnist, Bloomberg News
Duff Wilson, Reporter, The New York Times
Mark Tatge, Professor, Ohio University
Stephen Wisnefski, Senior Editor, Dow Jones
Newswires
Brian Thevenot, Business Editor, St. Louis PostDispatch
Alan Wolf, Assistant Business Editor, (Raleigh)
News & Observer
Owen Thomas, Executive Editor,VentureBeat
Marty Wolk, Executive Business Editor,
MSNBC.com
Rusty Todd, Professor, University of Texas
Drew Trachtenberg, Executive Producer,
CNN
Kathy Tulumello, Business Center
Director, The Arizona Republic
Natalie Turvey, Executive Director, Canadian
Journalism Foundation
Rob Urban, Managing Editor: Personal Finance,
Bloomberg
Kathryn Vasel, Features Editor, Fox Business
Network
Daniel Wagner, Business Writer, Associated
Press
Michael Waldholz, Managing Editor,
Bloomberg
Chris Wood, Editor/Publisher, Boulder County
Business Report
Jane Wooldridge, Business Editor, The Miami
Herald
Dawn Wotapka, Reporter, Dow Jones/ Wall
Street Journal
Ron Yates, Professor and Dean, University of
Illinois
Lauren Young, Personal Finance Editor,
Reuters
Amanda Zamora, Editor, Social Media, The
Washington Post
Alan Zibel, Reporter, Dow Jones Newswires
Jason Zweig, Columnist, Wall Street Journal
Ed Waldman, Managing Editor/Business, The
(N.J) Daily Record
Allen Wastler, Managing Editor, CNBC.com
Joseph Weber, Associate Professor, University
of Nebraska
Jonathan Weil, Columnist, Bloomberg
Mark Wert, Assistant Business Editor, The
Cincinnati Enquirer
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APRIL 9, 2011
16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011
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16th ANNUAL BEST in BUSINESS AWARDS
APRIL 9, 2011