BizTimes Milwaukee received three awards for editorial excellence as one of the best local business publications in the country from the Alliance of Area Business Publications (AABP) over the weekend.
The organization held its summer conference in Nashville, Tenn., where BizTimes Milwaukee received the Gold Award for Best of Show in the Best Newspaper, Small Tabloids category.
The judges for the contest were professors at the prestigious University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, who wrote the following about BizTimes Milwaukee’s nomination for Best of Show: “The judges agreed that inspired ideas in tandem with strong design and a fluent writing style made this a winner. A report on Wisconsin’s return to traditional economic anchors — agriculture, mining and manufacture — to drive future growth is an apt illustration. It is well reported, well designed and well written. The publication makes a real effort to be accessible, with headings, lists and breakouts to help the reader navigate each section. Columnists weigh-in on subjects that apply to nearly all business sectors. A great deal of thought and planning clearly goes into every edition.”
BizTimes Milwaukee executive editor Steve Jagler won a Silver Award for Best Local Coverage of a National Business/Economic Story for his analysis of Obamacare.
“Jagler takes a confusing subject and brings clarity with easily digestible reporting and writing. Tackling the issues of the new health care plan, one by one, Jagler wrestles innumerable questions and does what all good reporters do: He explains the issue in short, easy-to-understand bits. Reporting is both national and statewide, giving Wisconsin readers one of the best overviews to date,” the judges stated.
BizTimes Milwaukee managing editor Andrew Weiland won a bronze award for Best Online Scoop for his coverage about the development of the Oak Creek Drexel Town Square project. The story appeared in the BizTimes Real Estate Weekly e-mail newsletter.
“This detailed description of a major development that one source called ‘an absolute game-changer’ for a Milwaukee suburb came a month before the players were ready to announce. A result of meticulous and relentless reporting, the story left the competition scrambling to catch up,” the judges stated.
There were 573 entries from 44 publications in the competition this year. The participants include prestigious publications, including Crain’s Business Chicago, Crain’s Business Detroit, Crain’s Business New York, the Los Angeles Business Journal and the Indianapolis Business Journal.
“The purpose of the Alliance competition is to encourage a high level of journalistic performance and service to communities by recognizing editorial excellence and outstanding visual presentation in regional business publications,” said Alliance executive director C. James Dowden.
BizTimes Milwaukee won the Gold Award for Best of Show in the 2010 contest and the Silver Award in the same category in 2012.
“To bring home the gold back to Milwaukee again is another amazing accomplishment that every member of our entire staff can take great pride in. It is a national testament to the commitment to excellence by our people to serve our readers,” said BizTimes publisher Dan Meyer.
BizTimes Milwaukee also received an unprecedented six Awards for Editorial Excellence in Journalism from the Milwaukee Press Club earlier this year.
The BizTimes editorial staff includes Jagler, Weiland and reporters Molly Newman, Erica Breunlin and Dan Shafer, as well as designers Shelly Tabor, Picara Hay and Matt Cisz.
