Daily Newspapers | Business Weeklies | Magazines || BIB 2007 Winners Home
The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Ariz.)
Judges' Comments:
For providing impressive story heft. This paper bought a lot to the table – it was like the sports team that was the underdog but came out on top. The layout was crisp, clean and lively. It really came through in the coverage that the reporters and editors love what they do. The writing was tight and lively. Also had savvy use of wire copy. Standout coverage included the special section on big employers in the region and the housing market crisis.
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The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.).
Judges' Comments:
For exceptional enterprise coverage of the housing market. Their reporting of the real estate debacle in their local area was one of the best we’ve seen. They provided good context and explanation on why this matters. The judges understood everything they read, even though none of them live on the West Coast. The paper had a good blend of news and features components on how to survive the housing wreck. You can tell they practiced good journalism – they hit the streets, were well sourced and got the interviews done right. The writing really stood out overall.
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The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.).
Judges' Comments:
For their innovations in the section and strong coverage of local issues. From their use of blogs on the front page, to the daily Highlights of the Day, this paper is being recognized for its creativity. The quick hit briefs in Highlights were effectively packaged and the real estate section was terrific. The paper showed it puts a premium on business news, with strong enterprise work on stories like the Dec. 23 piece on Russell Investment Group and the Dec. 16 piece on the Wii. The paper also paid a lot of attention to coverage inside the business pages.
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The Post & Courier (Charleston, S.C.).
Judges comments:
For strong enterprise work. Their story on Charleston RiverDogs co-owner Mike Veeck was one of the standouts. The Monday business tabs also worked well for this paper.
[4342DN]
The Patriot Ledger (Quincy, Mass.)
Judges comments:
For a strong mix of national and local coverage, and the staff’s efforts at enterprise reporting. The writing was super and one of the highlights was the Dec. 15 story on the Boston Celtics.
[4550DN]
Linda Fung - Dow Jones News Service
Kevin Shinkle - Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.)
Scott Wenger - New York Daily News
Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Judges' Comments:
The P-I probably provides the most enterprise among the contest entrants. It offers solid, aggressive local business coverage that’s insightful, chatty, useful and, at times, watchdog. Reporters have clearly developed very good sources inside major players such as Boeing, and they’re aggressive. Especially noteworthy: the staff’s story addressing the ex-port boss' sweetheart deal when he resigned; severe security problems within Boeing’s computer systems; and a behind-the-scenes look at how Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner was created. Lots of useful graphics, inviting layout and smart stock market report round out the strong coverage.
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The Charlotte Observer.
Judges' Comments:
These sections remind us of what Business sections used to be -- before the newspaper industry downturn. For enterprising, hard-hitting coverage and deep perspective on complex issues, most notably foreclosures, CEO compensation and the merger of US Airways and America West Airlines. Overall coverage is wide-ranging, providing thoughtful, sophisticated, credible and well-written reports that consistently offer context, excellent informational graphics and varied storytelling approaches. Great idea to steal: We like The Observer’s regular, two-page takeout on a commercial development called “The Next Big Thing."
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The Des Moines Register.
Judges' Comments:
In a struggling economy, The Register focused strongly, almost obsessively, on jobs -- and this illustrates how it hones in on such a key part of the lives of its readership area. It provided thoughtful, strong enterprise that addressed key concerns of residents ranging from biofuels to a major plant closure to impact on Iowans if a recession hit home. The “Fueling Iowa’s Future’’ series was excellent, including a look at where all the presidential candidates stand on biofuels. Design on this project, and pretty much throughout the entries, shows how important this element is to the editors -- to the great benefit of readers. The Register’s assessment of the state’s manufacturing climate before a major Maytag plant shut down was smart; so was its profile of several Maytag workers who are rebuilding their lives. Business section offered good mix of local and major wire stories, along with personal finance. Design throughout (and on the biofuels project in particular) showed admirable creativity and effort.
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The Detroit News.
Judges' Comments:
Providing an excellent business report and consistently authoritative and wide-ranging coverage of key issues in Detroit, The News is an example of a major-city business section doing its best. In the traditional home of the auto industry, it explained that and economic development, both vital topics to its readers. Stories were thorough and well-written, with useful informational graphics, photos, headlines and page design that help readers grasp important, and at times, complex issues. Deep sourcing within the auto industry and other businesses helped reporters break several stories, and blanket coverage of major issues such as the GM-UAW contract reflects excellent advance planning and smart thinking. On the downside, though, was the heavy reliance on anonymous sources. In one day's entry, all four business front stories hung on such.
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Grand Rapids Press.
Judges' Comments:
One of the smaller newspapers in its circulation category (if not the smallest), The Press provides sound business coverage through an intensely local, freestanding business section. It clearly has made business news a priority and offers smart news and features coverage for the section and A1, including ambitious stories such as “The Battle of Denison Dunes,’’ which addresses a billionaire’s proposal to develop a pristine section of Lake Michigan’s shoreline. All in all, The Press does not let its size stand in the way of serving its readers.
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St. Paul Pioneer-Press.
Judges' Comments:
The three-part series on a developer's plans for the Ramsey Town Center was excellent, clearly standing above the rest of the Pioneer Press entries. In fact, this story was among the best of all the entries, and it shows how complex but vital stories can be presented in manageable form (and in ever-shrinking newshole) by breaking into parts.
[4650DN]
Salt Lake Tribune.
Judges' Comments:
The engaging, entertaining -- and serious -- report on the Mystery of Val E. Southwick, who promised 16 percent returns (among other things) to investors and who now is the subject of a multi-agency and multi-state fraud probe, reminds us how strong the investigative capabilities of a business section can (and should) be. We hope The Tribune and other papers take this role very seriously.
[4679DN]
Bob Burdick - retired, Denver (Rocky Mountain News, among others)
Julie Makinen - Los Angeles Times
Sandra J. Duerr - The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)
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The Seattle Times.
Judges' Comments:
The Seattle Times staff helps readers understand what makes their region tick, though very clear, focused business coverage. Elegantly explained, readable packages on wages in the aerospace industry, home prices and the region’s hot jobs impressed us for their thoroughness. The staff focuses on key industries for breaking news and digs deep on the big issues, examining government and economic data for a comprehensive analysis of issues. While focusing on key issues in the region, the section doesn’t ignore what’s happening in the wider world.
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The Miami Herald.
Judges' Comments:
A sense of excitement, delight and surprise must reward the readers of the Miami Herald, which judges deemed far and away the best of the bunch. Its sections showed crisp, design, inviting, consumer-friendly coverage and real intelligence in editing. In an age of cutbacks, Miami clearly still values business news, with eight-page business sections and two pages on the markets. A page of international news was smartly edited to give readers news important to their region from around the world. While tackling serious issues, the section also had a sense of fun and surprise that surely keeps readers coming back for more.
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The Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colo.)
Judges' Comments:
The Rocky staff gives readers a good selection of local and national news, top-notch graphics and inviting packaging. Standout coverage on the insider trading trial of former Qwest CEO Joe Nacchio and the Whole Foods-Wild Oats merger (Feb. 22) impressed us for approaching the stories creatively and from many angles. Judges liked the Opinion page – a page of essays, letters to the editor and business theme cartoon.
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The Orange County Register.
Judges' Comments:
For its early recognition of the problem of sub-prime lending. Its April 16, 2007, "Subprime Shakeup: What Sank New Century" compellingly examined the rise and tumultuous failure of this sub-prime lender. An Aug.12, 2007 investigation "Subprime’s Ground Zero" showed how the subprime collapse had devastated one largely Hispanic Santa Ana neighborhood. The article presented house-by-house information about prices and mortgage loans, with a particularly effective visual presentation that drove home the points.
[4134DN]
The Free Press (Detroit).
Judges' Comments:
For its Sept. 27, 2007, eight-page special section, "A New U.S Auto Industry: Historic Deal keys UAW, GM Survival."’ We loved a blow-out special section on breaking news
[4148DN]
The Indianapolis Star.
Judges' Comments:
For its April 15, 2007, "Open for Fraud" examination of mortgage fraud. The staff sorted through a complicated web of mortgage fraud to simply explain to readers how it happened, who the players were and the fallout for investors and homeowners. A sidebar on efforts by the Legislature to combat mortgage fraud gave readers some hope for a way out of this rampant crime.
[4727DN]
Steve Solomon - New York University
Kate Butler - The Associated Press
Jim Kirk - Chicago Tribune
USA Today.
Judges' Comments:
The paper makes good use of its tradition of concise but information-laden storytelling to focus on broad socio-economic and demographic trends. It also takes well-calculated risks to highlight offbeat topics that can reveal changes at the margins of our society.
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Los Angeles Times.
Judges' Comments:
One of the few papers whose mix of stories revealed a strong commitment to investigative journalism. Its news and feature pieces were consistently well-written and packaged, but its enterprise work was what gave its coverage distinction.
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New York Times.
Judges' Comments:
The paper consistently rises above others with its comprehensive coverage of the business world writ large. It offers its readers a steady diet of penetrating stories about the sweeping forces affecting business today, from technological change, to globalization, to an increasingly complex but fragile financial system.
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Arizona Republic.
Judges' Comments:
The Arizona Republic shows that you don’t have to be in one of the country’s top metropolitan areas to produce great business journalism. The paper makes effective use of its staff to produce in-depth local and national coverage. Its approach to story selection conveys a strong sense of its social mission: to uncover inequities and expose weak public policymaking.
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The Boston Globe.
Judges' Comments:
For its innovative approach to its annual ranking of the state’s top public companies, the Globe 100. The paper’s decision to transform its annual broadsheet list into a handsomely designed glossy magazine resulted in an appealing and informative reference tool.
[4323DN]
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland).
Judges' Comments:
For its special tax section, a smart, well-conceptualized approach to an evergreen topic. This year’s section was filled with a strong selection of consumer-friendly stories and was engagingly written and presented. Service journalism at its best.
[4437DN]
Sarah Bartlett - CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Hal Ritter - The Associated Press
Dave Morrow - TheStreet.com
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Triangle Business Journal. (Raleigh-Durhan, N.C.)
Judges comments:
This North Carolina weekly presented a series of strong issues, including one mandatory issue’s stories on how proposed changes for Medicare reimbursements could mean millions in lost revenue for local hospitals and an investigation into a seminary student alleged to have bilked investors out of $12 million. One of the weekly’s big projects was particularly impressive in both concept and execution: "Triangle: 2012," a five-year forecast of how growth could affect the community, including creation of higher-paying jobs, the influx of new residents, increased stress on aging infrastructure and pressure on the school districts.
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Crain’s New York Business.
Judges comments:
The judges were impressed by the quality of the writing and the depth of the reporting throughout each issue of Crain's New York. Engaging topics and impressive enterprise also distinguished the publication. Snappy, well-written cover stories on a range of subjects were fresh and hard-hitting: a commercial banker shortage; new outsourcing to Bangladesh; a terrific enterprise piece on Richmond Global, a boiler-room operation that bilked would-be investors in foreign exchange futures of more than $1 million. The design is good, the charts and photos are attractive and simple to understand.
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Financial Week.
Judges comments:
This weekly was chosen for its solid and thorough coverage of the complex corporate finance market and its major players. The publication is an interesting and easy read even for non-financial experts thanks to strong writing, good reporting and solid research, backed up by inviting graphics. Mandatory issues showed the weekly’s strengths, with stories on a tax loophole for CFO pay that could send the execs’ pay soaring – or invite new legislation to tamp down leaders’ compensation; a hard-hitting piece on Citigroup cutting compliance staff just as it expands risky overseas ventures; and a story on the waning golden parachutes. The weekly told of the deterioration in auction-rate securities as the muni bond niche was starting to unravel, well before the virtual collapse that later caught bigger publications’ attention.
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Boston Business Journal.
Judges comments:
We were impressed by this paper’s good mix of lively takes on the week’s news and its more ambitious examinations of serious issues, including: “Boston’s blue-collar blues,” an engaging story in one of the mandatory issues that looked at Boston’s changing workforce; a special issue on CEOs that included a piece on why execs at the top are hanging up their hats; a story on hedge fund managers’ new focus on mutual funds and a look at the big bust of companies focused on tiny nanotech. One editor’s-choice issue highlighted a host of strong pieces: how a doctor shortage could stymie Massachusetts’ attempts at health care reform, a feature about the end of TV and radio repair and an interesting and playful way into this year’s standard story on local companies’ compliance with new proxy rules. That piece included subheads such as “We’re not worthy” about local execs who declined parts of their compensation packages and “And if that wasn’t enough,” detailing seemingly over-the-top perks.
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Advertising Age.
Judges comments:
The award recognizes this weekly for consistently finding compelling ways into stories about the ads we see every day. It’s a must read inside its industry and a lively, fun read even for those outside it. It has all the news on marketing and media, much of it served up in short, easy to read bites. It breaks stories, examines issues other publications overlook and engages throughout with strong writing and an appealing mix of stories and topics. The issues submitted for review included strong pieces on the decline of teen girls’ magazines, a critical look at USA Today’s vaunted Ad Meter and talent agency William Morris’ foray into eco marketing. Columnists and explainers for those in the industry round out the inside pages for an absorbing read cover to cover.
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Mass High Tech.
Judges comments:
Mass High Tech exemplifies strong coverage of a niche industry that's important to the local economy -- technology in New England. It features lively, newsy writing that quickly engages the reader with the point and importance of the stories. Insightful enterprise and analysis pieces focus on the concerns of the target audience and seem to advance the debate over key issues and events. Good design, layout and packaging.
[4433WN]
Abigail Goldman - Los Angeles Times
Susan Carney - Detroit News
Susan Warfel - Investors Business Daily
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Bloomberg Markets.
Judges comments:
Bloomberg Markets has all the ingredients: ambitious story selection, global scope, high quality photography and enveloping design. Incisive pieces demonstrated the magazine’s range: a smart package on the subprime meltdown was well ahead of the competition on the credit catastrophe, and a story about insurance company ripoffs of consumers, traced to a McKinsey study commissioned by State Farm, showed off its investigative chops.
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Robert Safian - Fast Company
Tom Post - Forbes
Mary Rajkumar - AP International
Fast Company.
Judges comments:
The measure of a truly compelling magazine is the freshness and originality of its story ideas, and Fast Company is the very essence of those qualities. Its broad, intriguing lineup goes beyond the routine economic cycles of business or investing. Fast Company covers business subjects no one else thought of or had the nerve to do.
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Robert Safian - Fast Company
Tom Post - Forbes
Mary Rajkumar - AP International
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