Awards ceremony at the Alliance of Area Business Publishers conference
Posted
June 12, 2022
by
Richard Foster
Virginia Business received a Bronze Award for Best Overall Design in the 2022 Alliance of Area Business Publishers Awards for issues produced in 2021, including this September cover.
Virginia Business won two national journalism awards Saturday at the 2022 Alliance of Area Business Publishers (AABP) Editorial Excellence Awards Ceremony, held in Columbus, Ohio.
Former Virginia Business associate editor Rich Griset placed the money in the Best Body of Work, Single Writer category for feature articles, including his May 2021 cover profile of the CEO of MicroStrategy Inc. and bitcoin whale Michael Saylor, who declined to be interviewed for Griset’s story, and his December 2021 profile of Bruce Thompson, Virginia Businessman of the Year.
“Adding a creative spark to dogged reporting seems to be Rich Griset’s hallmark,” the judges said in their remarks for Griset’s silver award. “His profile of a rising crypto chief also shows an ability to unearth stories and other details after the executive refused to cooperate. The profile of an influential hotel promoter showed a deft touch to get the most out of a cooperative subject. Her writing ability was on full display in an article about renovating aging malls, including one that was used to shoot a pivotal scene in “Wonder Woman 1984.”
Virginia Business also received a bronze award for Best Overall Design – Magazine for Issues Produced in 2021. Judges singled out Virginia Business Art Director Joel Smith’s use of “humorous illustrations, cohesive portraits and real people. [to] provide a wonderful representation of real business in Virginia. Photography and illustrations are consistent and relevant to the content. The department pages are simple and professional, the features provide a touch of visual enjoyment, and the overall design of the pages exemplifies a great sense of hierarchy.
The awards were presented by faculty members from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. The awards ceremony was held as part of the AABP’s annual three-day conference.
Founded in 1979, AABP is a Norwalk, Connecticut-based nonprofit organization that represents approximately 65 regional and local trade publications in the United States, Canada, and Australia, with a combined circulation of more than 1 .8 million professionals.
