TIMES ARE TOUGH, BUT SO ARE BUSINESS JOURNALISTS

Finalists of the 49th Annual Neal Awards dont shy away from controversial issues

NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2003 -- Restaurant Business examines the tipping habits of black restaurant patrons and their effect on black-owned businesses. Medical Economics devotes an entire issue to what doctors do when faced with hard choices like assisted suicide or pain control. CIO Magazine talks about the gaping disconnects" between advertising and reality when it comes to Microsofts products.

These are among the 81 finalists for the 49th Annual Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards, which honor b-to-b editorial excellence. Winners -- and a new award recognizing editorial courage and integrity -- will be announced at a luncheon ceremony on March 12 at The Waldorf=Astoria in New York.

This years Neal Awards finalists reflect a heightened sense of purpose and mission experienced by many b-to-b publications following the tragedy of 9/11. These finalists show that, in spite of an advertising downturn that has left many publications hurting, b-to-b editors have continued to practice exceptional journalism and produce high-quality editorial. Publications have not shied away from running investigative pieces -- some at the risk of offending advertisers.

Several of the finalists broke major news. One of the more dramatic examples: American Metal Markets article on a New Jersey trading company that defrauded banks of $600 million. The story led to FBI raids and the arrest of the trading companys principals.

It is only fitting that at the Neal Awards ceremony, a new award will be unveiled to recognize the courageous reporting that characterizes many of this years entries: the Tim White Award, named after the longtime editor of Billboard magazine who passed away unexpectedly in July 2002. Tim White was known to artists and music moguls alike as the conscience of the music industry," and this new award will be given to an editor whose work exemplifies the courage and integrity that White displayed in his career.

The Neal Awards are open to members of American Business Media, the association for b-to-b information providers. Member companies represent over 2,500 print and online titles and reach an audience of 90 million professionals.