WAR AND TERRORISM STORIES WIN BIG AT NEAL AWARDS

The 49th Annual Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards recognize tenacious reporting and exceptional writing; CIO Magazine bests 1,100 entries to bag the Grand Neal.

NEW YORK, March 12, 2003 -- Photo District News talks about how photojournalists in war zones are often manipulated through intimidation, misinformation or the staging of mock events. Heavy Duty Trucking posits that terrorists are more likely to use trucks than sophisticated weaponry in future attacks. RN Magazine instructs nurses how to react in the event of biological, chemical or nuclear warfare.

These timely and useful articles were among the winners at the 49th Annual Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards, held today at The Waldorf=Astoria Hotel. The Neal awardees were proof that the 2002 economic downturn in no way compromised the editorial quality of b-to-b magazines. Publications didnt shy away from running tough and controversial pieces, even at the risk of offending advertisers. Other notable examples:

·CIO wrote about the gaping disconnects" between advertising and reality when it comes to Microsofts software subscription program.
·American Metal Markets article on a New Jersey trading company that defrauded banks of $600 million led to FBI raids and the arrest of the companys principals.
·Waste News pushed for court documentation and uncovered the bankruptcy of a major medical waste treatment company.

It was only fitting that a new award was unveiled to recognize the courageous reporting that characterized many of this years entries: the Timothy White Award, named after the much-loved Billboard editor who passed away unexpectedly in July 2002. Awards will be given across the United States to editors whose work exemplifies the courage and integrity that White displayed in his career. These regional awards will be part of The Year of the Editor," a series of events for b-to-b journalists that will culminate in March 2004 at the 50th anniversary of the Neal Awards.

This year, editors from CIO bested 1,092 other entries to bag the Grand Neal Award. The staff that wrote Making It in 2002," a how-to series of articles that appeared in the magazines January 2002 issue, accepted the award in front of an audience of nearly 500 b-to-b editors, publishers and media executives. Making It in 2002" provided hands-on advice -- some serious (How to Cut Through Vendor Hype") and some tongue-in-cheek (How to Get and Keep a Life") -- for the magazines readers, namely chief information officers. For a complete list of Neal winners, click on the following link:

http://www.americanbusinessmedia.com/images/2003_neal_winners.PDF

Also honored at the Neal luncheon were Editor & Publisher editor Greg Mitchell, who was awarded the McAllister Editorial Fellowship; and Stephen Michaelides, a longtime Penton Media editor and recipient of the 2003 G.D. Crain Award, recognizing lifetime achievement in b-to-b journalism.

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