ASBPE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is ASBPE?
A: Founded in 1964 as the American Society of Business Press Editors, ASBPE is the professional association for full-time and freelance editors, writers, art directors, and designers employed in the business, trade, and specialty press. The official name was changed to the American Society of Business Publication Editors in 1997 and to ASBPE in 2012.

Q: Who can join ASBPE?
A: Regular membership in ASBPE is open to editors, writers, art directors, and designers who work for business, professional, trade and association/society publications, including freelancers. Affiliate membership is open to any individual or supplier who offers products or services to regular members and/or their publishing organizations. Student membership is open to all full-time students registered at an accredited college or university. Academic membership is available to members of the faculty, in the departments of journalism or any related field, at at all institutions of higher learning (undergrad or graduate). Affiliate, academic and student memberships are non-voting.

Q: Why should I join ASBPE?
A: ASBPE offers a variety of programs aimed at expanding professional and management training, as well as providing local and national networking opportunities. Unlike some other magazine associations, ASBPE is dedicated exclusively to B2B publishing professionals. Its focus is on helping editors, writers, art directors, designers, professors and students develop skills, especially skills that will enhance their performance and prepare them to play larger roles in their publishing organizations. Learn more about member benefits

Q: How does ASBPE communicate with its members?
A: In addition to this website, ASBPE publishes an e-newsletter. The Society maintains a national headquarters office to answer members’ questions and a career center. In addition, the Society has a number of local chapters that offer educational and social programs in their metro areas.

Q: Does ASBPE have a local chapter in my area?
A: ASBPE currently has chapters in:

If you’re interested in starting a chapter in your city or getting involved in existing chapter activities, see our chapters page or contact ASBPE.

Q: How does the Azbee Awards of Excellence competition work?
A: The Azbee Awards of Excellence, established in 1979, recognizes outstanding editorial, design and web development. With more than 1,000 entries in a typical year, the competition is the largest in the business press.

Awards are given in more than 60 categories across five divisions: Print, Online, Design, All Content and Overall Excellence. In the Overall Excellence division, the Society recognizes a Magazine of the Year in each of two publication frequency groups, as well as Website of the Year, Multi-Platform Package of the Year and Social Media Account of the Year. Any qualifying trade, professional, business or association publication may enter, but only members get substantial discounts on entries.

While entrants do not compete directly for the award, a small panel of judges review the national-gold-winning entries in feature-writing and investigative reporting categories to decide the annual recipient of the Stephen Barr Award. Named for Stephen Barr, a senior contributing editor for CFO magazine, a perennial Azbee Award-winner who passed away in 2002 at age 43, the award recognizes a “best-in-show” among Azbee-winners.

Q: What other honors does ASBPE award to individuals?
A: ASBPE also offers a Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize editors who have made significant and lasting contributions to our profession and to the industries their magazines serve. Candidates must meet four requirements:

  • Significant tenure (20 years or more) on business publications.
  • A commitment to editorial excellence.
  • A commitment to the business and professional pres.
  • A commitment to the industries their publications serve.

To nominate someone for the Lifetime Achievement Award, please read more about the requirements, then reach out through our contact form with a description of how your nominee fits these requirements.

Additionally, ASBPE awards a Journalism That Matters Award to individual business, association and trade journalists whose coverage of an issue triggers a tangible change within government or industry practices or policies. Because of the award’s high bar, only three journalists have been honored with the award. Read more about the Journalism That Matters Award and the 2021 call for nominations.

Q: What does ASBPE offer in the way of educational programs?
A: The cornerstone of the Society’s educational offering is its National Conference, which takes place each year in the spring. The conference brings together B2B publishing professionals from around the country to focus on issues such as leadership training, the transition to digital-first, ethics, new tools, and training. 

In addition, local chapters offer regular educational events throughout the year, including panel discussions and seminars. 

Q: Does ASBPE offer any programs to help young B2B professionals who are just starting their careers?
A: The ASBPE Foundation’s annual Young Leaders Scholarship allows younger editors, freelancers, designers and videographers who might otherwise be unable to attend ASBPE’s National Conference. Scholarships pay the cost to attend the national conference, including registration fees and hotel room costs, for up to five U.S. applicants each year. Transportation, non-conference meals, and other incurred costs are the responsibility of the winners or their publishing companies.

Qualifications for the scholarship include the following:

  • Applicant must be 30 years of age or younger (as of the application deadline). 
  • Applicant must have worked at least two years in a B2B media role for a business-to-business publication.
  • Candidacy must be sponsored by their publication’s chief editor.
  • Applicant must plan to continue in the business media as a career.
  • Applicant may not be a past ASBPE Young Leaders Scholarship recipient.

To apply, please visit the Young Leader Scholarship program page. To get more information about the scholarship, please use our contact form to email the ASBPE Foundation president.

Q: Does ASBPE recommend professional guidelines to its members?
A: ASBPE offers a Code of Preferred Editorial Practices in which it recommends guidelines for dealing with advertisers, sales departments, and so forth. Also see ASBPE’s blog for ethics advice.

Q: How do I view jobs or add a job listing to ASBPE’s career center?
A: Please sign up for a job-seeker or employer account on our Career Center. From the Career Center, job seekers can browse job listings, submit a résumé for a free review and set up job alerts based on preferred search terms. Employers can review job package pricing, post a job and review ASBPE’s résumé bank.

Q: How can I contact ASBPE?
A: Please use our contact form to reach our to our leadership, committees or chapters, or to submit a general inquiry.

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