By Amy Florence Fischbach
2009 Awards Competition Chair

Publications are still meeting their readers’ needs for useful, timely, and in-depth information. The 2009 Print Azbees prove it.

Despite the challenges of working with streamlined staffs and fewer resources, award-winning editors have earned richly deserved props for buckling down, going above and beyond, and still looking out for their readers.

As the editorial standard-bearer and the only U.S. professional society for B2B editors, ASBPE offers a hearty “well done.”

Equally important, each Azbee Award, with its informed and tough criteria, is a valuable marketing tool for publications willing to understand and sell the significance.

ASBPE is proud of our national winners and our numerous regional award winners. They are part of our family as well. You see, there is a lot of good work out there.

Our judges know it. As always, more than 80 “in-the-trenches” editors, artists, academicians, and consultants invested their time and energy into carefully reviewing each entry.

Making a difference

This year, for the first time, ASBPE established a Journalism That Matters Award for editors whose efforts made a tangible change in their industry. Read how HSToday editor David Silverberg beat the National Football League.

Thank you

To all the publications that chose to support us (and yourselves) this year, we sincerely appreciate it. And so does your editorial and art staff. We all value your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence in B2B journalism.

I also want to recognize ASBPE’s members for their continued support. Please, stay involved in your local chapters and with national, and donate to the ASBPE Foundation. Participation has rewards.

Finally, thanks to our staff: Janet Svazas, Holly Lundgren, Robin Sherman, and Martha Spizziri, and all the volunteer national and chapter board members.

The new Digital Azbees

For the first time in the history of the association, ASBPE is dividing the print and digital awards competition.

We’re introducing 15 new digital categories that represent the various activities in which editors are involved.

Of course, we’re still keeping all the other categories, including the top honors, Web Site of the Year and Multi-Platform General Excellence. This will be the premier digital event.

We urge you to enter your best Web sites, e-newsletters, podcasts, microsites, show coverage, and other examples of great digital work. The submission deadline for the Digital Azbees is Sept. 1, 2009. For more information, go to our website at www.asbpe.org.