Editorial Excellence Awards

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, August 1, 1996 by Steve Wilson, Rolf Maurer

The Editorial Excellence Awards drew more entrants than ever before in this, its seventh year, necessitating the creation of new categories to judge them fairly. in this unique competition, magazines are measured against standards they define for themselves, rather than against competitors in their categories. All entries were published in 1995. Contestants were rated by a panel of industry experts on how clearly their mission statements were defined, how well the issues submitted accomplished the goals of the mission statements, and how the magazines' features, departments and design supported those editorial intentions. Of the 384 entries, 58 were judged as having fulfilled the editorial standards set for themselves.

TRADE

ADVERTISING/MARKETING

Incentive (BILL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)

Editor: Jennifer Juergens Frequency: Monthly Issue: September

Mission: Written for top business executives who use cash rewards other than salaries or cash bonuses to motivate employees to be more productive, and consumers to buy more.

Judges' comment: "An extremely rich package that is visually interesting and rewarding for the reader looking for information."

AGRICULTURE

Successful Farming (MEREDITH CORPORATION)

Editor: Loren Kruse Frequency: Monthly Issue: March

Mission: To serve as the conscience of our readers, empathize with their challenges and encourage excellence in farm business, production and family living.

Judges' comment: "A slick design and well organized. It targets its reader dead on."

ASSOCIATION/CUSTOM

NAPMInsights (NATIONAL ASSOC. OF PURCHASING MANAGEMENT)

Editor: Julie Murphree Frequency: Monthly Issue: November

Mission: To create and distribute purchasing-related business news and forecasts, as well as innovative, educational and technical information, to purchasing and supply management professionals.

Judges' comment: "Editorial package is rich with ways for readers to improve both job and career skills."

BUSINESS

Selling Power (PERSONAL SELLING POWER, INC.)

Editor: L.B. Gschwandtner Frequency: Nine times a year Issue: January/February

Mission: To train, educate and motivate sales executives through knowledge and skills.

Judges' comment: "Selling Power is one of the most beautiful trade titles of our day. Its friendly and lively pace engages the reader every page of the way. It's both entertaining and educational."

COMPUTING

Computerworld (INTERNATIONAL DATA GROUP, INC.)

Editor: Paul Gillin Frequency: Weekly Issue: August

Mission: To be a publication of record for information systems managers in medium-size and large corporations by prodding timely, balanced and comprehensive coverage of events, trends and issues.

Judges' comment: "The perfect combination: a clear mission statement, concise, well-written editorial and compelling visual impact from innovative graphics."

CONSTRUCTION/DESIGN

Landscape & Nursery Digest (BETROCK INFORMATION SYSTEMS INC.)

Editor: Irv Betrock Frequency: Monthly Issue: September

Mission: To keep the horticulture industry informed of posible developments relating to agriculture.

Judges' comment: "An impressive bouquet of industry information and pertinent how-to."

EDUCATION

The Chronicle of Higher Education (THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, INC.)

Editor: Corbin Gwaltney Frequency: Weekly Issue: April 28

Mission: To cover all issues affecting colleges and universities with a commitment to fairness, investigation, analytic reporting and compelling writing.

Judges' comment: "Succeeds in delivering good, understandable, in-depth writing."

ENERGY

Oil and Gas Investor (HART PUBLICATIONS INC.)

Editor: Leslie Haines Frequency: Monthly Issue: January

Mission: Identifies and interprets trends and needs for companies in the North American oil and gas industry.

Judges' comment: "Handsome, classy and buttoned up without being uptight."

ENGINEERING

Design News (CAHNERS PUBLISHING Co.)

Editor: Paul E. Teague Frequency: Biweekly Issue: October 9

Mission: Design News exists to report on the latest developments in engineering that can help our readers improve their ability to do the mechanical and electromechanical deign of a wide range of products, from automobiles to telecomunications devices.

Judges' comment: "Jam-packed with newsy, informative features and bright writing that is helped by a basic, easy-to-read design."

ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS

American Cinematographer (A.S.C. HOLDING CORP.)

Editor: Stephen Pizzello Frequency: Monthly Issue: November

Mission: To serve filmmakers by exploring the artistic thought processes of the film industry's most innovative and talented directors of photography, and explaining the technical means by which they realize their artistic visions.

Judges' comment: "Has the feel of an academic journal combined with the technical details of a trade magazine and the easy-to-follow sensibility of a consumer book."

FINANCE

Bloomberg (BLOOMBERG L.P.)

Editor: William Inman Frequency: Monthly Issue: October

Mission: To report on ideas or trends that affect economic markets and focus on ways to make the information usable by the reader.