The San Fernando Valley Business Journal has won national and local journalism awards, including second-place among small circulation business journals nationwide. The Alliance of Area Business Publications, a national organization of business journals and regional or state business magazines, presented its awards June 22 at its annual conference in Nashville, Tenn. In awarding the San Fernando Valley Business Journal second place for overall excellence, the judges wrote that this publication reaches its audience with a combination of authoritative reporting, informed analysis and a lively writing style. “Stories are timely and comprehensive, as well as brightly edited,” the judges stated. “By addressing wide interests in its community, such as technology, real estate and local personalities, the business journal serves its market effectively.” Editor Laurence Darmiento also took home a silver AABP award for best headlines. The judges found the paper’s editors “were paying attention to content first and then writing concise headlines without forcing cleverness.” Locally, the Los Angeles Press Club, an organization of local news outlets, gave out awards at its annual dinner held June 23 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The Business Journal won third place in entertainment reporting for a package about Walt Disney Co. written by Mark Madler, Judy Temes, Andrew Khouri and Angela Melero. Darmiento also won third place for the headline “Four Topping Fast-Growing Pizza Chain,” about two fathers and two sons who started a restaurant. The Business Journal’s sister publication Los Angeles Business Journal won seven awards at the AABP, including the gold award for large-circulation business journals. It won 12 awards at the Los Angeles Press Club, including best design, best columnist and best business story.
