Tag Archives: Birmingham Business Journal

Alabama Press Association names winners of 2010 Better Newspaper Contest

Posted on May 4, 2010 by | 2 comments

Birmingham Business Journal, Birmingham News, Shelby County Reporter win multiple awards

Alabama Press AssociationThe Alabama Press Association named its winners in the 2010 Better Newspaper Contest. The South Carolina Press Association judged 2,525 entries from 64 newspapers.

The Birmingham News and the Shelby County Reporter won for overall General Excellence in their respective divisions.

The awards ceremony takes place June 5 in Orange Beach.

Listed below are winners from the Birmingham area. The complete list is available online.

Update May 5: The Birmingham News has links to several winning entries.

2010 General Excellence Winners
Division A

  • 1st place: The Birmingham News

Division C

  • 1st place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana)

FOI – First Amendment Award
Division C

  • 1st place: Birmingham Business Journal for “On the road” by Jimmy DeButts
  • 3rd place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana) for “In your neighborhood” by staff

Most Improved
Division A

  • The Birmingham News

Division C

  • Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana)


Best Presswork
Division A

  • 2nd place: The Birmingham News

Division C

  • 3rd place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana)

Category 1 — Best Editorial Page or Section
Division A

  • 2nd place: The Birmingham News

Division C

  • 1st place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana)
  • 2nd place: Birmingham Business Journal

Category 2 — Best Lifestyle/Family Pages
Division A

  • 2nd place: The Birmingham News

Division C

  • 1st place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana)

Category 4 — Best Layout and Design
Division A

  • 1st place: The Birmingham News

Division C

  • 3rd place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana)

Category 5 — Best Local Economic Coverage

Division A

  • 2nd place: The Birmingham News

Division C

  • 1st place: Birmingham Business Journal

Category 6 — Best Local Education Coverage
Division A

  • 2nd place: The Birmingham News

Division C

  • 2nd place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana)

Category 7 — Best Local News Coverage
Division A

  • 1st place: The Birmingham News

Division C

  • 1st place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana)

Category 8 — Best Use of Photographs/Editorial Content
Division A

  • 1st place: The Birmingham News

Category 9 — Best Spot News Story

Division A

  • 3rd place: The Birmingham News for “Langford Guilty” by staff

Division C

  • 2nd place: The Shelby County Reporter for “Fire destroys apartment building” by Samantha Hurst

Category 10 — Best In-Depth News Coverage
Division C

  • 2nd place: Birmingham Business Journal for “The Dome” by Lauren B. Cooper
  • 3rd place: Shelby County Reporter for “Limestone quarry project” by staff

Category 11 — Best Business Story or Column
Division A

  • 3rd place: The Birmingham News for “Behind the music at HealthSouth” by Michael Tomberlin

Division C

  • 1st place: Birmingham Business Journal for “Economy’s heat drying up community banks profits” by Crystal Jarvis
  • 3rd place: Shelby County Reporter for “Shopping centsibly” by Samantha Hurst

Category 12 — Best Feature Story
Division C

  • 3rd place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana) for “Haven for hats” by Samantha Hurst

Category 13 — Best News Feature Story
Division A

  • 1st place: The Birmingham News for “Behind the Painted Wall” by Greg Garrison

Category 14 — Best Editorial
Division A

  • 1st place: The Birmingham News for “Operation chaos” by Bob Blalock

Division C

  • 2nd place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana) for “Hoover Hospital needed” by staff

Category 15 — Best Humorous Column
Division A

  • 1st place: The Birmingham News for “The naked truth: Blame it on a full moon” by John Archibald

Category 16 — Best Human Interest Column
Division A

  • 1st place: The Birmingham News for “As easy as brain surgery” by Kathy Kemp

Division C

  • 2nd place: Birmingham Business Journal for “The health care debate comes home” by Cindy Crawford
  • 3rd place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana) for “America as I knew it” by Cassandra Mickens

Category 17 — Best Editorial Column or Commentary
Division A

  • 3rd place: The Birmingham News for “Pro-life meets health care reform” by Robin DeMonia

Category 18 — Best Sports News In-Depth Coverage
Division C

  • 3rd place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana) for “No longer at home” by Chris Megginson

Category 19 — Best Sports Single Event Story
Division A

  • 2nd place: The Birmingham News for “Tide blocks Vols’ upset bid” by Don Kausler Jr. and Doug Segrest

Category 20 — Best Sports Feature Story
Division A

  • 2nd place: The Birmingham News for “20 years after the move” by Kevin Scarbinsky

Division C

  • 1st place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana) for “Relaxing on Lay Lake” by Wesley Hallman

Category 26 — Best Photo Essay
Division C

  • 3rd place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana) for “Family Fest” by staff

Category 27 — Best Use of Graphics or Illustrations
Division C

  • 2nd place: Birmingham Business Journal for “Birmingham’s wealthiest zip codes” by Ty West
  • 3rd place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana) for “In your neighborhood” by Cassandra Mickens

Category 28 — Best Headline
Division A

  • 2nd place: The Birmingham News for “Flush with pride, Birmingham-Southern wins lavatory laurel” by Nichele Hoskins
  • 3rd place: The Birmingham News for “Jesus Christ makes jury pool, but judges not” by Greg Richter

Division C

  • 2nd place: Birmingham Business Journal for “Irondale hoping it’s in good hands with Allstate bonds” by Craig Ey

Category 29 — Best Special Section
Division A

  • 3rd place: The Birmingham News for “Football U 2009 Preview” by staff

Division C

  • 1st place: Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana) for “24 Hours in Shelby County” by staff
  • 3rd place: Birmingham Business Journal for “Top 40 under 40” by Ty West

Category 30 — Best Niche Publication

Division C

  • 2nd place: Birmingham Business Journal for “Book of Lists 2010” by staff

Best Newspaper Web Site and Story of the Year
To be announced June 5.

• • •

Read more Birmingham media updates.

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iPhone app review: Birmingham Business Journal

Posted on March 19, 2010 by | Leave a comment

The first Birmingham publication to move into the exploding iPhone market is the Birmingham Business Journal. The weekly newspaper already offers weekday site updates and e-mail bulletins.

In this post, we review the publication’s free iPhone app.

Birmingham-based iPhone developers Brian Cauble and Josh Grenon served as our guest reviewers.

Birmingham Business Journal iPhone app Birmingham Business Journal iPhone app

Birmingham Business Journal iPhone app:
article list and single story

What was your overall experience?

Brian: The overall experience was mixed. It was a very simple app that essentially only showed the story. However, it had no categorization of stories, which I found to be limiting.

Josh: Clunky.

Do you get the sense that this is a custom app, or a “skinned” app for various sister outlets?

Brian: I think this is an app developed for all the Biz Journals.

Josh: This could be a skinned app, but I get the sense that it is a custom app.

As a news consumer, what did you like? What would you add?

Brian: I liked that it sized the articles to fit on my screen properly. I would definitely add categories for the news stories.

Josh: I like that I can access the Birmingham Business Journal on my iPhone, but the user experience was horrible. I would redesign this application, because I had a much better experience on the mobile version of the Web site.

As an app developer, what did you like? How would you improve it?

Brian: This app is extremely simple. It delivers the news and lets you e-mail the stories, but that is about it. I would add a better organizational structure and more options for sharing stories.

Josh: I didn’t like anything in this application. The interface was not designed very well, and my experience suffered greatly. Tip for improvement: Use the New York Times iPhone app as inspiration on how this app should be redesigned.

Since it’s a free app, would you pay money for it? How much? Why or why not?

Brian: I would not pay for this app.

Josh: I would not pay 1 cent for it. Redesign the app, and then we’ll see if I will pay for it.

• • •

Our other iPhone app reviews:
CBS 42 app, Fox 6 app and BlazeRadio app.

• • •

brian caubleBrian Cauble (@briancauble) is the co-owner of Appsolute Genius, an iPhone application development company in Birmingham. His other interests include promoting local entrepreneurship through Birmingham Entrepreneur, participating in social media and a huge attachment to college football.

Josh GrenonJosh Grenon (@joshgrenon) is a .Net developer by day and an iPhone developer by night. He started developing iPhone applications — such as Bham iCamp — in early 2009. Josh is also executive producer of Inspirageek, a casual yet informative video blog for geeks, and founder of user group Birmingham Mobile Tech.

• • •

Read more Birmingham media updates.

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February event: Media Outlets Unleashed

Posted on February 3, 2010 by | 4 comments

Update: See photos from this event.

What are Birmingham media outlets doing right in new media? How can they improve, and make money at it?

Join us for our panel discussion:

Our moderator:

Join us on the Samford campus for lunch, networking and a lively discussion with your questions.

  • 11:30 a.m.-noon — Networking
  • Noon-1 p.m. — Panel

Invite your friends and colleagues in media (print, broadcast, online, etc.), public relations, advertising and marketing.

Special: First five registrants can buy 2 tickets for the price of one!

Please RSVP by Thursday, Feb. 11, 5 p.m.

Note: You must RSVP for this event. Late fee is $20; fees go to W Social Marketing.

Please RSVP by Thursday, Feb. 11, 5 p.m.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Samford University Brock School of Business and W Social Marketing. Also thanks to J&M Photography and Design for shooting this event.

Questions? Contact us or leave a comment.

Samford University Brock School of Business W Social Marketing

P.S. Please join our free mailing list for all the updates straight to your In box.

Want to sponsor a MOB event? It’s easy.

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Media General pulls plug on Skirt Birmingham

Posted on July 2, 2009 by | 1 comment

Staff vows to continue women’s magazine

logoAnother Birmingham magazine faces a setback today. Skirt, a Morris Communications national publication based in Augusta, Ga., launched in Birmingham in April 2008.

Its closest competitor, Lipstick, folded in February. Its publisher, Media General, cut jobs at NBC 13 in March. During that same round, Media General folded Skirt in Tampa. (It continues as an online-only venture.)

Today, NBC 13 vice president and general manager Gene Kirkconnell sent this e-mail:

Over the past year the creativity and hard work of our Skirt Staffers here has produced a Magazine of the highest editorial standards.

Unfortunately, a very challenging economy has prompted the division to cease publication. July 2009 will be the final edition of SKIRT Birmingham.

We wish Anna, Cory and Terry all the best.

Editor Cory Bordonaro announced via Skirt’s Twitter feed just after noon today:

You heard it here first. Media General is hanging up skirt! We’re moving on, however. This skirt has a lot of wear left.

It’s unclear whether the women’s lifestyle magazine will continue publishing both print and Web versions, or if at all. The Terminal references a tweet from Skirt general manager Anna Alford Nelson that says “skirt! Bham is moving forward just without Media General.“

The Birmingham Business Journal reports that Media General plans on transferring its license to publish Skirt to a yet-to-be-determined market.

But Heather Nagel-Doughtie, digital director for Skirt, says Morris now has the Birmingham license and says on the site, “We love Birmingham and are very committed to finding a solution to keep the skirt! voice alive in this great city.” Compare this to her more decisive plan of action when the Tampa print edition was dropped:

Next month, you will begin to see significant changes to the local Tampa Bay site including a new redesign.  We plan to enlist the help and support of local women and writers.

Bordonaro has invited those interested to e-mail her at corybo[at]gmail.com.

Have a news tip? Let us know!

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Production director – Birmingham Business Journal

Posted on December 3, 2007 by | Leave a comment

From our pal Cindy:

The Birmingham Business Journal is seeking a production director. This person will be responsible for overseeing the production of the publication. He or she will establish news and advertising deadlines, ensure a smooth workflow in collaboration with the other department managers and serve as a liaison with the printer. We are looking for someone with the ability to handle deadline pressures with flexibility and a positive attitude. He or she must know Mac OS, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat. Great benefits.

Please send cover letter and resume to:

2140 11th Ave. S.
Ste. 205
Birmingham, AL 35205

Or e-mail mdickinson@bizjournals.com.

Or fax (205) 322-0040.

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