The Business Record was nationally recognized with three awards from the industry association of leading business publications on Wednesday.

Our mission to help businesses do business better is driven by supporting our community and state. We exist because of engaged audience members who turn to us for news so they can be equipped with information to help their businesses and communities thrive. This is why we do the work we do – not to win awards. But we are particularly grateful to be recognized for the work we are doing, especially when we consider the challenges the last year and a half have brought.

The Alliance of Area Business Publishers, made up of members from business publications in major U.S. cities, recognized the Business Record in the following categories of the 2021 Editorial Excellence Awards:

SILVER – Best Newspaper – medium market
“This publication is solid throughout, in both content and visuals,” the judges wrote. “The staff tackles tough social subjects, relates them to business and executes them well. Thoughtful stories and outstanding design make the publication live up to its mission.”

GOLD – Best specialty newsletter – Fearless
“This newsletter stands apart in its commitment to a large and continuously growing facet of the publication’s readership,” judges wrote. “The staff uses its editorial content to connect readers while acknowledging the real-life challenges that come with leadership in today’s environment. Editors share a strong voice that sets a tone offering actionable advice while encouraging community and comradeship.”

SILVER – Best Multimedia – Black Lives Matter Photo Gallery (photos by Joe Crimmings and Emily Blobaum)
“This collection showed honest emotion through a comprehensive and rich selection of documentary photojournalism,” judges wrote. “The images detailed the passionate emotions of those supporting Black Lives Matter. The pictures also caught uncomfortable interactions with police from a vantage point right in the middle of the action. Meanwhile, the collection of building photographs provided an interesting study of the protest’s aftermath.”

It is an honor to be considered one of the best business publications in the country. Our newsroom works hard to provide important stories on key issues business leaders should know about. I am proud of each of our team members for all the work they do to keep up with news happening in their coverage areas, which there has been no shortage of during the pandemic. Our reporters strive to present complex issues through fair and balanced stories, and our photographers, copy editor, designers and operations team help ensure that we present it in the most compelling way possible. As a locally owned media organization, we take great care to keep the community at the heart of our work whether we’re writing a brief on a fundraiser or an in-depth feature on a major issue affecting our region.

In the past year, we’ve worked hard to set strategy around how we put our long-held values of diversity, equity and inclusion into action every single day. We are pleased by the recognition of our Fearless newsletter, which was launched in November as part of a larger initiative to help Iowa women succeed in work and life. Our team put countless hours into strategizing and listening to our audience to formulate what Fearless ultimately ended up being. Fearless Editor Emily Blobaum uses her passion and talents to make the newsletter outstanding each week with key focuses on making it intersectional so that all women, gender-nonconforming individuals and men can feel a part of it. If you are not already a Fearless subscriber, please consider signing up for the free weekly newsletter.

We are equally pleased that our Black Lives Matter photo gallery received recognition. Since the time that gallery was published, we’ve worked hard to place a greater emphasis on racial equity in our coverage and launched a racial equity advisory board. Our work to do better and elevate the voices of people of color is far from over and will be an ongoing journey. We continuously seek to understand how we can improve where we’ve fallen short. We do not take lightly our role in educating our community and state leaders about the barriers our neighbors and colleagues of color face in Iowa.

Without our members, none of this would be possible. Support of our work means more than any award ever could. Consider becoming a member if you aren’t already, and as always, feel free to give us feedback or ideas at any time so that we can continue serving you.