Good Reads
The American bar association publishes more than 55 magazines, journals and newsletters in addition to the ABA Journal, providing members, the profession and the public with cutting-edge information on all aspects of the law.
The wealth of journalistic, editorial and design talent on staff and among ABA volunteers enables the association to achieve an exceptional level of publishing excellence. This is borne out by the numerous national awards presented annually to the ABA.
In this first column of 2005, I would like to highlight some of the awards we received in 2004.
The ABA Journal’s awards included:
American society of business publication editors
• First place Gold Award to James W. McElhaney for his Litigation column, in the category of regular column, contributed, in both the national and regional competitions.
• Second place Silver Award in the national competition to John Gibeaut for his June 2003 “Pruning Punitives,” in the news article category, and a first place Gold Award in the regional competition.
• First place Gold Award to Richard Brust and the Journal staff for the March 2003 National Pulse section in the news section category, regional competition.
• Second place Silver Award to Terry Carter for his May 2003 feature, “Barrister of the Backwoods,” in the category of individual profile, regional competition.
• Third place Bronze Award to Gibeaut for his September 2003 “Stock Responses,” in the feature article category, regional competition.
APEX 2004 awards of excellence, sponsored by writing that works
The ABA Journal received the following awards:
• Editor and Publisher Danial Kim and the Journal staff in the category of magazines and journals, printed four color.
• The Journal’s editorial staff in the category of magazine and journal writing.
• Reginald Davis, Molly McDonough, Stephanie Francis Ward and others on the ABA Journal eReport staff in the category of newsletter writing.
• Gibeaut for his January 2003 “Fear and Loathing in Corporate America” in the feature writing category.
• Davis and Steven Keeva in the category of best rewrite for the September 2003 feature “Firms and Family.”
The Peter Lisagor Awards, sponsored by the Chicago Headline Club, The ABA Journal had finalists in two categories:
• Mark Hansen in the category of science reporting, print publications, news bureaus, wire services or online media for his story “Beastly Evidence.”
• McElhaney in columns and commentary, nondaily newspaper, news bureau, wire service or online media.
Excellence Abounds
Many other ABA periodicals received awards in 2004, including:
• Student Lawyer (December 2003), edited by Ira Pilchen, was recognized for excellence by the Society of National Association Publications. “Under the Influence” by freelance writer Cynthia L. Cooper won the Silver Award in the nationwide feature article category for magazines with 25,000-100,000 circulation. The article recounted problems with alcohol and substance abuse among law students and lawyers, and reviewed ABA and state bar efforts at addressing the problem.
• Student Lawyer’s Jobs column, written by Donna Gerson, was recognized for excellence by the American Society of Business Publication Editors, Midwest-South region. The 2004 Bronze Award for regular column by a contributing writer (circulation of 80,000 or less) went to Gerson and Pilchen for columns in February and April 2003.
• Business Law Today (September-October, 2003), edited by Ray DeLong and designed by Jill Tedhams, won a Silver Award from ASPBE, Midwest-South region, for graphics excellence for the opening spread of “Will the Company Cover an Ex-Officer’s Legal Costs?”
• The Judges’ Journal (Fall 2003 issue on the craft of judging), edited by Margaret Thompson, won an APEX Award of Excellence for magazine and journal writing.
• Human Rights Magazine (Winter 2004 issue on criminal justice and injustice), edited by Thompson, won an APEX Award of Excellence for feature series writing.
• Bar Leader (September-October 2003 issue), edited by Marilyn Cavicchia, won an APEX Award of Excellence in the category of magazines and journals—printed. Thanks to all the excellent writers and editors for ABA publications and especially to Danial Kim, ABA Journal editor and publisher, and Sarina Butler, associate executive director for communications, for their outstanding leadership of the many award-winning ABA publications.
