Upfront.

• Author: Kinney, David
• Position: Best magazines award

The BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA magazine staff pays attention to business and the people important to the state's stories," the judges--members of the University of Missouri journalism faculty--said. "They do this with great writing, classic design and an ear to the business around them. This magazine is no doubt popular with readers because it covers diverse topics that are professionally satisfying. They do a great job with illustrations, especially infographics. All of this adds up to a substantial, important magazine."

The bronze for best magazine was among six prizes--including two golds--that BNC won in this year's Alliance of Area Business Publications Editorial Excellence Awards. That brings to more than 90 the number of national awards we've won. The gold prizes went to Senior Editor Ed Martin for best magazine feature and to Contributing Editor Tim Gray for best magazine personality profile.

Ed's was for his cover story in last year's July issue. "Saying that the writer put his heart into this story would normally be considered a meaningless cliche, but in this case it's the truth. Leading with a visually dramatic description of his own heart surgery, the author then spins a compelling, information-packed story about North Carolina's cutting-edge health care, both as business and lifesaver. The intricate weave of memoir and solid business reporting gave this piece its unique, award-winning quality."

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Ed also won the silver prize for best body of magazine work, the second time he's won that specific award. Last year, he struck gold in the category for the fourth time--after winning first place three consecutive years, followed by a bronze prize. No writer for a regional business publication has come anywhere close to that tally. As the judges noted, "Martin tackles tough stories."

Tim's gold was for last October's cover story about Durham funeral director Mark Higgins. "Descriptive writing that makes the most of relevant detail to...