We're no. 1.

• Position: UPFRONT

During the more than three decades BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA has been published, the magazine has won well over 100 national prizes for writing, reporting and design. Most have come from the Los Angeles-based Alliance of Area Business Publications, which recently awarded us seven more. Five were gold prizes, one of which was not just a first place but a first for BNC.

Through the years, we had won silver and bronze awards for best magazine, but getting the gold means something very special to us and to North Carolina: You're reading the best regional business magazine in America. Here's what the judges who decided that--members of the University of Missouri journalism faculty--had to say about it.

"Solid. A single word that best describes this business publication. Great writing is its hall-mark, the output of skilled reporting and impeccable editing. The stories are interesting to read even for people who aren't interested in business reporting. For the state, sensitivity to its geographical and demographic diversity makes the magazine an important resource."

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Much of that great writing and skilled reporting is done by our senior contributing editor, Ed Martin, whose stories won four of those gold awards. That tally brings his AABP total to 27-20 of them first places. He once again took the top prize for best body of work by a magazine writer, marking the 10th time he has been honored in the category. He's won first place an astounding six times.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

"Martin," the judges said, "excels as a business magazine writer because of his story choice and story execution--fueled by in-depth reporting, elegant writing and first-person observations. Whether he is writing about the biggest farm east of the Mississippi River or an aging speedboat mogul, Martin captures the flavor of his subjects with the use of telling, specific details and a compelling narrative arc."

The farm is Open Grounds, subject of his September 2011 cover story. Awarding it best magazine feature, the judges called it "a breathtaking article notable for its in-depth reporting and storytelling, a seamless narrative that was just plain interesting to read from beginning to end. It proves that a good idea can be transformed into a great story with skilled writing and editing."

The previous month's cover story about Reggie Fountain won best magazine personality profile. "This profile on a speedboat racer who loses his company was well-reported...