ABA Journal's redesign wins top national award from 2020 Azbees
The ABA Journal was awarded the top national prize for its magazine redesign from the American Society of Business Publication Editors on Friday.
In all, the magazine won eight national gold awards, the ASBPE’s top prize in its annual Azbee Awards of Excellence. In addition, the Journal won two national silver awards and four national bronze awards. The other winning entries ranged from the cover design of the July 2019 issue to the Marked for Life web series to a feature about the use of genealogical testing in law enforcement.
“These awards once again recognize the ABA Journal’s place as the must-read publication for members of the legal profession. As chair of the Journal’s board of editors, I’m proud of the hard work and dedication the staff of the Journal displays day in, day out,” says Alice Richmond, chair of the Journal’s board of editors. “I want to thank the Azbee judges for honoring the Journal with so many gold awards. They are well deserved.”
John O’Brien, editor and publisher of the Journal, says its impressive showing in the Azbees is yet another recognition of the hard-working, extremely talented staffers and contributors.
“We’re honored that the contest judges chose to recognize us with so many prestigious accolades,” O’Brien says.
Nick Panos, creative director of the Journal, says working on a redesign of the ABA’s flagship publication was a bit nerve-wracking but exciting at the same time.
“This publication is over 100 years old and is read and admired by our nation’s lawyers,” Panos says. “I’m most proud of the process and meetings we had that led to the most comprehensive creative guideline. We interviewed our readers and our staff in the creation of this roadmap. The ABA Journal staff was so influential and excited about the possibilities moving forward. Our design team then executed three designs with elements from all three put into the final design. It’s rewarding when the whole team has a part in watching the ball leave the yard.”
The Azbee Awards were created to honor outstanding work by business-to-business, trade, association or professional publications. According to the ASBPE, more than 1,000 entries were received for this year’s awards, and more than 75 judges took part in the decision-making process. The national awards ceremony, which would have been hosted by the ASBPE in conjunction with its annual conference planned for May in Chicago, was canceled because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Journal also won a number of Azbee awards at the regional level, competing against other industry publications from around the upper Midwest. The print magazine and website tallied 13 regional gold awards, three silver awards and one bronze award. Journal staff, the ABA Creative Group, regular columnists and freelancers were all involved in achieving the awards.
Here is the complete list of the Journal’s national and regional Azbee Awards:
Category: All Content—Data Journalism
Award Level: National Gold Award
Title of Entry: State of the Profession
Jason Tashea, legal affairs writer; Danielle Braff, reporter; and Victor Li, assistant managing editor
Category: All Content—Government Coverage
Award Level: National Gold Award
Title of Entry: Government Coverage
Staff, ABA Journal
Category: All Content—Regular Column, Contributed
Award Level: National Gold Award
Title of Entry: Phil Meyer Storytelling columns
Phil Meyer, writer; and Kevin Davis, managing editor
Category: All Content—Technical Article
Award Level: National Gold Award
Title of Entry: “Genealogy sites give law enforcement a new DNA sleuthing tool, but the battle over privacy looms”
Jason Tashea, legal affairs writer; Blair Chavis, assistant managing editor; and Brenan Sharp, design director
Category: Design—Contents Page or Pages
Award Level: National Gold Award
Title of Entry: Contents
Amanda Fry, designer
Category: Design—Front Cover—Photo, Less Than $3 Million Revenue
Award Level: National Silver Award
Title of Entry: 10 Years of Legal Rebels
Benjamin Hager, photographer; and Brenan Sharp, design director
Category: Design—Front Cover —Photo Illustration
Award Level: National Bronze Award
Title of Entry: The Coming Storm
Brenan Sharp, design director
Category: Design—Front Cover —Special Issue or Supplement
Award Level: National Bronze Award
Title of Entry: Law in Popular Culture Series: “Lawyers, Songs & Money”
Brenan Sharp, design director
Category: Design—Infographics
Award Level: National Gold Award
Title of Entry: Inside the Legal Profession
Elmarie Jara, designer
Category: Design—Magazine/Newspaper Redesign
Award Level: National Gold Award
Title of Entry: ABA Journal
ABA Creative Group: Nick Panos, creative director; Brenan Sharp, design director; Sara Wadford, senior designer; Amanda Fry, designer; Elmarie Jara, designer; and Tahiti Spears, designer
Category: Design—Opening Page/Spread —Photo, Less Than $3 Million Revenue
Award Level: National Bronze Award
Title of Entry: Marked for Life
Sara Wadford, senior designer; and Wayne Slezak, photographer
Category: Design—Opening Page/Spread —Typographic
Award Level: National Bronze Award
Title of Entry: 10 Years of Legal Rebels
Tahiti Spears, designer
Category: Online—Web Feature Series
Award Level: National Silver Award
Title of Entry: “Marked For Life: Ending mass incarceration won’t succeed without giving people a second chance”
Kevin Davis, managing editor
Category: Print—News Section
Award Level: National Gold Award
Title of Entry: Docket
Staff, American Bar Association; and Kevin Davis, managing editor
Category: All Content—Data Journalism
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: State of the Profession
Jason Tashea, legal affairs writer; Danielle Braff, reporter; and Victor Li, assistant managing editor
Category: All Content—Enterprise News Story
Award Level: Regional Silver Award
Title of Entry: “The Coming Storm: Lawyers are unleashing a flurry of lawsuits to step up the fight against climate change”
Darlene Ricker, reporter; and Blair Chavis, assistant managing editor
Category: All Content—Government Coverage
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: Government Coverage
Staff, ABA Journal
Category: All Content—Impact/Investigative
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: “Break Down: Prisons are housing mental health patients who’ve committed no crimes”
Julianne Hill, reporter
Category: All Content—Regular Column, Contributed
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: Phil Meyer Storytelling columns
Phil Meyer, writer; and Kevin Davis, managing editor
Category: All Content—Technical Article
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: “Genealogy sites give law enforcement a new DNA sleuthing tool, but the battle over privacy looms”
Jason Tashea, legal affairs writer; Blair Chavis, assistant managing editor; and Brenan Sharp, design director
Category: Design—Contents Page or Pages
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: Contents
Amanda Fry, designer
Category: Design—Front Cover—Photo, Less Than $3 Million Revenue
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: 10 Years of Legal Rebels
Benjamin Hager, photographer; and Brenan Sharp, design director
Category: Design—Front Cover—Photo Illustration
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: The Coming Storm
Brenan Sharp, design director
Category: Design—Front Cover —Special Issue or Supplement
Award Level: Regional Silver Award
Title of Entry: Law in Popular Culture Series: “Lawyers, Songs & Money”
Brenan Sharp, design director
Category: Design—Infographics
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: Inside the Legal Profession
Elmarie Jara, designer
Category: Design—Magazine/Newspaper Redesign
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: ABA Journal
ABA Creative Group: Nick Panos, Creative Director; Brenan Sharp, Design Director; Sara Wadford, Senior Designer; Amanda Fry, Designer; Elmarie Jara, Designer; and Tahiti Spears, designer
Category: Design—Opening Page/Spread —Photo, Less Than $3 Million Revenue
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: Marked for Life
Sara Wadford, senior designer; and Wayne Slezak, photographer
Category: Design—Opening Page/Spread —Typographic
Award Level: Regional Bronze Award
Title of Entry: 10 Years of Legal Rebels
Tahiti Spears, designer
Category: Online—Web Feature Series
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: “Marked For Life: Ending mass incarceration won’t succeed without giving people a second chance”
Kevin Davis, managing editor
Category: Online—Web Microsite/Special Section (Non-Trade Show/Conference)
Award Level: Regional Silver Award
Title of Entry: Legal Rebels
Staff, ABA Journal
Category: Print—News Section
Award Level: Regional Gold Award
Title of Entry: Docket
Staff, American Bar Association; and Kevin Davis, managing editor
Updated June 23 at 10:15 a.m. to include comments from Nick Panos.
