SBJ takes home 2 national awards at conference

Springfield Business Journal was the recipient of two national awards at The Alliance of Area Business Publishers’ annual conference this week.

In the category of medium tabloids based on circulation, SBJ was recognized with silver honors for best scoop and bronze honors for best overall design during AABP’s Tuesday-night awards banquet in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

“I’m really proud of my team for their work to cover the news with integrity and passion,” said SBJ Executive Editor Christine Temple. “These awards are a welcome recognition of the hard work I see all year long.”

The best scoop honor was for a Feb. 7, 2025, story reported and written by Digital Editor Geoff Pickle, “Businesspeople sound alarm on MoDOT plans along Highway 60.”

"The story highlighting MoDOT’s plans along Highway 60 captured attention through its strong local relevance and impactful opening quotes,” AABP judges said in their comments. “The reporting encouraged readers to think more broadly about accessibility, infrastructure and how transportation decisions shape daily life.”

The best overall design honor was for 2025 editions produced by SBJ’s Creative team, comprising Heather Mosley, Rebecca Green, Katelyn Egger and Tawnie Wilson.

“The news-oriented designs are executed with precision, delivering a substantial amount of information in an efficient and highly readable manner,” AABP judges said in their comments. “Bold and distinctive headlines as well as a thoughtful grid structure ensure that the content never feels overwhelming. Photography also plays a key role in elevating the storytelling, particularly in features like the ‘Office Envy’ piece. The overall design successfully blends bold expression with journalistic clarity.”

AABP represents nearly 60 publications in North America with a combined circulation of 1.2 million, according to its website.