Connectiv, the Business Information Association, has announced finalists for the 63rd Jesse H. Neal Awards – the premier awards program honoring B2B journalism. Winners will be announced during a special awards ceremony held March 31 at Pier Sixty in New York City.

Finalists for the Neal Awards include 128 nominations. Companies with the most finalists are Crain Communications, Hanley Wood, SourceMedia, ALM and Penton/Informa.

This year's awards recognize a range of traditional categories, including best news coverage, commentary, and technical content, as well as digital platforms, including best blog, social media and webcast, as well as best use of data, infographics and art direction.  Neal Awards finalists represent the changing face of B2B media, recognizing new all-digital products and services, and companies ranging from revenues of more than $7 million to those under $3 million.  A total of 42 winners will be announced, culminating in the Grand Neal Award, which honors the most outstanding entry from among the winners in all categories.

The Neal Awards will also honor the recipients of three special recognition Leadership Awards, including the prestigious Marianne Dekker Mattera Award for dedicated mentoring; the G.D. Crain Award for distinguished editorial career; and the McAllister Editorial Fellowship, which is given to an editor who will teach journalism at Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism.

Mike Marchesano, managing director of Connectiv, says of this year’s entries, “This year’s entries reflect the business issues and challenges of our domestic and global marketplaces.  Among the 549 entries, journalists deconstructed the presidential campaign; reported on the Flint, MI water crisis; and investigated prescription drug scams, state political systems and investment fraud.  From the frontline first defenders and emerging retail food trends to virtual reality and artificial intelligence, B2B journalists covered the major businesses and services that fuel the global economy.”

Marchesano further notes, "B2B content experts are critical voices in helping business leaders make effective decisions by providing analysis, insight and opinion. The size of the industry our finalists cover may vary from small-town business owners to leaders of multinationals, but the care and concern devoted to investigating and reporting on these businesses remains clear and constant.  We congratulate all the finalists for their impressive work and as role models for the next generation of business editors and reporters.”

A panel of 14 judges reviewed the 128 finalists to select the winners in 17 editorial categories. Erika Taylor, chair of the Neal Awards and chief of content for Professional Remodeler, says, “As final judges, we had our work cut out for us! The content this year was a true testament to what’s possible in today’s journalistic landscape and selecting between these uniformly excellent entries was a near-impossible, yet extremely inspiring, task. On behalf of the committee, I’m honored to congratulate the finalists and thank my fellow judges, screeners and entrants.” 

For more information on the awards and for a full list of the Neal Award finalists, please visit https://www.siia.net/neals/2017-Finalist-Gallery/2017-Finalists.

About Connectiv
Connectiv (the Business Information Association, a division of SIIA) is the only global business information association that accelerates innovation for leading and emerging content, data and technology companies. Connectiv helps members move faster and smarter with collective knowledge, access and resources. We move business forward by providing the essential information and services that are pivotal for millions of global businesses to make the right decisions to drive commerce. Connectiv membership represents over 200 world-class business information companies who reach an audience of more than 100 million professionals. These companies drive more than $20 billion in annual revenues, and their collective industries represent a $400 billion global market. SIIA is an umbrella association representing 800+ technology, data and media companies globally. For more information, visit http://www.siia.net/connectiv.

Matt Kinsman is vice president of content + programming at Connectiv, the only association focused on the integrated b-to-b model—including publications, events, digital media, marketing services and business information. Prior to joining Connectiv's predecessor American Business Media in 2011, Kinsman was executive editor of Folio:, the leading information provider for the magazine industry.