By Tonie Auer
DFW Chapter President

By now, we've all heard the news about Reed Elsevier shuttering 23 B2B pubs. I don't think anyone is all that shocked any more. But, what does this mean for B2B publishing? Folio has its take and former ASBPE president, current TABPI president and editorial director of Hotel & Motel Management magazine Paul Heney has his:

"I think that this is one more indication that the b2b publishing world is moving away from being dominated by a few enormous entities. Our future lies more with smaller companies that truly love and believe in the niche(s) that they serve. Many of the Reeds of the world became little more than faceless earning machines for venture capitalists. Now the pendulum is swinging back toward favoring individuals who are passionate about mining or pharmaceuticals or engineering. This also serves to remind each one of us that a brand may be 40 or 50 or 60 years old, but nothing is too big to fail if editors, publishers and salespeople ignore the shifts in media habits — both on the reader and the advertiser — that we’re seeing today."

Fortunately a few titles have been saved and maybe some others will be resurrected as well. Time will tell.

Labels: Paul Heney, State of the Industry, Tonie Auer

By Paul Heney

Last October, TABPI, ASBPE’s international partner organization, launched a creative new way to use Twitter. Deemed TABPI Twitterfest, this two-day event brought together a multitude of B2B editors from the U.S., the U.K., South Africa, Australia, and other countries, to chat about current editorial topics.

I’m happy to announce that the second TABPI Twitterfest will be held from Feb. 18-19.

What is TABPI Twitterfest? It’s similar to an open chatroom, where B2B editors across the globe can talk about issues and ask questions. We’ll be focusing on one primary topic for this TABPI Twitterfest: How do you manage the separation of church and state (editorial and sales) in new media? Do you treat online content as having the same rules? What about webinars? How about in-person roundtables or conferences? Are the rules the same, or is there more leeway off the printed page? If you feel pressure from the sales side, how do you counter it?

You can participate in several ways:

1. Join Twitter and post Tweets on Feb. 18 and 19. These 140-character messages must contain #tabpi in order to be a part of Tweetfest, and other editors around the world will see your Tweets.

Labels: Paul Heney, TABPI, Twitter

By Paul Heney

I’m pleased to announce the launch of TABPI’s third Design Challenge, a free competition that we launched in 2008. The Challenge is meant to reward graphic creativity in the B2B industry, as well as serve as an educational exercise for other artists. Best of all, the overall winner receives $250, and his/her solution is highlighted on the TABPI website. We also include other selected entries, to illustrate the range of creativity and ideas.

This Design Challenge revolves around the puzzle of creating back to back monthly covers for a magazine that are related to the same story. How do you make a “Part I” and “Part II” cover that work together, but also stand alone? Complete details are at the TABPI website, http://www.tabpi.org/. Please pass this information on to your favorite designer, to let them exercise some creative muscle in the New Year.

At the website, you can also see winners of the first two Design Challenges, along with last year’s inaugural Editorial Challenge. We also list judges’ comments (positive and negative) for the winner and the honorable mentions. It’s a pretty fascinating exercise. I highly recommend checking it out.

The deadline for submitting Design Challenge solutions is Friday, Feb. 12.

Paul is the president of TABPI and past president of the ASBPE.

Labels: Design, Paul Heney, TABPI

By Paul J. Heney

We’ve been hearing about the global economy for years now, and it’s true that for many of our publications, international growth is a reality.

The other side of this is that we have to realize that we’re not the only players in the game. B2B publications have existed for years in far-flung markets, from Singapore to Sweden. And many of them are doing great things for the industries they serve.

That’s really the thrust behind the Tabbie Awards, now entering into its seventh year. As a partner to ASBPE’s venerable Azbee Awards, the Tabbies are somewhat akin to the Golden Globes — the place where all the world’s English-language publications come together and are judged on the same journalistic and design qualities.

Any English-language B2B publications — anywhere in the world — are eligible for the Tabbies. If your publication is in Chicago, but you just cover regional or national events in your industry, that’s fine — just as it is for a publication in Western Canada or on the North Island of New Zealand that’s just a regional b2b.

I think that people are looking back at 2009 as a tough year, but also as a measuring stick of sorts. I hope that someday, when I look back at my own career, I’ll be happy with how hard I worked through those tough months, and proud of the work I did then. I know other publications that also did some exceptional things last year, and I’m excited to see what stories are told in this year’s Tabbie Awards.

I invite you to visit TABPI and download our Call for Entries, which includes all the categories, instructions and the entry form. The deadline for submissions is March 3, which will be here before you know it.

While you’re there, I encourage you to take a look at the awards page, which has links to previous contests. We have PDFs of many of the winning stories and departments (as well as images of the design winners), and I think it’s really quite instructive to look at these brilliant examples of what b2b can be, whether it’s done in Atlanta or Auckland.

Paul is the president of TABPI and past president of the ASBPE.

Labels: Awards, Paul Heney, TABPI

By Paul J. Heney
ASBPE Past President
TABPI President

Last year, TABPI sponsored our first Design Challenge. The goal of this program was to show how much creativity and talent there is in the b2b design world. We asked b2b designers and art directors to design a cover for the fictional magazine “Concrete Times,” around some demands from the editor and publisher. We had a great response, and the variety of designs was fantastic. We awarded a $250 prize to the winner, and also published other honorable mention submissions at http://www.tabpi.org/designchallenge.htm. In fact, we had so much fun with the Challenge, that we repeated it earlier this year, with even better results and increased participation. In fact, the day we announced results in both 2008 and 2009, we recorded some of the largest number of unique visitors to our website ever!

In the spirit of bringing editors into the mix, we’ve just announced our first TABPI Editorial Challenge, at http://www.tabpi.org/editorialchallenge.htm. The $250 first place prize still applies, but now b2b editors are encouraged to write a headline, deck and lede for a story that only has so-so information. We provide you with a partial interview, a poorly written press release, and a bunch of dull quotes. Use your creative spark to turn this story—which has the potential to be a stinker—into something fresh. The deadline is May 4th, and we’d love to have your participation!

Labels: Design, Paul Heney, Tabbie Awards, TABPI

By Paul Heney

It’s not too late to get involved in the 2009 Tabbies, and show the whole world that fantastic work that you and your team did in 2008. The international competition, supported by groups as varied as ASBPE and the Magazine Publishers Association of New Zealand, had more than 700 entries last year, and is open to all English language b2b publications, whether in the U.S. or abroad. Magazines are not required to belong to any specific association or group to be eligible.

I’ve learned so much in the five previous Tabbie competitions, and have been amazed at the talent in the b2b world, both in the U.S. and around the globe. We’ve had smaller magazines from smaller countries win huge awards, and have been able to start some dialogues between regions of the world. Please take a look at some of our past winners on the http://www.tabpi.org/ website, I think you’ll be impressed. For the vast majority of them, you can click on the entry and see a larger jpeg image or a PDF of the winner. So, when you’re thinking of what might be a potential winner in your arsenal of work, you can see how it stacks up to other entrants. This year’s deadline is March 17th.

If you have any questions about the Tabbies, please drop me an email, I’ll be happy to assist.

Paul J. Heney is editorial director for Questex Media's Hotel Group, which includes Hotel & Motel Management, Hotel Design, and Luxury Hotelier. A member of the ASBPE Cleveland Chapter board, Heney served as national president of ASPBE from 1999-2003. He is also president of TABPI, an international b2b think tank that promotes b2b journalism and professionalism. He can be emailed at pheney@questex.com.

Labels: Awards, Paul Heney, Tabbie Awards, TABPI

The 2009 TABPI Young Leaders Scholarship was created to increase interest in the B2B publishing world with younger editors who are advancing in their editorial careers.

The scholarship is sponsored by TABPI and the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). The scholarship allows younger editors - who might otherwise be unable - to attend an educational B2B editorial event. This year's scholarship is to attend the ASBPE Editorial Conference, scheduled for July 15-17 in Washington, D.C. The conference contains an evening networking event on July 15, followed by two full days of intensive editorial sessions with seminars, panel discussions, and workshops targeted at editors of business, trade, and association print and Web publications.

These scholarships are open to all business editors, including print and Web, who work outside of the United States (for editors in the U.S., ASBPE sponsors a similar scholarship, please see www.asbpe.org for details).

Scholarships pay the conference and hotel room costs for up to two worthy applicants per year, along with up to $500 towards airfare costs. Transportation to and from the conference, any non-conference meals, and other incurred costs are the responsibility of the winners or their individual publishing companies. The scholarship is not transferable to other persons or events.

Applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• Are 30 years of age or younger on or about July 15, 2009
• Are currently a business publication editor, and have been so for a minimum of two years
• Candidacy is sponsored by their publication's Chief Editor
• Plan to continue in the business press as a career
• Are not a past YLS winner
  

The deadline for applications is March 2. The application form is posted at www.tabpi.org/scholarship.htm. Scholarship winners will be notified on or before April 30.

A listing of winners will also be posted on the TABPI website, www.tabpi.org. If you have questions about your submission, or general questions about the scholarship, please email them to info@tabpi.org or contact TABPI President Paul J. Heney at 1-440-376-5672 (cell).

Labels: ASBPE Conference, Paul Heney, Tabbie Awards, TABPI

By Paul Heney

Labels: Design, Paul Heney, TABPI

By Paul Heney

As this election season drags on, I’m hoping for a politician who will rediscover the power of words.

Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing resentment towards intellectual thought and speech in our society. A lot of it seems to have come through in attacks on the left by the right, but I don’t see this as strictly a one political party thing. Some of it is due to the dumbing down of America by the mass media and some of it is a result of our intellectual laziness.

In her new book The Age of American Unreason, Susan Jacoby explores many of these issues, and it is a fascinating read. She begins by skewering the use of seemingly harmless words and phrases, and I’m not sure I’ll ever look on some of them in quite the same way.

One example is the term “folks.” I’ve used it for years, and it has a feel of wholesomeness, almost an old time, Americana vibe. But Jacoby explores how the use of casual colloquialisms like folks in our national political discourse is the antithesis of serious, respectful debate and conversation.

Her pleas sound like that of a grumpy old grammar teacher, until she provides examples of speeches by FDR calling for wartime sacrifices and George W. Bush reassuring the American people after the 2005 London terrorist bombings. Insert Bush’s frequent use of "folks" into FDR’s fireside chats, and you realize how overly simplistic our politicians have become. (In the interest of partisan fairness, do some Google searching … you’ll find "folks" being bantered about by Democrats, too, from Joe Biden to Nancy Pelosi to Michelle Obama.)

The other fascinating term being used a lot by the media is "troop" (and "troops"). Jacoby digs into this, as well. I’ll confess that for the longest time, I didn’t quite understand what these words meant exactly, and rather thought that troop was a collective noun (rendering "troops" rather grammatically challenged). I suppose I was perhaps confusing the word with platoon or regiment. But commentators on the nightly news simply use the term troop and troops in place of soldier and soldiers.

I’m not sure how this started, but one thing is clear: Soldiers are much more readily identified as individual human beings. Troop is so much more generic and anonymous sounding. Hearing that 28 troops were killed last night in a war zone sounds bad, but hearing that 28 soldiers were killed certainly has a more immediate effect on me. Perhaps this is yet one more way that we choose to shield ourselves from the horrors of what we see on the news every night.

In this new area of Facebook and LinkedIn, I sometimes wonder if our language will be further dumbed down into text-messagelike snippets. As much as I embrace these new social networking sites myself, I sometimes have to tell myself to pick up the phone or meet someone for dinner, so we can have more of an intellectual conversation. Something that’s about more than sound bites and gossip — something that’s real.

[Editor's Note: For more book reviews and recommendations, see the ASBPE Bookstore — or visit the ASBPE GoodReads group, where you can see members' ratings and reviews and add your own.]

Paul J. Heney is editorial director for Questex Media's Hotel Group, which includes Hotel & Motel Management, Hotel Design, and Luxury Hotelier. A member of the ASBPE Cleveland Chapter board, Heney served as national president of ASPBE from 1999-2003. He is also president of TABPI, an international B2B think tank that promotes B2B journalism and professionalism.

Labels: Books, Editing, Journalism, Paul Heney, Writing

By Paul Heney
Past ASBPE National President

When I served as ASBPE’s national president back in the early part of the decade, some the most common calls I’d receive would be right after the annual awards competition. Editors and designers would ask if we could share the judges’ comments on their nonwinning entries. I always felt bad telling them no. The truth was that it was hard enough to have the judges forward us commentary on the winning entries. Adding 2,000+ losing entries to their proverbial plates would have caused most or all of our judges to tell us to pound sand.

In my experience with the Tabbie awards since 2004, I’ve found that the same question still comes up. And it’s a valid one. If a magazine isn’t producing award-winning material, how does the staff — especially on smaller publications — figure out the best way to turn things around?

This led to the idea for TABPI’s Magazine Critique Service, which began in 2006. ASBPE has partnered in the MCS for the past two years. The MCS allows editors to get feedback from some of the most respected editors working in b2b journalism today, and benefit from their colleague-to-colleague analysis of what's working and what can be improved.

The MCS provides objective, outside analyses that can show the decision makers in an organization how to take content to the next level. Magazines participating in the MCS will have three reviewers give detailed feedback on specific editorial and design aspects of the publication. TABPI and ASBPE will provide a report to the editor, who can thoroughly review the results with the editorial and design staff.

The service is a good investment for magazines desiring a revamp or a refresh after years in the industry. Magazines get to ride on the experts' learning and minimize costly trial and error situations. More dynamic editorial and design can equate to more credibility with readers and advertisers, who will recognize the publication as the voice for the industry it covers.

All submissions for the MCS must be received on or about Oct. 1. The average processing time will be eight to 10 weeks from the time materials are received. Complete details on the program, along with a submission form and two sample critiques, are available on the TABPI website, at www.tabpi.org/mcs as well as at the ASBPE website.

Paul J. Heney is editorial director for Questex Media's Hotel Group, which includes Hotel & Motel Management, Hotel Design, and Luxury Hotelier. A member of the ASBPE Cleveland Chapter board, Heney served as national president of ASPBE from 1999-2003. He is also president of TABPI, an international b2b think tank that promotes b2b journalism and professionalism.

Labels: Azbee Awards, Media Industry Awards, Paul Heney, Tabbie Awards, TABPI

By Paul J. Heney
Past ASBPE National President

One of the most important programs that ASBPE conducts is the Young Leaders Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to five deserving b2b editors, 30 or younger, each year. The winners attend the annual ASBPE Editorial Conference, this year’s being in Kansas City from July 23-25. The scholarship covers their conference registration and hotel … all their company has to pay for is their transportation costs to the event.

In 2006, I proposed that ASBPE and TABPI join up to also extend the YLS program overseas. Since then, we have chosen an additional two non-U.S.-based editors to join the conference each year. The only difference here is that TABPI also reimburses the winners up to $500 toward the cost of their airfare. That only seems right, since (for example) a Chicago to Kansas City ticket is vastly cheaper than a London-Kansas City ticket!

In the first two years, editors from South Africa, France, Canada and The Netherlands have attended the ASBPE Editorial Conference, bringing an interesting mix to the already diverse crowd.

I’m proud to tell you a little about the 2008 winners, who were just selected this month.

From the United Kingdom, we’re pleased to welcome Andy Hoskins. Andy is deputy editor for bmi Publications' The Business Travel Magazine, a publication voted best in its field at the recent Business Travel Journalism Awards. He’s been with bmi since 2004. Andy holds a BA in geography and is a keen sportsman and traveler. He plays regularly for a local soccer team, enjoys cycling and plans to run his first marathon in Edinburgh, Scotland, next month.

And from South Africa, we welcome Kate Rau. Kate was recently named editor for SALESGURU magazine, the country’s only publication focused purely on selling. She is looking forward to growing the quality of the magazine and website, as well as increasing national exposure of the brand. Kate formerly worked for Push Media and Media 3S / Shorten Publications. She has a BA in journalism, and enjoys gardening, yoga, reading and walking her boxer.

For more details, please see www.tabpi.org/scholarship.htm

Paul J. Heney is senior editor of Hydraulics & Pneumatics.

Editor's Note: ASBPE will announce the U.S.-based winners of the Young Leaders Scholarship soon.

Labels: Azbee Awards, International Media, Paul Heney, TABPI

By Paul Heney
ASBPE Cleveland Chapter Treasurer

As I recently posted on the ASBPE Cleveland blog, it's critical that b2b editors don't lose sight of how important design is to our magazines. It's an easy thing to forget in these increasingly crazy days of shorter deadlines, publishers shouting about reduced ad revenues, smaller staffs, increased competition, the move to online, etc., etc.

In that spirit, I mention that recently, winners were announced in the first ever TABPI Design Challenge, a competition that was developed to showcase some of the amazing talent that we have in our little world of b2b publications. The Challenge is also important in that it strives to get design professionals in our industry engaged in discussions about best practices.

This first challenge described an art director for the fictional Concrete Times magazine caught in a proverbial crossfire. The magazine's publisher demands that the focus of the April 2008 cover showcase the magazine's 40th anniversary. On the other hand, the editor-in-chief is more concerned with the main feature story, focusing on the first ever "Top 100 Leaders" ranking. That should be the focus. Of course, there is practically no art budget to speak of. So, what do you do? TABPI asked B2B design professionals across the globe to weigh in with their solutions to this dilemma by submitting their own cover proposal.

The results of the Challenge are quite interesting. You can see the overall winner, along with five honorable mentions at Design Challenge. There are also comments from the judges on both the positives and negatives that each solution brings. Take a look at the winners, forward the link to your art director or designer, and start a discussion as to how your team would have handled this issue. Which of the submitted solutions do you feel worked best? Would any of them have worked or not worked specifically for your magazine's audience?

Talking about design with your art director shouldn't be forgotten in these days of increased competition and shorter deadlines. Don't forget how crucial design is to a successful b2b magazine property.

You can also check out the Tabbie Awards to see past winners going back to 2004. That is another fascinating way to start some design discussions with your art director. Browse through the jpegs and pdfs of the winning cover and layout designs, and chances are you'll begin to brew some great ideas of your own.

Heney is president of Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI), based in Cleveland; senior editor with Penton Media’s Hydraulics & Pneumatics; and former national president of ASBPE (1999-2003).

Labels: Design, Paul Heney, TABPI