Business Journal gets top honor from panel of Writers and Editors. (Up Front).

The Los Angeles Business Journal has won an overall excellence award for business weeklies by the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and was also recognized for its coverage of Global Crossing Ltd.

The Business Journal was among five weeklies selected in the Best in Business category for work in 2002, the fourth time in the last six years the paper has been so honored. The other 2002 winners are the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Cram's Chicago Business, Cram's Detroit Business and the Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee.

The SABEW judges cited the paper's stories on corporate malfeasance, as well as other stories "that looked at the economic impact on everyday workers," The Business Journal, said the judges, was "willing to look beyond the news and find compelling stories waiting to be told."

In the project category, the paper was recognized for its Feb. 18, 2002 special report, "The Rise and Fall of Global Crossing' that detailed financial irregularities at the telecommunications company. The project was prepared by staff members Michael Stremfel, Anthony Palazzo, Conor Dougherty, Mark Lacter and Deborah Belgum, and contributing reporter John Brinsley.

Also recognized in the project category were the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Cincinnati Business Courier. The Orange County Business Journal, a sister publication, received a certificate of merit for its coverage of the local economy.

The project category of the competition generated 151 entries from daily and weekly newspapers of all sizes. Overall, there were more than 600 entries.

The SABEW Best in Business contest was started in 1995 to help set standards and recognize outstanding business journalism. Awards will be presented on April 28 at the Boston Globe headquarters as part of the organization's annual convention.