Business Journal wins top honor.

For the second consecutive year, the Business Journal has been named the nation's best regional weekly by the Alliance of Area Business Publications.

The award, one of seven the paper received during the AABP's annual conference last week in Detroit, was for overall excellence among large tabloids (those with annual revenues of more than $1.5 million) and covered the calendar year 2004. The judges said that the newspaper "stands out in a strong field" and cited in-depth reporting, coverage of major issues and an easy-to-read design. Other first prize awards received by the Business Journal:

* Best coverage of local breaking news to reporters Amanda Bronstad and David Greenberg for their reports on the "pay-to-play" investigation involving city contracting. "Like a bulldog that just won't loosen its bite," the judges wrote, "the reporters sniffed out hints of political favoritism by airport bosses and didn't let go."

* Best feature to reporters Kate Berry, Howard Fine and Laurence Darmiento for "The Calpers Machine," a package of stories concerning California's giant pension fund.

* Best local spin of a national business/economic story to reporters Kate Berry and Laurence Darmiento for "Appointment with China," which examined the legal and bureaucratic complexities for U.S. companies and investors doing business in China.

* The Business Journal also received awards for best explanatory reporting for an examination of L.A.'s richest Zip codes, best body of work by a single reporter (Bronstad), and best special section design for the 25th anniversary edition.

A record 689 entries were judged by faculty members of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. AABP is a non-profit organization representing 72 magazine and newspaper members in the United States, Canada, Australia and Mexico.

Separately, the Business Journal received two first prizes at the Los Angeles Press Club's 47th annual Southern California Journalism Awards. In the business category for newspapers under 100,000 circulation, the paper won for the Calpers package. In the special section category, the paper was cited for its 25th anniversary issue, "The Future of Los Angeles--Setting an Agenda." Judges described the entry a "thorough and intriguing look ahead for an amazing city."

The awards were announced during the organization's annual banquet, where Tijuana journalist Jesus Blancornelas received the Daniel Pearl award. Also honored were New Yorker investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, Associated Press reporter Linda Deutsch and the late Larry McCormick of KTLA (Channel 5).