The American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), a trade group fostering excellence in B2B journalism, has unveiled the finalists for its annual Azbee awards, with PPAI Media earning final consideration in four categories for its work in 2022.

“Award recognition, including the Azbees, is nothing new for PPAI Media,” says Josh Ellis, publisher and editor-in-chief of PPAI Media. “When Tina Berres Filipski left the Association after The PPAI Expo 2022 and I moved into her office, I marveled at all the trophies and plaques she left behind from her 26-year run heading our publications. It was a reminder that our members are accustomed to excellent, trustworthy coverage of the trends and events shaping their livelihoods.”

PPAI Media earned finalist nods for both national and regional prizes. Three individual articles from PPAI Magazine (titled PPB before its January redesign and rebranding) are in consideration by ASBPE judges for print honors, as is the PPAI Newslink newsletter for general excellence

“I’m proud of the overall team effort that led to these finalist honors. The work of our entire staff is represented,” Ellis says. “And I’m also proud that Tina herself is sharing in the honor as the subject of a Q&A article that is up for an award. Given how much we rely on industry sources to do our work, we also owe a great deal of credit to our members.”

National & Central Region Finalist – Q&A
The Big Gamble
In a magazine issue previewing The PPAI Expo 2023, which marked the 20th year in Las Vegas for the industry’s largest and longest running trade show, news editor Jonny Auping caught up with former Association board members and PPAI staff to create an oral history of their bold and secretive move out of Dallas.

Central Region Finalist – E-Newsletter

PPAI Newslink
In June of last year, PPAI Media rolled out a redesign of its flagship content newsletter, delivered each Tuesday and Thursday. The new art-forward layout highlights the publication’s evolved approach to breaking news and coverage of key industry trends and research-backed content. Click here to subscribe.

Central Region Finalist – Feature Article

Crisis Or Opportunity?
In the magazine’s May cover story, PPAI Media contributor Audrey Sellers profiled the state of the industry’s reliance on Chinese manufacturing for cost-effective products and reliable delivery. Amid human rights concerns and a complicated trade relationship between the U.S. and China, the topic was front and center to promo companies throughout 2022.

Central Region Finalist – Q&A

The Exit Interview: Tina Berres Filipski
In a conversation with her successor, PPAI Media’s outgoing editor shared the triumphs from her tenure and highlighted a number of the relationships that made her time with the Association most rewarding. Having experienced such evolution and progress in the promotional products industry during her time, Filipski is among the industry’s most knowledgeable and trusted historians.

Contest winners are set to be announced in May.