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American City Business Journals, Inc.

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1982; 42 years ago (1982)
Founder	Mike Russell
Headquarters	Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Area served	United States
Key people	Whitney Shaw (chairman and CEO)
Products	Magazines newspapers mass media
Number of employees	1,400 (2021)
Parent	Advance Publications (1995–present)
Website	acbj.com

American City Business Journals, Inc. (ACBJ) is an American newspaper publisher based in Charlotte, North Carolina. ACBJ publishes The Business Journals, which contains local business news for 44 markets in the United States with each market's edition named for that market, and also publishes Hemmings Motor News and Inside Lacrosse. The company is owned by Advance Publications. The company receives revenue from display advertising and classified advertising in its weekly newspaper and online advertising on its website and from a subscription business model.

The bizjournals.com website, using the overarching online title The Business Journal, contains local business news from various cities in the United States, along with an archive that contains more than 5 million business news articles published since 1996. As of August 2021, it receives over 3.6 million readers each week.

History

The company was founded in 1982 by Mike Russell with the launch of the Kansas City Business Journal.

In 1985, the company became a public company via an initial public offering and was traded as an over the counter stock.

In 1986, the company acquired the full complement of publications from Business Journal Publications, including the St. Louis Business Journal, and several other business journals and legal publications.

In 1986, Mike Russel acquired ten city business newspapers, in six states and the national capital, from the Scripps-Howard Business Journals division of Scripps-Howard Newspapers: Phoenix (Arizona); Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco (California); Atlanta (Georgia); Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston (Texas); Seattle (Washington); as well as Washington, D.C. and a South Florida edition combining Miami/Fort Lauderdale.

Ray Shaw joined the company in 1989 and served as the company's chairman and chief executive officer for 20 years until his death in 2009. Under Shaw's leadership, the company moved its headquarters from Kansas City, Missouri, to Charlotte, North Carolina, and greatly increased the number of its publications.

In 1995, the company was acquired by Advance Publications for US$258.8 million (equivalent to $472.8 million in 2023).

In 2001, the company partnered with Microsoft to provide content for bcentral.com.

In 2007, the company acquired Inside Lacrosse.

In 2012, sister company Condé Nast redirected Portfolio.com to the startups page of ACBJ.

In 2020, the company launched a book publishing partnership.

Annual awards

The publication publishes the following annual awards for each city:

• The Business Journal's Forty Under 40 lists the 40 most successful entrepreneurs under the age of 40. It has been published since 1992.

• The Business Journal's Best Places to Work ranks top businesses in local areas for best employee experience. Rankings are determined based on surveys on leadership, corporate culture, and communications. Different cities can use different methodologies and rank a different number of employers.

List of publications

City business publications

As of 2023, American City Business Journals (ACBJ) publishes print copies of 44 different newspapers, addressing business news in 44 different cities, generally under the names City or Region name + Business + Journal (33 cities) or First (5) or Times (2) or Chronicle (1) or Courier (1) or News (1) or Review (1).:

• Albany Business Review – Founded 1974 (as Capital District Business Review). Previously known as Capital District Business Review and The Business Review. The Review publishes an annual Book of Lists which, for example, contains ranked lists of local engineering firms, colleges, general contractors, fastest-growing companies, labor unions, law firms, hospitals, tourist attractions, apartment communities, manufacturers, etc.
• Albuquerque Business First – Formerly New Mexico Business Weekly, it changed its name in December 2012.
• Atlanta Business Chronicle – Acquired in 1986 with purchase of Scripps Howard Business Journals.
• Austin Business Journal – A member of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, with offices in downtown Austin. Publishes several lists and grants several awards annually, among them being "List of Fastest-Growing Central Texas Neighborhoods", "Best Places to Work Award", and "Fast 50" list of rapidly growing companies.
• Baltimore Business Journal – Acquired in 1986 with purchase of Business Journal Publications Corp.
• Birmingham Business Journal – Founded in 1983 by Michael C. Randle and Tina Verciglio-Savas. Acquired in 1999.
• Boston Business Journal – Founded by Robert Bergenheim and launched on March 2, 1981. The newspaper was originally named "P&L The Boston Business Journal" ("P&L" stood for profit and loss). However, "P&L" was later dropped from the name. Acquired in 1996 with purchase of CityMedia Inc.
• Buffalo Business First
• Charlotte Business Journal
• Cincinnati Business Courier – Acquired in 1986 with purchase of Business Journal Publications Corp. Print edition has a circulation of more than 50,000 business owners, professionals and decision makers, and more than 10,000 email subscribers receive a free daily news update.
• Columbus Business First
• Dallas Business Journal – Acquired in 1986 with purchase of Scripps Howard Business Journals.
• Dayton Business Journal
• Denver Business Journal – Acquired by ACBJ in 1989
• Houston Business Journal – Acquired in 1986 with purchase of Scripps Howard Business Journals. The Houston Business Journal had occupied space in the Park Towers for a period of over 10 years. Offices moved to 5444 Westheimer Road effective November 5, 2012.
• Jacksonville Business Journal – Began publishing in 1985. Publishes annually a Book of Lists, which contains updated, ranked lists on a subjects including largest employers, largest companies, largest law firms, and similar lists.
• Kansas City Business Journal – The first publication of the eventual ACBJ, co-founded by Michael K. Russell and William Worley in August 1982.
• Louisville Business First – Founded on August 13, 1984, by publisher Mike Kallay.
• Memphis Business Journal – Founded by Ward Archer as Mid-South Business in 1979.
• Milwaukee Business Journal – Acquired in 1996 with purchase of CityMedia Inc.
• Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal – Acquired in 1996 with purchase of CityMedia Inc.
• Nashville Business Journal
• Orlando Business Journal – Celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024, promoted Richard Bilbao to associate managing editor, on June 3, 2024, moved to a new office at 200 S. Orange Ave. Suite 1445, Orlando, Florida 32801
• Pacific Business News – Started by entrepreneur George Mason and former Honolulu Star-Bulletin editor John Ramsey. In 1983, Mason sold the newspaper to ACBJ, though he continued to write a regular column for more than a decade after that.
• Philadelphia Business Journal – Founded in 1982, acquired in 1996 with purchase of CityMedia Inc.
• Phoenix Business Journal- Founded in 1980, Acquired in 1986 with purchase of Scripps Howard Business Journals.
• Pittsburgh Business Times – Founded in 1981, acquired in 1986 with Business Journal Publications Corp. Sold in 1988. Reacquired in 1996 with purchase of CityMedia Inc.
• Portland Business Journal
• Puget Sound Business Journal – Acquired in 1986 with purchase of Scripps Howard Business Journals In 2010, the newspaper was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting for a series of stories about the foreclosure crises and the federal shutdown of Seattle-based Washington Mutual. The stories were reported by staff writers Kirsten Grind and Jeanne Lang Jones, and edited by Managing Editor Alwyn Scott. Congressman Dave Reichert later honored the PSBJ, praising its "inclusive and thorough" reporting as an "invaluable public service".
• Sacramento Business Journal – Acquired in 1996 with purchase of CityMedia Inc.
• St. Louis Business Journal – Established in 1980 with Dan Keough at the helm; acquired in 1986 with purchase of Business Journal Publications by ACBJ.
• San Antonio Business Journal
• San Francisco Business Journal – Acquired in 1986 with purchase of Scripps Howard Business Journals. In 2008, East Bay Business Times merged with the San Francisco Business Times.
• Silicon Valley Business Journal - Founded as San Jose Business Journal
• South Florida Business Journal – Founded in 1980 as Miami Business, it changed its name in 1983. Acquired in 1986 with purchase of Scripps Howard Business Journals.
• Tampa Bay Business Journal – Founded as Tampa Bay Business in 1981, renamed for a period starting in late 1990s as The Business Journal Serving Tampa Bay
• Triad Business Journal
• Triangle Business Journal
• Washington Business Journal – Acquired in 1986 with purchase of Scripps Howard Business Journals.
• Wichita Business Journal

Other publications

• Hemmings Classic Car - Launched in 1970 as Special Interest Autos, which was acquired by ACBJ in April 2002 with the purchase of Hemmings Motor News Publishing, renamed in 2004
• Hemmings Motor News - Launched in 1954, acquired by ACBJ in April 2002 with the purchase of Hemmings Motor News Publishing
• Hemmings Muscle Machines - Launched in 2003 by ACBJ
• Inside Lacrosse - Launched in 1996, acquired by ACBJ in 2007

Online only

• L.A. Business First
• Chicago Business Journal
• Cleveland Business Journal – Launched in May 2020.
• New York Business Journal
• Providence Business First
• Business Journals - in addition to links to the websites of the individual city business publications, this main page curates an assortment of direct links to some of the current week's stories from across the 45 (including L.A. Business First) websites

References

1. ^ Singer, Dale (September 30, 1986). "Business Journal, St. Louis Magazine Sold". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Vol. 108, no. 273. St. Louis, Missouri: Pulitzer, Inc. p. 7C – via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ Shaw, Whitney (July 20, 2009). "ACBJ Chairman Ray Shaw dies at 75". American City Business Journals.
3. "American City Business Journals". acbj.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
4. Reiser, Emon (August 14, 2020). "This Week in 1995: Advance Publications buys ACBJ". American City Business Journals.
5. "Microsoft and American City Business Journals Form Alliance" (Press release). Microsoft. January 22, 2001.
6. "American City to buy Inside Lacrosse Magazine". American City Business Journals. November 20, 2007.
7. Murray, Lance (June 13, 2012). "Upstart Business Journal launches with focus on entrepreneurship". American City Business Journals.
8. "Bizwomen's parent company partners with Advantage Media Group to launch Business Journals Books". American City Business Journals. July 22, 2020.
9. "Business Journal Books Starts Advantage Books". City Business Journals. July 21, 2020.
10. "Business Journals Books website".
11. Kass, Mark (January 5, 2012). "Business Journal names Forty under 40 winners".
12. "Columbus Business First 40 under 40 search". American City Business Journals.
13. Kuehn, Nancy (August 16, 2018). "Best Places to Work".
14. "The Best Places to Work for in Los Angeles 2019: A Look at the Winners". American City Business Journals. August 16, 2019.
15. Anderson, Ian (December 12, 2012). "New Mexico Business Weekly is now Albuquerque Business First". Albuquerque Business First. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
16. ^ "Two Companies Merging Business Journal Divisions". Associated Press. October 31, 1986.
17. "Austin Business Journal". Austin Chamber of Commerce.
18. "Austin Business Journal Releases List of Fastest-Growing Central Texas Neighborhoods". Spectrum News. March 17, 2015.
19. "Austin Business Journal's Best Places to Work Award". Nurture OBGYN. June 2012.
20. Pope, Colin (October 23, 2020). "BANKING ON BIG IDEAS". American City Business Journals.
21. "The List: Fast 50 – Less than $10 million". American City Business Journals.
22. "Birmingham Business Journal celebrates 25 years". American City Business Journals. January 11, 2009.
23. Stickgold, Emma (June 10, 2010). "Robert Bergenheim; founded Boston Business Journal". The Boston Globe.
24. ^ Margolies, Dan (June 30, 1996). "American City Business Journals agrees to buy six weeklies". American City Business Journals.
25. "Cincinnati Business Courier".
26. Zucker, Shaina (October 12, 2012). "HBJ to move to new Galleria office space in November". Houston Business Journal.
27. "HBJ offices shift to new home on Westheimer". American City Business Journals. November 5, 2012.
28. "Silver anniversary". American City Business Journals. October 18, 2010.
29. "The Lists". American City Business Journals.
30. Kaberline, Brian (March 1, 2009). "KCBJ co-founder, developer Mike Russell dies at age 69". American City Business Journals.
31. Bowling, Caitlin (August 15, 2014). "Founding father: First publisher Mike Kallay recounts a life of journalism, Business First's launch". American City Business Journals.
32. Donahoe, Jane A. (June 11, 2011). "Barney DuBois, journalist and MBJ co-founder, dies". American City Business Journals.
33. "Orlando". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
34. "40-YEAR ANNIVERSARY: Orlando Business Journal". West Orange Chamber. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
35. Richard Bilbao (December 5, 2023). "Personal news: I have been named Associate Managing Editor at OBJ. I will continue to cover tourism while transitioning the role/beat to the next reporter. Thanks to all my tourism/sports media friends that helped me grow. Look forward to seeing y'all in the parks sometime. 🤙". Twitter.
36. "Richard Bilbao". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
37. "Downtown Office Business Journal". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
38. Magin, Janis L. (November 9, 2017). "John Ramsey, first editor of Pacific Business News, dies at 94". American City Business Journals.
39. Lowery, Ilana (November 2, 2015). "35th Anniversary: 'Business Journal' has grown up with Valley". American City Business Journals.
40. "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Google News Archive Search".
41. "Journals acquired". The Pittsburgh Press. October 18, 1988.
42. "PSBJ Pulitzer finalist for WaMu, foreclosure coverage". American City Business Journals. April 13, 2010.
43. Reichert, David (April 21, 2010). "Honoring The Seattle Times and the Puget Sound Business Journal". Congressional Record.
44. Reiser, Emon; Meléndez, Mel (December 25, 2020). "40 Years of News". American City Business Journals.

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External links

• Media related to American City Business Journals at Wikimedia Commons
• American City Business Journals corporate website
• The Business Journals
• Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal
• Hemmings Motor News
• The Biz Journals on Twitter

• 1990 initial public offerings
• 1995 mergers and acquisitions
• Advance Publications
• American corporate subsidiaries
• Business newspapers published in the United States
• Companies based in Charlotte, North Carolina
• Mass media companies established in 1985
• Weekly newspapers published in the United States
• 1982 establishments in the United States