In 1957, financier and E.F Hutton founder Gerald Loeb established the Gerald Loeb Awards to honor journalists "who make significant contributions to the understanding of business, finance and the economy." What Loeb understood was that excellence in the field of business journalism was essential to both private investors and the general public, who depended on high-quality coverage as both a source of information and protection. Loeb was nothing if not forward thinking, realizing that business and economic transparency was essential and that a free press was necessary for a free and honest economy.
Since 1973, UCLA Anderson has been the steward of the Loeb Awards, administrating and presenting the award to journalists in a variety of categories -- categories that have evolved over the years as the face of business journalism has changed. Today, there are thirteen competition categories ranging from such traditional categories as Large Newspapers, Magazines and Commentary to newer categories that include online journalists and bloggers. The Loebs also include two career achievement awards, a Lifetime Achievement award (given in 2010 to Walt Bogdanich, Assistant Investigative Editor of The New York Times) and the Minard Editor Award (named for Lawrence "Laury" Minard, the long time managing editor of Forbes who founded that publications international Forbes Global and awarded in 2010 to Alix Freedman, Deputy Managing Editor, The Wall Street Journal).
In any given year, the list of Loeb finalists reflect the important business, economic and financial trends of the prior year, whether it be issues of corporate transparency, government bailouts of Wall Street or the automobile industry or the bursting of the housing bubble. In that sense, the Loebs not only represent the best in business and financial journalism, they serve as an historical record of the vital issues of the day.
Winners in the 13 competition categories will be announced at the 2011 Loeb Awards dinner on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at Capitale in New York City.
To view a list of the 2011 Loeb Awards finalists, click here.
For information on attending the 2011 Loeb Awards, click here.
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