The Society of American Business Editors and Writers SABEW will honor the nation’s top young business journalist with a new award named after one of its past presidents.
The Larry Birger Young Business Journalist Award will be presented March 29 at SABEW’s annual spring conference at the Cronkite School in Phoenix. Made possible by a $5,000 gift from rbb Public Relations of Miami, Fla., the award will commemorate Birger, the former Miami Herald business editor who led SABEW as president in 1977. Birger was later a principal in rbb until his death in 1998.
“Larry was a business-minded person who explored business solutions and communications,” said Christine Barney, CEO of rbb. “We want this to a be a reminder of the importance of good journalism.”
The award is defined for professional journalists up to age 30.
The initial award will be decided by a panel of four judges – a SABEW officer and three others — and presented at the 2014 SABEW conference. SABEW will award a cash prize of $500 to the winner and pay for that journalist’s expenses to pick up the award. Consideration will be for an individual’s body of work.
Applicants will be asked to write a letter detailing their work. They would also be asked to include a letter of recommendation from a supervising editor.
Jurors would consider applicants during January and determine the winner the first week of February.
