ABM names Aric Press as its 44th Annual G.D. Crain, Jr. Award honoree

Aric Press of ALM

March 6, 2012 — ABM has announced the selection of Aric Press as the recipient of the 44th Annual G.D. Crain, Jr. Award. Press is the vice president, editor-in-chief of ALM. “It's always flattering to win a prize, but the Crain Award is especially meaningful to me. It recognizes a body of work, and I'm grateful for that,” says Press. “As important, my colleagues at ALM were the ones who advanced me for this and that is a great personal compliment.”

The American Business Media G.D. Crain, Jr. Award is given annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the development of editorial excellence in business media. The award was established by a grant from the G.D. Crain, Jr. Foundation and includes both a distinctive crystal trophy and a check for $1,000. By its name, the award honors a great business publication editor, the founder of Business Marketing (what is now BtoB) and Advertising Age.

Prior to receiving his current position, Press was the editor of The American Lawyer for twelve years. He re-focused the magazine on the business of large law firms. Press joined ALM from Newsweek, where he had been a writer and senior editor for nineteen years.

A native of Cleveland, Press is a graduate of Cornell University and New York University Law School. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his wife and three children.

A native of Kentucky and an MBA graduate of that state’s Centre College, Gustavus Dedman (G.D.) Crain Jr. spent his life enveloped in the news business. As a young boy, he sold newspapers and, at age 19, joined the staff of the Louisville (KY) Herald newspaper. Two years later, he was made city editor and then sports editor.

Subsequently, he organized a business news service which produced news and features for nearly 100 business publications. Crain served as head of the firm from its inception until 1916, when he founded Hospital Management, a trade publication serving hospital administrators. One month later, he followed up with what is now BtoB, a specialized paper for business media marketers.

Later in 1916, Crain moved his publishing headquarters to Chicago, IL, where he began Advertising Age in 1930. His idea for fast, effective news coverage in the general advertising and marketing field succeeded in lasting out the depression and Advertising Age moved steadily onward until it became one of the world’s premier business papers. For some thirty-five years, Crain wrote a column for Advertising Age titled “Rough Proofs” under the name of Copy Cub.

In 1967, he started his second non-marketing publication, Business Insurance, which was targeted at corporate purchasers of insurance. Automotive News was acquired in 1971, and Pensions & Investments originated in 1973. In later years, Crain’s other publications included American Laundry Digest, American Drycleaner, American Coin Op and American Clean Car (no longer in publication). At various times, he served as president, editor and publisher of the company from its inception until 1964 when he became chairman of the board, a post he held for his remaining years until 1973.

Press will receive his award at the 58th Annual Jesse H. Neal Awards, which will take place on March 16, 2012, at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. It will be hosted by Erin Moriarty and Rebecca Jarvis of CBS News.