Workforce Management won a Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for senior editor Ed Frauenheim's in-depth look at the growing controversy over who owns social media contacts.
The article, "You Can't Take It With You … or Can You?" was recognized as Best Single Article for a publication with $3 million to $7 million in revenue and represents the seventh Neal Award for the publication since 1996.
The award was presented March 16 in New York at the 58th annual awards ceremony, which is sponsored by American Business Media. The Neal Awards are considered the most prestigious honor in business-to-business journalism.
"I am so proud of Ed and our entire editorial team," said Todd Johnson, vice president/publisher of Workforce Management. "Being recognized by the ABM as a finalist in multiple categories and, of course, Ed's Neal Award, is a testament to the breadth and depth of our staff's knowledge."
In his piece, Frauenheim examines the growing use of LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to recruit employees and customers and the legal and ethical wrangling over who owns social media content.
"Ed's story was unique and timely, since a number of court cases are addressing this very issue of who owns your business contacts—you or your company?" said Rick Bell, Workforce's managing editor. "It's not like the old days of packing up your Rolodex and moving along."
A journalist with more than 15 years' experience, Frauenheim helps lead Workforce Management's coverage of technology, people management and business strategy. He also writes the blog Work in Progress and is the co-author of Good Company: Business Success in the Worthiness Era. Frauenheim, who is based in San Francisco, joined the publication in 2005.
Workforce Management, which covers the human resources industry, was also a finalist in two other categories: Best Single Issue of a Magazine and Best Website, an accolade that Bell is particularly proud of.
"Considering that we just re-launched our website and the Neal judges recognized it among the best in the business world, speaks volumes to the talent of our online staff," he said.
Two other Crain Communications publications won Neal awards—AdAge, which won in two categories, and Crain's New York Business.
—Workforce Management staff report
