{{short description|American newspaper chain}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = American City Business Journals, Inc. | logo = American City Business Journals.svg | logo_size = 150px | type = [[Subsidiary]] | industry = [[Publishing]] | founded = {{start date and age|1982}}<ref name=sold/> | founder = Mike Russell | location = [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], U.S. | area_served = United States | key_people = Whitney Shaw ([[chairman]] & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]]) | products = {{hlist|Magazines|newspapers|mass media}} | num_employees = 1,400 (2021)<ref name=shawdies/> | parent = [[Advance Publications]] (1995–present) | website = {{URL|acbj.com/}} }} [[File:American-City-Business-Journals-corporate-office.JPG|thumb|The company's corporate headquarters in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]]] '''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]] and 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|post=,}} it receives over 3.6 million readers each week.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://acbj.com/|access-date=2021-08-02|website=acbj.com|title=American City Business Journals}}</ref>
==History== American City Business Journals, Inc. was founded in 1982 by Mike K. Russell with the launch of the ''Kansas City Business Journal''.<ref name="sold">{{Cite news |last=Singer |first=Dale |date=September 30, 1986 |title=Business Journal, St. Louis Magazine Sold |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46081889/business-journal-saint-louis-magazine/ |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |publisher=[[Pulitzer, Inc.]] |location=[[St. Louis, Missouri]] |page=7C |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |volume=108 |issue=273}}</ref> Three years later the business became a [[public company]] via an [[initial public offering]] and was traded as an [[Over-the-counter (finance)|over the counter stock]].<ref name="sold" /> Starting 1985, ACBJ set out to acquire as many as fifty business newspapers across the United States. The goal was to establish a network of newspapers selling national advertising packages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Jim |date=October 29, 1985 |title=Business press aims to expand |work=The Kansas City Times |pages=48}}</ref>
In 1986, ABJC acquired all the publications owned by Mark Vittert and his company, Business Journal Publications Corp, for $40 million. The sale included business journals in Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and St. Louis.<ref name="sold" /> Later that year American City merged with Scripps Howard Business Journals. At the time the division of [[Scripps-Howard Newspapers]] operated publications in 10 cities: Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Washington, D.C and Miami/Fort Lauderdale.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 1, 1986 |title=2 publishers of business newspapers to merge |work=[[The Courier-Journal]] |pages=12 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
After expanding to 35 weeklies, ABJC faced mounting debts and losses reaching $13.5 million in the first nine months of 1987. This resulted from sales of national advertising packages falling short of goals amid the [[1987 stock market crash]]. The company began divesting in 1988. ACBJ sold eight publications to various unnamed buyers, including five business newspapers in Westchester, Rochester, Richmond, Hartford and Southern Connecticut; ''St. Louis Magazine'' and partial-ownership of two legal papers: ''St. Louis Daily Record'' and ''St. Louis Countian''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 6, 1988 |title=Business First's Parent Selling 8 Publications |work=The Buffalo News |pages=9 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Two weeks later ACBJ sold another six of its business newspapers in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and San Jose and Sacramento to Metro Collegiate Publications for $46.3 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Demick |first=Barbara |author-link=Barbara Demick |date=29 February 1988 |title=From Concerts To Consolidations, Publisher Evolves With His Readers |url=http://articles.philly.com/1988-02-29/business/26242981_1_mcp-weeklies-american-city-business-journals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017195512/http://articles.philly.com/1988-02-29/business/26242981_1_mcp-weeklies-american-city-business-journals |archive-date=17 October 2015 |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref> Then Russell sold his controlling stake in the company.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 11, 1989 |title=Trying to rebuild business journals {{!}} A new chairman tackles financially troubled American City, parents of Pacific Business News |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |pages=15 |agency=New York Times}}</ref>
In 1989, Shaw Publishing, Inc., owned by [[Ray Shaw (journalist)|Ray Shaw]] and The Oklahoma Publish Co., purchased a million shares of common stock in ACBJ for $22.75 million. Shaw was then elected as the company's [[chairman]] and [[chief executive officer]]. Previously he retired earlier in the year from working as president of [[Dow Jones & Company]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 29, 1989 |title=Oklahoma-Tied Publishing Firm Buys Stock |work=The Daily Oklahoman |pages=53}}</ref> Shaw served as ABJC's chairman for two decades. Under his leadership, the company moved its headquarters from [[Kansas City, Missouri]], to [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], and greatly increased the number of its publications.<ref name="shawdies">{{cite news |last=Shaw |first=Whitney |date=July 20, 2009 |title=ACBJ Chairman Ray Shaw dies at 75 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/07/20/daily2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228043733/https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/07/20/daily2.html |archive-date=December 28, 2010 |access-date=January 3, 2025 |work=Jacksonville Business Journal}}</ref> In 1995, ACBJ was acquired by [[Advance Publications]] for {{US$|258.8|link=yes}}{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US-GDP|258.8|1995|r=1}}{{nbsp}}million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2020/08/14/this-week-in-08-14-2020.html | title=This Week in 1995: Advance Publications buys ACBJ | first=Emon | last=Reiser | work=American City Business Journals | date=August 14, 2020}}</ref> A year later ACBJ acquired CityMedia Inc., which published six business journals in Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Sacramento.<ref name="six">{{cite news |last=Margolies |first=Dan |date=June 30, 1996 |title=American City Business Journals agrees to buy six weeklies |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/1996/07/01/story4.html |work=American City Business Journals}}</ref>
In 2001, the company partnered with [[Microsoft]] to provide content for bcentral.com.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://news.microsoft.com/2001/01/22/microsoft-and-american-city-business-journals-form-alliance/ | title=Microsoft and American City Business Journals Form Alliance | publisher=[[Microsoft]] | date=January 22, 2001}}</ref>
In 2007, the company acquired [[Inside Lacrosse]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/11/19/daily12.html | title=American City to buy Inside Lacrosse Magazine | work=American City Business Journals | date=November 20, 2007}}</ref>
In 2012, sister company [[Condé Nast]] redirected [[Portfolio.com]] to the startups page of ACBJ.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2012/06/13/upstart-business-journal-launches-with.html | title=Upstart Business Journal launches with focus on entrepreneurship | first=Lance | last=Murray | work=American City Business Journals | date=June 13, 2012}}</ref>
In 2020, the company launched a book publishing partnership.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/bizwomen/news/latestnews/2020/07/acbj-advantage-books-start-business-journals-books.html?page=all | title=Bizwomen's parent company partners with Advantage Media Group to launch Business Journals Books | work=American City Business Journals | date=July 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/news/2020/07/21/acbj-advantage-books-start-business-journals-books.html | title=Business Journal Books Starts Advantage Books | newspaper=City Business Journals | date=July 21, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://businessjournalsbooks.com/be-considered-for-publication | title=Business Journals Books website}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news | last=Kass | first=Mark | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/2012/01/business-journal-names-forty-under-40.html | title=Business Journal names Forty under 40 winners | date=January 5, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/search/results?q=Forty+Under+40 | title=Columbus Business First 40 under 40 search | publisher=American City Business Journals}}</ref>
[[File:Best Places To Work awards.jpg|thumb|The ''Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's Best Places to Work'' awards]] * ''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.<ref>{{cite news | last=Kuehn | first=Nancy | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2018/08/16/all-of-mspbjs-2018-best-places-to-work-honorees.html | title=Best Places to Work | date=August 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2019/aug/16/best-places-work-los-angeles-2019-look-winners/ | title=The Best Places to Work for in Los Angeles 2019: A Look at the Winners | work=American City Business Journals | date=August 16, 2019}}</ref>
==List of publications <span id="Newspapers"></span>== ===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). <!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->{| class="wikitable" |+ !Title !City !Note |- |''Albany Business Review'' |[[Albany, New York]] |Founded in 1974 as ''Capital District Business Review''. Also previously known as ''Capital District Business'' ''Review'' and ''The Business Review''. |- |''Albuquerque Business First'' |[[Albuquerque, New Mexico]] |Formerly known as ''New Mexico Business Weekly'' until the name was changed in December 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Ian |date=December 12, 2012 |title=New Mexico Business Weekly is now Albuquerque Business First |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2012/12/20/new-mexico-business-weekly-is-now.html?page=all |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228123044/http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2012/12/20/new-mexico-business-weekly-is-now.html?page=all |archive-date=December 28, 2012 |access-date=November 4, 2023 |newspaper=Albuquerque Business First}}</ref> |- |''[[Atlanta Business Chronicle]]'' |[[Atlanta, Georgia]] |Acquired in 1986 from merger with [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Howard]] Business Journals.<ref name="twomerging">{{cite news |date=October 31, 1986 |title=Two Companies Merging Business Journal Divisions |url=https://apnews.com/article/d5a0a7025c80f572618f86dcebb1825c |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> |- |''Austin Business Journal'' |[[Austin, Texas]] | |- |''Baltimore Business Journal'' |[[Baltimore, Maryland]] |Acquired in 1986 from Business Journal Publications Corp.<ref name="sold" /> |- |''Birmingham Business Journal'' |[[Birmingham, Alabama]] |Founded in 1983 by Michael C. Randle and Tina Verciglio-Savas. Acquired in 1999.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 11, 2009 |title=Birmingham Business Journal celebrates 25 years |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2009/01/12/story3.html |work=American City Business Journals}}</ref> |- |''Boston Business Journal'' |[[Boston, Massachusetts]] |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 (accounting)|profit]] and [[Income statement|loss]]). However, "P&L" was later dropped from the name.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stickgold |first=Emma |date=June 10, 2010 |title=Robert Bergenheim; founded Boston Business Journal |url=https://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2010/06/10/robert_bergenheim_founded_boston_business_journal/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref> Acquired in 1996 with purchase of CityMedia Inc.<ref name="six" /> |- |''Buffalo Business First'' |[[Buffalo, New York]] | |- |''Charlotte Business Journal'' |[[Charlotte, North Carolina]] | |- |''Cincinnati Business Courier'' |[[Cincinnati, Ohio]] |Acquired in 1986 from Business Journal Publications Corp.<ref name="sold" /> |- |''Cleveland Business Journal'' |[[Cleveland, Ohio]] | |- |''Columbus Business First'' |[[Columbus, Ohio]] | |- |''Dallas Business Journal'' |[[Dallas, Texas]] |Acquired in 1986 from merger with [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Howard]] Business Journals.<ref name="twomerging" /> |- |''Dayton Business Journal'' |[[Dayton, Ohio]] | |- |''Denver Business Journal'' |[[Denver, Colorado]] |Acquired by ACBJ in 1989 |- |''Houston Business Journal'' |[[Houston, Texas]] |Acquired in 1986 from merger with [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Howard]] Business Journals.<ref name="twomerging" /> |- |''Jacksonville Business Journal'' |[[Jacksonville, Florida]] | |- |''Kansas City Business Journal'' |[[Kansas City, Missouri]] |The first publication of the eventual ACBJ, co-founded by Michael K. Russell and William Worley in August 1982.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kaberline |first=Brian |date=March 1, 2009 |title=KCBJ co-founder, developer Mike Russell dies at age 69 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2009/03/02/story10.html |work=American City Business Journals}}</ref> |- |''Louisville Business First'' |[[Louisville, Kentucky]] |Founded on August 13, 1984, by publisher Mike Kallay.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bowling |first=Caitlin |date=August 15, 2014 |title=Founding father: First publisher Mike Kallay recounts a life of journalism, Business First's launch |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/print-edition/2014/08/15/founding-father-first-publisher-mike-kallay.html |work=American City Business Journals}}</ref> |- |''Memphis Business Journal'' |[[Memphis, Tennessee]] |Founded by Ward Archer as ''Mid-South Business'' in 1979.<ref>{{cite news |last=Donahoe |first=Jane A. |date=June 11, 2011 |title=Barney DuBois, journalist and MBJ co-founder, dies |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2011/06/11/barney.html |work=American City Business Journals}}</ref> |- |''Milwaukee Business Journal'' |[[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] |Acquired in 1996 from CityMedia Inc.<ref name="six" /> |- |''Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal'' |[[Minneapolis, Minnesota]] |Acquired in 1996 from CityMedia Inc.<ref name="six" /> |- |''Nashville Business Journal'' |[[Nashville, Tennessee]] | |- |''Orlando Business Journal'' |[[Orlando, Florida]] |Founded in 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |title=40-YEAR ANNIVERSARY: Orlando Business Journal |url=https://wochamber.com/event/40-year-anniversary-orlando-business-journal/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=West Orange Chamber |language=en}}</ref> |- |''Pacific Business News'' |[[Honolulu, Hawaii]] |Started by entrepreneur George Mason and former ''[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]'' editor John Ramsey.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Magin |first=Janis L. |date=November 9, 2017 |title=John Ramsey, first editor of Pacific Business News, dies at 94 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2017/11/09/john-ramsey-first-editor-of-pacific-business-news.html |work=American City Business Journals}}</ref> In 1983, Mason sold the newspaper to ACBJ. |- |''Philadelphia Business Journal'' |[[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] |Founded in 1982, acquired in 1996 with purchase of CityMedia Inc.<ref name="six" /> |- |''Phoenix Business Journal'' |[[Phoenix, Arizona]] |Founded in 1980. Acquired in 1986 from merger with [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Howard]] Business Journals.<ref name="twomerging" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lowery |first=Ilana |date=November 2, 2015 |title=35th Anniversary: 'Business Journal' has grown up with Valley |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2015/11/02/business-journal-has-grown-up-with-valley.html |work=American City Business Journals}}</ref> |- |''Pittsburgh Business Times'' |[[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] |Founded in 1981,<ref>{{cite web |title=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Google News Archive Search |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IbRRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6876%2C6328517}}</ref> acquired in 1986 from Business Journal Publications Corp.<ref name="sold" /> Sold in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 18, 1988 |title=Journals acquired |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZuMhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fmMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=997%2C2715835 |work=[[The Pittsburgh Press]]}}</ref> Reacquired in 1996 with purchase of CityMedia Inc.<ref name="six" /> |- |''Portland Business Journal'' |[[Portland, Oregon]] | |- |''Puget Sound Business Journal'' |[[Seattle, Washington]] |Acquired in 1986 from merger with [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Howard]] Business Journals.<ref name="twomerging" /> In 2010, the newspaper was a finalist for a [[Pulitzer Prize]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Rick |date=April 13, 2010 |title=Biz Journal: A Pulitzer in Effort, at Least |url=http://archive.seattleweekly.com/home/937562-129/media |work=[[Seattle Weekly]] |access-date=September 1, 2016}}</ref> |- |''Sacramento Business Journal'' |[[Sacramento, California]] |Acquired in 1996 with purchase of CityMedia Inc.<ref name="six" /> |- |''St. Louis Business Journal'' |[[St. Louis, Missouri]] |Established in 1980 with Dan Keough at the helm; acquired in 1986 with purchase of Business Journal Publications by ACBJ.<ref name="sold" /> |- |''San Antonio Business Journal'' |[[San Antonio, Texas]] | |- |''San Francisco Business Times'' |[[San Francisco, California]] |Acquired in 1986 with purchase of [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Howard]] Business Journals.<ref name="twomerging" /> In 2008, ''East Bay Business Times'' was merged into the ''San Francisco Business Times''.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2008-10-10 |title=East Bay Business Times prints last edition |url=https://www.pleasantonweekly.com/news/2008/10/10/east-bay-business-times-prints-last-edition/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Pleasanton Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''Silicon Valley Business Journal'' |[[San Jose, California]] |Founded as ''San Jose Business Journal'' |- |''South Florida Business Journal'' |[[Miami, Florida]] |Founded in 1980 as ''Miami Business'', it changed its name in 1983.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Reiser |first1=Emon |last2=Meléndez |first2=Mel |date=December 25, 2020 |title=40 Years of News |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2020/12/25/business-journal-looks-back-at-40-years-of-news.html |work=American City Business Journals}}</ref> Acquired in 1986 from merger with [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Howard]] Business Journals.<ref name="twomerging" /> |- |''Tampa Bay Business Journal'' |[[Tampa, Florida]] |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'' |[[Greensboro, North Carolina]] |Founded by ACBJ in 1998.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chamis |first=Eleni |date=March 10, 1998 |title=2nd business weekly to appear in Triad |work=Winston-Salem Journal |pages=21}}</ref> |- |''Triangle Business Journal'' |[[Raleigh, North Carolina]] | |- |''Washington Business Journal'' |[[Washington, D.C.]] |Acquired in 1986 from merger with [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Howard]] Business Journals.<ref name="twomerging" /> |- |''Wichita Business Journal'' |[[Wichita, Kansas]] | |}<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
===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'' * ''The 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 company's websites
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Portal bar|United States|Companies|Journalism}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline}} * [https://acbj.com/ American City Business Journals corporate website] * [https://www.bizjournals.com/ The Business Journals] * [https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily.aspx Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal] * [https://www.hemmings.com/ Hemmings Motor News] * {{Twitter|bizjournals|The Biz Journals}}
{{Advance Publications}}
[[Category:1990 initial public offerings]] [[Category:1995 mergers and acquisitions]] [[Category: Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq]] [[Category:Advance Publications]] [[Category:American corporate subsidiaries]] [[Category:Business newspapers published in the United States]] [[Category:Companies based in Charlotte, North Carolina]] [[Category:Mass media companies established in 1985]] [[Category:Weekly newspapers published in the United States]] [[Category:1982 establishments in the United States]]