German Trade Press and Karl Theodor Vogel Foundation honor the best trade journalists of 2012 / The award winners: Alena Kunter (1st prize), Bettina Dornberg (2nd prize) and Dr. Anja Hall (3rd prize)

The "Karl Theodor Vogel Prize of the German Trade Press - Trade Journalist of the Year" was awarded today for outstanding specialist journalistic work. With this award, the German Trade Press, in cooperation with the Karl Theodor Vogel Foundation (Würzburg), honors specialist journalistic contributions that present current specialist and industry topics in an excellently researched and exemplary linguistic, stylistic and visual manner. The journalism award, which is endowed with 15,000 euros, is presented annually during the Congress of the German Trade Press, which is being held in Essen for the first time this year.

The first prize of 7,500 euros went to Alena Kunter for her article "Never give up!", published in "CNE.magazin". The second prize (5,000 euros) went to Bettina Dornberg for her article "Denn sie sagen nicht, wer sie sind" in the magazine "absatzwirtschaft". Dr. Anja Hall was awarded third prize (2,500 euros) for her article "Fallen gelassen" in "JUVE Rechtsmarkt".

"I congratulate the three female winners, who are also proof that there are excellent female journalists in the supposedly male-dominated world of specialist media!" said Stefan Rühling, CEO of Vogel Business Media and Chairman of the Karl Theodor Vogel Foundation, delighted with the trio of fine feathers in the specialist media landscape. The three winning articles were selected from around 60 entries by an eleven-member jury chaired by Professor Dr. Lutz Frühbrodt, Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences.

About the Karl Theodor Vogel Foundation

The foundation was established in 1984 by Karl Theodor Vogel (1914 to 2007), senior publisher and shareholder of the Würzburg-based specialist media company Vogel Business Media. Its aim is to promote the quality of specialist journalism. The annual award for outstanding specialist journalistic achievements significantly strengthens the image and interests of German specialist publishers.

Vogel Business Media is a leading German trade media company with around 100 trade journals and 100 websites as well as numerous international activities.

Further information is available on the Internet at: www.karl-theodor-vogel-preis.de.

About Deutsche Fachpresse:

Deutsche Fachpresse is the modern marketing and service platform for all providers of specialist information in the professional environment. It is supported by the Fachverband Fachpresse im Verband Deutscher Zeitschriftenverleger (Berlin) and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Zeitschriftenverlage im Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (Frankfurt am Main). Deutsche Fachpresse represents 400 member publishers in an industry with a total of around 3,900 titles and a turnover of more than 3 billion euros. Deutsche Fachpresse makes its members even more successful on the market through a wide range of services. It promotes the common economic and political concerns of its member companies and provides up-to-date industry knowledge. With genre-specific contact platforms, it creates relationship networks and positions trade media as reliable sources of information and efficient advertising media. Further information is available on the Internet at: www.deutsche-fachpresse.de.

Interview with Prof. Dr. Lutz Frühbrodt:

1. you have been a professor of specialized journalism at the University of Würzburg for four years. Do you have a background in specialist journalism yourself? Or are you more of a theorist?

I got to know both worlds, because I spent a long time oscillating between practice and theory, between journalism and science. In the end, I opted for science. I had previously gained extensive practical experience as a specialist journalist as a technology reporter in the business sections of "Welt" and "Welt am Sonntag". I also used to work as a freelance journalist and frequently wrote articles for specialist media.

2) Between you and me: Have you ever applied for the KTV Prize during your time as a journalist?

Frankly, no. But that was mainly because I tended to publish specialist articles in popular titles. However, the competition has always caught my eye. For one thing, the KTV Prize has a long tradition; it was awarded for the first time in 1984. Secondly, it is one of the most prestigious journalism prizes in the German-speaking world. Especially as it is highly endowed - without being an interest-driven corporate prize. For the specialist media landscape, the "Specialist Journalist of the Year" is unique and important because the award recognizes journalistic beacons with a role model function.

3 This year was the first time you were involved in selecting the award winners. What was it like working as chairman of the jury?

As I was and am active on other juries, I think I have a good basis for comparison. The collaboration with the ten experienced editors-in-chief of leading trade journals was very professional and pleasant. Their own opinions were definitely expressed, but in the end the decision for the winners was very democratic and fairly clear.

4. how competitive was the prize this year? How high was the quality of the entries?

The number of submissions has changed little compared to last year. What I found most impressive, however, was the enormous variety: the topics came from all sectors, from agriculture, architecture, further education and training, care for the elderly and so on. But topics such as cars and retail were not neglected either. There were applications in a wide variety of formats, not only classic specialist articles and specialist articles with scenic elements, but also longer interviews and portraits, product tests, even commentaries, columns and thoroughbred features. For the most part, the topics were exciting and relevant. My conclusion: the specialist media industry is developing rapidly at a journalistic level.

5. all 2012 award winners are female. What is the reason for this?

This may or may not be a coincidence. After all, it is not without reason that women are increasingly represented in the communications professions and are also on the rise in the specialist media. The fact is that the three award winners have done excellent journalistic work and impressed the jury with their contributions.