Top Innovators in Business Publishing: Overview

As the Internet continues its inexorable transformation of business media, savvy publishing executives have kept pace with the changes rocking the industry. They have done this by not accepting the status quo—which is the path to the publication graveyard—but instead by innovating.

Innovation in business media takes many forms. What this year's Media Business Innovators in Business Publishing honorees have in common is their dedication to reducing their companies' reliance on print advertising revenue.

For example, Access Intelligence CEO Don Pazour has led the transformation of his company's culture by stressing paid-content opportunities. Northstar Travel Media CEO Tom Kemp is acquiring and launching trade shows and emphasizing marketing services.

At Ziff Davis Enterprise, Carine Roman, senior VP-business management and operations, has played a key role in the rapid deployment of dozens of Smart Sites designed from a set of prebuilt modular components. And Kevin Vermuelen, senior VP-legal at ALM Media, has helped introduce a variety of new events, from virtual trade shows to a national golf tournament featuring two-person teams of attorneys and clients.

This year's Innovators were selected from a combination of staff and outside nominations. They represent a cross section of large and small trade and general-business media companies, and they share a common dedication to positioning their companies to succeed in a rapidly changing business environment.