Each year, Trade, Association and Business Publications International (TABPI) invites B2B editors, publishers, and art directors to submit their entries for the annual Tabbie Awards. The editorial/design competition is open to online and print English-language B2B publications worldwide. For 18 years, the contest has recognized the best of the best in B2B publications.

The ACHR NEWS is delighted to announce two wins in the 2021 Tabbie awards: one for COVID-19 coverage and one in the Special Section category.

When COVID-19 hit, the The ACHR NEWS team knew it was going to be a pivotal moment for the HVAC industry.

“So much was still unknown about this virus — Did it spread through the air? Could it spread through ductwork? At that point, even scientists didn’t know,” said Kyle Gargaro, The ACHR NEWS editorial director. “What we did know was that HVAC contractors, as indoor air experts, would be the first ones asked these questions, and we were going to bring them the most accurate and up-to-date information available to help them keep Americans safe.”

The ACHR NEWS published its first COVID-19 article in March 2020 and, for more than a year, has focused heavily on the pandemic and its effect on IAQ, ranging from interviews with ASHRAE experts to supply chain issues to updates, advice, and stories from contractors working on the front lines.

“It’s a proud moment for The ACHR NEWS to be recognized for our efforts, and I’m proud of our team for continuing to produce outstanding work despite the challenges of 2020,” Gargaro said. “My hope is that our coverage has helped HVAC contractors navigate this past year and a half and emerge even stronger with new ideas for a new post-COVID era.”

Winning honorable mention in the 2021 COVID-19 Coverage: Top 25 category was ACHR NEWS Senior Editor Joanna Turpin’s cover story from Oct. 5, 2020, titled “Onset of Winter Raises Concerns About Spread of Virus Indoors: As workers return to offices, worries persist about commercial building IAQ.” The article includes an extensive interview with William Bahnfleth (ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force chair and professor of architectural engineering at Pennsylvania State University) about the role of ventilation in reopening buildings.

The entire ACHR NEWS team took home honors in the Special Section category for the April 20, 2020, Smarter HVACR supplement covering the marijuana industry, with “Growing Your Business With Grow Facilities” winning an honorable mention. The mini magazine included interviews with contractors working in the grow industry, a product feature, drug testing laws, and more.

TABPI reports that this year’s competition had more submissions than any year since 2017. Paul Heney, TABPI president, said this highlights how important B2B journalism is to the multitude of industries it serves.

“Judges raved about how publishers pushed forward even in the midst of a global pandemic. The work submitted for the Tabbies each year continues to show the astonishing print and online journalism that continues to happen in this space,” Heney said. “Around the world, editors and designers are doing quality work, meaningful to the industries they serve — and we’re proud to help spotlight it.”

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