'RAM Scam!' Wins 1997 Neal Award for Best News Story

    SAN FRANCISCO, MARCH 12 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third year in a row, PC
World has been recognized by the American Business Press for journalistic
excellence. The association last night awarded the magazine's editors and
designers the Jesse H. Neal Award for Best News Story for "RAM Scam!"
    "RAM Scam!" exposed a complex web of mail-order memory companies allegedly
ripping off consumers, suppliers and banks, with losses totaling well over
$1 million.  PC World investigated nearly 40 reader complaints made over a
two-year period against several mail-order memory brokers located in Southern
California and Nevada.  The companies accepted payment or trade-ins and
delivered defective products -- or nothing at all.  Following publication of
"RAM Scam!" in PC World's July 1996 issue, a central figure in the PC World
investigation was apprehended by Nevada authorities.  The individual is also
now under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service as a result of the
story.
    "RAM Scam!" was written and designed by Angela Freeman, assistant editor;
Robert Kanes, art director; Sandra Kelch, senior designer; Tim J Luddy,
assistant art director, Andy Reinhardt, executive news editor (now with
Business Week); Daniel Tynan, executive features editor; and Christina Wood,
senior editor.  This is the seventh Neal award PC World has won in the last
three consecutive ABP competitions.
    Cathryn Baskin, editor-in-chief of PC World noted, "RAM Scam!' is one of
the best examples of PC World's reader service journalism.  Investigative
reporting isn't normally associated with computer magazines.  It is, however,
a critical part of our editorial team's commitment to covering the truth about
computing issues, products and marketing practices.  The editors and designers
who worked on `RAM Scam!' should feel very proud about receiving this award
from the American Business Press."
    Twenty-eight winners in eight categories were selected by an esteemed
panel of seven judges.  The panel was chaired by Marshall Loeb, editor of
Columbia Journalism Review.  The 960 entries submitted this year were scored
in three areas: service to the industry, journalistic enterprise and editorial
craftsmanship.
    The Jesse H. Neal Editorial Achievement Awards were established by the
American Business Press in 1955 to recognize and reward excellence in
independent business publications.
    PC World is the only magazine written specifically for PC-proficient
business managers, and the winner of 29 editorial excellence awards. Published
by PC World Communications Inc. along with PC World Online
(http//:www.pcworld.com) and THE WEB Magazine, PC World has a circulation rate
base of 1.1 million.  PCWCI is a business unit of IDG, the world's leading IT
media and research company.

Link to this page: