Photonics Spectra has been honored by ABM, the association of business information and media companies, as a finalist in the 59th Annual Jesse H. Neal Awards competition for editorial excellence. Photonics Spectra is one of 184 finalists selected by a distinguished board of judges for its November 2012 issue, “Photonics in Space.” The judging panel, chaired by Diana Henriques of The New York Times, selected the finalists from an original pool of 640 entries. Paying tribute to the Neal Award finalists, ABM President & CEO Clark Pettit said, “We at ABM are so proud to honor these journalists and editors. Their expertise, ability to push progress across existing and new channels, and successful track records of informing the industry on important issues place them at the forefront of their fields.” Photonics Media, a business unit of Pittsfield, Mass.-based Laurin Publishing Co. Inc., publishes Photonics Spectra, BioPhotonics, EuroPhotonics, Photonics.com and the Photonics Buyers’ Guide. Photonics Media serves a collective subscriber base of more than 150,000 industry professionals worldwide and attracts more than 2 million website visits per year. Completely redesigned in September 2012, Photonics Spectra serves the industry’s largest qualified readership. Established in 1955, the Jesse H. Neal Awards recognize and reward editorial excellence in business-to-business media. The awards are named after ABM’s first managing director, who remained active in promoting the industry throughout his life. The Neal Awards are presented annually to those editors who have submitted entries exhibiting journalistic enterprise, service to the field and editorial craftsmanship. Photonics Media CEO Tom Laurin said, “The Photonics Spectra November 2012 issue, which has been recognized as a Neal Award finalist, is wonderfully representative of our editors’ industry knowledge and service to readers, which are evident in every issue.” The winners will be announced March 12 during ABM’s annual Neal Awards ceremony at Pier Sixty in New York City. For more information, visit www.ABMassociation.com