St. Louis Business Journal

St. Louis Business Journal
Name	St. Louis Business Journal
Type	Weekly newspaper
Format	Tabloid
Foundation	1889 (as St. Louis Weekly)
Owner	American City Business Journals
Headquarters	St. Louis, Missouri
Editor	(various)
Language	English

St. Louis Business Journal is a regional business publication covering the St. Louis metropolitan area, reporting on corporate news, finance, real estate, healthcare, and legal developments. The paper serves as a primary local source for professionals, linking local developments to national trends in Wall Street, U.S. Congress, and federal agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission. Founded in the late 19th century and now part of a national chain, it operates alongside major regional outlets including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and broadcasts such as KSDK (TV).

History

The publication traces roots to 19th-century trade and commerce reporting contemporaneous with outlets like the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Boston Globe. Throughout the 20th century it covered milestones tied to entities such as Anheuser-Busch, McDonnell Douglas, and the development initiatives of figures like August A. Busch Jr. and Robert Brookings. During the late 20th century consolidation of media, it experienced ownership transitions mirroring trends involving companies like Gannett and Knight Ridder, and later integration into a specialized business media group alongside peers such as Crain's Chicago Business and The Dallas Morning News business sections. Coverage documented regional projects including the Gateway Arch redevelopment, corporate mergers involving Emerson Electric, and public-private collaborations with institutions like Washington University in St. Louis.

Ownership and Management

The publication is owned by a national business media company that operates sister titles such as Boston Business Journal, San Francisco Business Times, and The Denver Business Journal. Senior editors and publishers have included journalists with backgrounds at Bloomberg L.P., Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal, and management structures reflect common practices found at Hearst Communications and Tribune Publishing subsidiaries. Board- and executive-level decisions have intersected with regional corporate leaders from Enterprise Holdings, Boeing, and Centene Corporation, while advertising sales and marketing teams have partnered with local chambers such as the Greater St. Louis, Inc. and civic entities like the St. Louis Regional Chamber.

Coverage and Content

Beat coverage spans sectors including healthcare systems like BJC HealthCare and Siteman Cancer Center, real estate developments featuring projects by firms such as Clayco and McCarthy Building Companies, and finance stories involving regional banks comparable to U.S. Bancorp and Commerce Bancshares. Legal and regulatory reporting intersects with cases from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and actions by agencies like the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Features and investigative pieces have examined labor matters tied to unions akin to United Auto Workers, corporate governance at firms like Post Holdings, and startup ecosystems connected to incubators such as T-REX (St. Louis). The paper produces ranking lists—CEO lists, fastest-growing companies, and commercial real estate transactions—similar to lists published by Forbes and Fortune.

Audience and Circulation

Readership comprises executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and civic leaders across counties including St. Louis County, Missouri, St. Charles County, Missouri, and Madison County, Illinois. The publication targets subscribers from industries represented by employers such as Monsanto (now Bayer), Express Scripts (now part of Cigna), and regional law firms like Husch Blackwell. Distribution channels align with corporate subscription models used by publications like The Economist (US edition) and professional associations including the Society for Human Resource Management. Circulation trends reflect shifts toward digital engagement experienced by peers such as Nashville Business Journal.

Notable Stories and Impact

Significant investigations and exclusives have influenced corporate decisions, public policy debates, and economic development projects involving entities like Stifel Financial Corp., Peabody Energy, and local transit initiatives tied to MetroLink (St. Louis). Reporting has broken stories on mergers and acquisitions, executive departures at companies comparable to Graybar Electric and Ameren, and redevelopment plans affecting neighborhoods near landmarks such as Forest Park and Delmar Loop. Coverage has prompted follow-on reporting in national outlets like The Washington Post and USA Today, and informed deliberations by municipal bodies including the St. Louis Board of Aldermen and regional planning organizations like the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.

Awards and Recognition

The newsroom has received regional journalism awards analogous to honors from the Society of Professional Journalists and recognition in contests run by the Missouri Press Association. Reporters have been finalists in feature and investigative categories alongside nominees from ProPublica, NPR, and CBS News. Business reporting accolades have paralleled awards given by organizations such as the Gerald Loeb Awards and citations in lists compiled by American Business Media affiliates.

Digital Presence and Events

Digital platforms include a website, email newsletters, and social media channels paralleling strategies used by The New York Times Company and Vox Media. The organization produces sponsored events, conferences, and awards galas similar to those run by Eventbrite partners and industry gatherings like the Milken Institute Global Conference scaled to regional audiences. Signature events convene leaders from sectors represented by Mercy (healthcare) and Washington University School of Medicine and host panels featuring executives from companies such as Scotts Miracle-Gro and Peabody Energy.

Category:Newspapers published in Missouri