The Journal was launched in February 1986 and primarily serves the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene market area. It publishes bi-weekly, 26 times a year, and has an average distribution of about 15,000 copies. Unlike many business journals across the country, the Journal of Business is not part of a chain. Rather, it is owned and operated independently in Spokane. Started by Spokane entrepreneurs, it in recent years has been owned by a subsidiary of Cowles Publishing Co., of Spokane, which also owns The Spokesman-Review daily newspaper, though the two newspapers are operated separately and compete in the marketplace. The Journal's comprehensive coverage of business news in the Inland Northwest has earned it hundreds of awards for writing and design, including "Best Newspaper" of its size in North America by the Association of Area Business Publications, and first place for "General Excellence" among non-daily newspapers from the Society of Professional Journalists. It also has been named Media of the Year by both the Spokane and Washington state boards of Realtors. Each print-edition issue of the Journal of Business includes at least one industry-specific special section, ranging from Real Estate & Construction to Health Care to High Technology & Manufacturing. We also publish a host of supplemental magazines and compendiums, including an annual Book of Lists, and the Market Fact Book.