Author: Gareth Jones

The event, which is being co-odinated by Haymarket on behalf of the News Media Association, celebrates Britain’s best national and regional journalism. It will take place at London’s Westminster Park Plaza hotel on 8 March 2023.

Inaugurated in 1963, the Press Awardsrecognise excellence across 46 categories split into two distinct ceremonies – the Press Awards for the national media and the Regional Press Awards for the country’s local and regional news brands.

As well as long-standing categories such as Newspaper of the Year, Front Page of the Year, Columnist of the Year and the coveted Scoop of the Year, new categories will recognise young journalists, digital-first initiatives and excellence in reporting of diversity.

Owen Meredith, chief executive of the News Media Association, said: “These awards are the ones everyone working in news media today wants to win. They have a long and proud history, celebrating true excellence in the world of journalism, across print and digital platforms.

"At a time when access to trusted journalism has perhaps never been more important, The Press Awards bring our industry together to champion the importance of journalism to society and celebrate truly outstanding talent.”

Philip Swinden, managing director of Haymarket Business Media, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with the News Media Association on their iconic Press Awards. We look forward to organising an exciting event that celebrates the best work in UK journalism – particularly where interest in local/national news and consumption levels across all channels has never been greater.”

Hosted by Senior Associate Editor Andrew Male, it is the second podcast created by the magazine, following 'The MOJO Innovators' in 2019.

Bauer Media said the MOJO Record Club will reassess classic albums, share undiscovered gems and rave about brand new releases in "an unpretentious and inclusive way".

Released on July 8, the first episode will feature audio extracts from MOJO’s recent cover story interview with Patti Smith. New episodes will be available fortnightly, with each lasting between 40 and 60 minutes.

“A proper MOJO podcast is something we’ve been working on for a long time,” said MOJO Editor John Mulvey. “It’s another great way to talk to our expanding international audience of music obsessives, as we connect with them across more and more platforms."

Having a Baby is an annual, glossy publication from the team behind baby-magazine.co.uk and The Ultimate Baby Book. It will debut on newsstands in September 2022, with promotion in major retailers and across social and digital platforms.

Kate Freud, Editor-at-Large of Baby, said: “Among the many daunting aspects of having a baby is knowing what you need to buy. This super-useful guide will help expectant and new parents make crucial decisions and open their eyes to the wealth of amazing products out there."

Separately, The Chelsea Magazine Company has introduced Painting Made Easy, an art manual from the team behind Artists & Illustrators.

The 108-page one-off guide covers practical and constructive 'how to' content on a range of topics, including painting portraits, landscapes, still life, wildlife and flowers in a range of media such as oils, acrylics and watercolour/gouache.

Merali, who will represent the needs of UK publishers in the role, said: "I’m delighted to be joining the ABC Board and to speak on behalf of an industry I feel so passionate about.

"ABC is a highly regarded organisation and plays a key role in supporting the credibility and commercial success of many of our members. I look forward to working with my fellow Board members to develop standards and services that continue to underpin the success of our UK publishing industry.”

The other new additions to the ABC Board are Tina Callcutt, Director of Content Sales at National World Publishing, and Nick Service, Chairman of the Hemming Group, who will represent Business Media titles.

Simon Redlich, Chief Executive at ABC, said: "I’m delighted to welcome our new members to the ABC Board. Each of them brings an extraordinary wealth of expertise in their chosen sectors, and they will all play a key role in ensuring we continue to develop products and services that deliver multiple benefits to our industry.”

ABC’s Board meets regularly and is made up of key representatives from agencies, advertisers, media owners and trade bodies nominated by the following industry associations: the IPA, ISBA, NMA, PPA and IAB UK.

On sale now exclusively in Asda stores, the magazine is a compilation of memory games, mindfulness pages and classic puzzles to engage both the left and right sides of the brain.

It aims to encourage readers to develop and improve their cognitive skills, with beat-the-clock challenges and puzzles with increasing levels of complexity.

Priced at £3.50, the Alzheimer’s Society will receive a donation of 52p from the sale of every copy.

John Simmonds, Publisher at Bauer Media, said, “We are thrilled to be working with Asda and to be extending our relationship with Alzheimer’s Society, who do such important work in supporting those people who are affected by dementia."

Emily Stevens of the Asda News & Magazines Buying Team said: “Bauer Media have provided a brilliant opportunity to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society. By retailing this product exclusively in our stores, we hope to aide this initiative in raising funds for a charity close to many hearts.”

There are an estimated 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK. Kate Lee, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Whoever you are, whatever you are going through, Alzheimer’s Society is here to help. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to raise some much-needed funds for our work in this fun and unique way."

The company announced it has invested in London-based startup GEEIQ, a marketing, data and analytics platform and consultancy that works with brands to optimise their strategy in the gaming and esports industry.

Customers of GEEIQ include Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger and L’Oreal Group, and it has helped clients partner or integrate with games including Pokémon Go and Roblox.

Haymarket’s Media Group Chair, Rupert Heseltine, sits on the advisory board of GEEIQ and has worked with the business since 2020.

Haymarket Ventures is looking to invest in early-stage businesses prior to Series A funding rounds, and is interested in start-ups across the broad technology and media sectors.

Kevin Costello, Chief Executive at Haymarket, said: “It was clear from the outset that GEEIQ was a great fit as our first investment. Co-founders Charles, James and Andrew are expertly absorbed in the gaming space and the success in their mission-driven, innovative approach is clearly reflected in the success seen already after just three years and look forward to everything that’s still yet to come.”

A total of 21 volunteers from across the business coached 35 Year 10 pupils, giving them a chance to discover and explore career opportunities.

After the programme, 84% of students agreed their coach had guided them to discover an inspirational career and they knew what steps to take to achieve their ambitions.

Anoushka Petit, Publishing Executive for The Week, said: “It is such a wonderful and rewarding programme to take part in as it’s a privilege to be able to aid the young minds in starting to contemplate some big life decisions. To see them grow more and more confident as they begin to understand how attainable their goals and dreams can be is amazing.”

Rodrigo Lourenco, Transition Manager at Future Frontiers, added: "Working with Future volunteers has been an absolute pleasure. All of the coaches were extremely dedicated to the programme and went the extra mile to make sure that their pupils had the best experience.

"I was really impressed with the way all of the coaches took everything in their stride, making sure the pupils were the main focus of the programme. We are really grateful for all of the hard work the Future volunteers put in during a very challenging time and it is clear to see the positive results it has had on their pupils!”

The title's team of TV experts have compiled a shortlist of 25 series that debuted between 1997 and 2022, with the public able to choose their favourite at www.radiotimes.com/tvtop25.

The website originally started as an offshoot of Radio Times magazine in June 1997 and now reaches over 16 million users per month.

Celebrities from across the entertainment world, including Strictly Come Dancing's Claudia Winkleman and Anton Du Beke, sent their congratulations to the Immediate Media title on reaching its 25-year anniversary.

Morgan Jeffery, Executive Editor of RadioTimes.com, said: "This is a hugely exciting time, there are more shows and films to watch than at any other point in the history of television, which means our role as essential digital companion continues to grow in relevancy."

Mark Summerton, Managing Director of RadioTimes.com, said: “Our purpose is to enhance their experience, through trusted content and unrivalled expertise and we have big plans to continue fulfilling this need for our fantastic audience. Here’s to the next 25 years!”

Publisher Incisive Media said William-Smith will replace Tom Ellis in September, joining from her current role as deputy editor of stablemate Professional Pensions.

In a seven-year journalistic career, William-Smith has gained broad experience across the financial sector in both the UK and Australia, where she was born and grew up.

Having worked as a reporter on Money Management in Australia and Money Marketing in the UK, she joined Professional Pensions in 2019 as news editor and was promoted to deputy editor in January this year. She is also a former competitive figure skater for Australia.

Incisive Media’s group editorial director Adrian Barrick said: “I am delighted that Hope has accepted the editorship of PA. She was the outstanding candidate, impressing us with the freshness of her ideas and her boundless energy, as well as the breadth of her experience across the financial services industry.

“PA has a dynamic and dedicated team of journalists who have been expertly spearheaded by Tom Ellis. I have every confidence that Hope will provide the leadership they now need in the next phase of the brand’s development.”

William-Smith said: “I’m delighted to be returning to the retail side of the market to take on the challenge of leading and growing the PA brand.

“I look forward to building on the successful work Tom and the team have carried out over the last few years in bringing the best and most relevant news to financial advisers across the UK.”

The event, which is targeted at professionals responsible for managing their organisation’s energy consumption, will sit within MA Exhibitions, run by managing director Tim Willoughby. It is scheduled under its new ownership from 23-24 November at London’s ExCeL.

Heelec – an acronym for Home for Energy Efficiency and Low Energy – was set up in 2013 by events professional Jason Franks and Lord Rupert Redesdale, a Liberal Democrat hereditary peer. Lord Redesdale will join Mark Allen as a consultant and remains the face of the exhibition.

Mark Allen said: “This is a superb acquisition for us coming so soon after the interest generated by the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Cop 26, which was held last year in Glasgow. It puts our company right at the heart of the central debate relating to sustainability. Rupert was very keen to stay with EMEX and we are delighted he has agreed to do so.”

Ben Allen added: “Although we have become a much bigger concern during the last decade, we are a family-based company whose values, we believe, align with those of Rupert’s and the net zero community. What we aim to do is build this community and event into an even greater force for good, without compromising the independence and vision which is what has made EMEX successful.”

Lord Redesdale said: “I am delighted to be joining Mark Allen as a consultant for the EMEX event. This is a crucial and vital time for the planet. It was particularly important to us that we reached out to a company which put such a premium on content and intellectual integrity and Mark Allen fitted that bill. With more investment coming its way, EMEX can only expand and develop.”

The deal was brokered by Steve Monnington of Mayfield Merger Strategies. It follows Mark Allen Group’s acquisition earlier this year of Regen, the regeneration event held annually in Liverpool, and represents its 24th deal in the last 10 years.