ppa.tbcserver19.com

Tag: members

  • Qonqord acquires Evolved Media Solutions

    Qonqord acquires Evolved Media Solutions

    Clients of Qonqord and Evolved can immediately benefit from this integration by gaining access to an extensive portfolio of services and solutions, all aimed at maximising efficiency and fostering content process innovation within their organisations.

    Jeroen Goemans, Chief Commercial Officer, Qonqord commented: “This is a natural evolution in our commitment to implementing the most advanced and efficient workflow solutions for our clients. By joining forces, we can better support our clients in saving time, money, and resources while enhancing the quality and speed of their content processes.”

    Evolved Media Solutions, known for its innovative approach to digital asset management and workflow automation, brings a wealth of expertise and advanced technologies to Qonqord, most notably, an AI integration.

    Russell Pierpoint, Managing Director, Evolved Media Solutions added: “This affiliation with Qonqord enables us to realise our vision for advanced digital solutions on a larger scale. We are excited to be part of this international dynamic team and look forward to the joint opportunities that lie ahead.”

  • Government instructs regulators to outline AI strategy

    Government instructs regulators to outline AI strategy

    The regulators, including those for finance, data, digital markets, TV, media, and comms, have been asked to propose how they would tackle AI in their respective industries.

    The Government has requested these recommendations be in line with the recent AI white paper, which sets out the “principles for existing regulators to interpret and apply within their remits to drive safe, responsible AI innovation”.

    Currently, the needs of publishers, specifically in relation to copyright and intellectual property remain unaddressed, despite these issues being acknowledged in the government’s white paper. Whilst the PPA is pleased that this development is a step towards seeing AI regulated in a broad sense, given there is no statutory regulator responsible for copyright and IP, this leaves creative sectors vulnerable to widespread copyright infringement from AI developers.

    In a recent debate, MP Rebecca Long-Bailey maintained the stance that the UK still lacks sufficient AI regulation amidst the pace of development and risks involved.”

    She asked what steps the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Michelle Donelan) is doing to ensure that regulators have adequate capacity to implement their AI strategies.

    Donelan responded: “Ensuring that regulators have the right skills and capabilities to regulate in their domains is fundamental to the effective delivery of our approach on artificial intelligence regulation. To support that, we have established a central co-ordination function, which will provide regulators with guidance on implementing the regulatory principles and help them identify emerging risks and challenges. The £10 million funding we have announced to jump-start regulator capacity and capability will form a crucial element of this work.”

    The PPA is in conversation with the Competition and Markets Authority and the Intellectual Property Office about this latest update and has been in contact with MPs to address these concerns at the highest level of Government.

    The regulators have been given until 30 April to respond. The PPA will keep members updated as developments come in. If you have any questions or would like to find out more, contact our Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Eilidh.wilson@ppa.co.uk

    To view a list of the regulators contacted by the Government, click here.

  • Management workshops from FIPP

    Management workshops from FIPP

    The two-hour sessions are aimed at those either new to management, or for the more experienced who would like to brush up on their skills.

    Dates and overview:

    28 March: Setting a strategy. The tools, templates, and processes you need to build an effective strategy and win buy-in across your business.

    23 May: Building trust in a team. Why building trust is essential for success and how an effective team should develop.

    18 July: Delivering an impactful presentation. How to deliver memorable and effective presentations and how using a defined process can remove the stress from presentation development.

    19 September: Manager as coach. Developing your coaching skills and providing a framework you can implement with your teams.

    PPA members can attend the workshops for £30 each. To receive the discount, use the code PPAmbr at the checkout. Find out more, and book here.

  • Nursing Times launches AI tool for subscribers

    Nursing Times launches AI tool for subscribers

    Subscribers can search for information on a variety of topics, such as clinical procedures and conditions, government policy, pay levels, and career advice.

    Answers are provided from the Nursing Times website, which includes more than 6,000 double-blind peer-reviewed articles, as well as news, features, and opinion pieces. A summary in response to the question is generated with references and suggested further reading.

    Steve Ford, Editor, Nursing Times commented: “We know that nursing staff need lots of information and quickly, Ask Nursing Times is an exciting new resource that we believe will help provide this.

    “Using some of the latest AI technology, our tool can offer an answer to almost any question about the profession, using Nursing Times as its trusted source.”

  • Reasons to be cheerful: A sector defined by confidence, optimism, and opportunity

    Reasons to be cheerful: A sector defined by confidence, optimism, and opportunity

    When I walk into a room of PPA members, the current vibe is one of both optimism and confidence. It’s a really exciting time to be working with publishers as they carve out their future strategies. 

    Print remains important but doesn’t tell the full story 

    Every publisher is taking a different and unique approach based on their brands, content and audiences. One size no longer fits all. Market conditions are unpredictable, and there are a variety of ways that publishers can be successful. 

    The latest ABC Consumer Media Report reveals that in 2023 we collectively circulated 469 million digital and print magazines across 52 different market sectors published by 64 media owners[1]. Digital copies across the market increased by 19% year on year.[6]

    Whilst impressive, it doesn’t tell the full story and our impact and influence extends much much wider.

    Actively rebalancing across platforms

    Ninety-six percent of our members are multi-platform, operating across five or more channels, with a presence across digital, print, apps, podcasts and audio, events and social. Format and platform choice is considered strategically, based on the purpose of connecting with the consumer.[2]

    Take Immediate Media’s recent acquisition of Nutracheck, the UK’s leading subscription-based calorie and nutrient tracking app. This has grown audience reach by over 15% and now has over 400,000 paid subscribers. 

    With publisher’s focus on digital commerce there are plenty of examples of combining journalistic expertise with the authenticity of strong brands. This powerful combination translates into direct sales, with Bauer noting their Gross Basket Value for commerce content activity across Black Friday in 2023 was up 52% YoY across all their brands.

    Publishers’ ability to recalibrate and evolve their propositions based on consumer need is central to this. At the PPA we call this ‘active rebalancing’ – putting your customers front and centre of your business strategy, to remain relevant and profitable. 

    Valuable and engaged communities 

    We connect with over 39 million highly engaged consumers on a monthly basis – and digital users now account for 81% of our total reach.[3]

    At our very core we still are super serving these communities on the things that really matter to them whatever the platform. This can be a business insight, someone’s passion or hobby, or the need for specific information or expertise. And we have unrivalled emotional connections with these audiences. Connections that mean they trust and engage with the content. They welcome the advertising, they research the products, and they buy what they see.

    Publishers continue to find new and exciting ways to create stronger, deeper and even more valuable relationships with both new and existing customers. In 2023 Hearst launched ELLE COLLECTIVE, a new fashion and beauty membership programme which sold out ahead of schedule. New apps for Women’s Health and Men’s Health drove membership growth significantly, up 183% and 92% respectively.

    And driving action is not just about sales. Campaigns harnessing the engagement of these communities can change legislation. Titles such as Grazia have spearheaded equal rights initiatives around pay and childcare to much success.

    A winning formula: Trusted brands and quality content

    The importance of quality and trusted journalism is more important than ever. Recent studies from both Edelman and Credos show a decline in confidence in advertisers and businesses, and trust levels at an all-time low.

    There is also real concern around the validity of news and the less favourable side of AI use.

    Magazine brands set the standards when it comes to trust and quality, providing true, vetted and relevant content. In a recent PPA Magnetic survey print magazines came top versus other media when it came to trust.[4] Advertisers benefit from associating their brand with high-quality content which drives positive changes in consumer behaviour.

    This year we see the 100-year anniversary of both the Radio Times and Good Housekeeping Institute – brands that have stood the test of time, and remain as relevant today as they ever were.   
    RadioTimes.com increased its audience reach by 25% last year[5], with The Good Housekeeping Institute the UK’s oldest trusted source for consumer product reviews. 

    Subscriptions and events is where it’s happening 

    A rise in the number of subscriptions, acts as a true indicator of the value of our products, with consumers willing to pay for content and experiences that serve their needs and feed their passions. As a result, publisher platforms associated with a consumer focus, that deliver quality content and experiences, show the strongest growth for PPA members.

    Magazine subscriptions now take the lion’s share of the total sales mix, forming 32% of total circulation.[1] Digital subscriptions increased by 16% year on year[6] and newsstand/single sales are now 26%.[1]

    According to the latest PPA Market Report, events account for 20% of publisher revenues[2] – allowing enthusiasts to interact with their favourite brand and each other. This provides an even deeper emotional connection for both the publisher and attendee.

    Quality interactions with consumers who love and actively seek out brand interaction is what makes the sector a valuable channel for commercial partners looking to create meaningful connections to achieve specific marketing objectives.

    Robust growth ahead

    Future growth will continue to come from consumer-driven revenue streams. Our recent PPA Market Report also highlighted that publishers are predicting continued growth as they extend their community touchpoints across memberships, podcasts, newsletters, and digital subscriptions.

    As the transition away from third party cookies becomes a reality, publishers are in a strong position to leverage their first party data for the benefit of commercial partners

    And we can’t ignore AI. While it might be considered both an opportunity and a challenge,  continued experimentation is evident across the sector.  This will help publishers to understand the full benefits to their business. Helping them to improve efficiency and increase customer engagement.

    Combine all of this with the forecast from AA/WARC which expects a return to growth in advertising for online magazine media (+2.3%) and there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful.[7]

    I’m very much looking forward to what comes next.

    PPA CEO, Sajeeda Merali

    1. ABC Consumer Media Report December 2023
    2. PPA Market Insight Sector Report 2023
    3. PAMCo H2 2023
    4. PPA Magnetic Magazine Media Survey December 2023 
    5. Ipsos iris December 2023 
    6. ABC Consumer Media Report December 2023 – titles reporting ABC in 2022 and 2023
    7. AA WARC Expenditure Report Q3 2023
  • Air Business expands its global event logistics team

    Air Business expands its global event logistics team

    Farrow joins a dedicated team with a proven track record in events and freight logistics, strengthening their combined expertise and enabling the expansion of services to address growing demand. Tony is a seasoned professional who brings with him more than 30 years’ experience in international and domestic transportation and logistics and has focused on events for the last 15.

    Lenka Booker, Strategy & Transformation Director at Air Business, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Tony to our team. His experience will prove invaluable in our objective of delivering a highly personalised, secure and reliable service which is so important in event logistics. Our ethos of high service quality and customer experience is central to our business success and growth, a key part of our culture and a core element of our goal of being your trusted partner.”

    Tony Farrow, Head of Event Logistics, added: “I am excited to join Air Business and look forward to helping to expand our services. Our aim is to take away the hassle for event organisers and exhibitors so that they can focus 100% of their attention on the show. We understand that happy exhibitors are crucial to successful events and this remains the primary focus for our team.”

  • Hearst UK announces new leadership team and key senior appointments

    Hearst UK announces new leadership team and key senior appointments

    The changes are designed to drive long-term sustainable growth for the business behind brands including Good Housekeeping, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Country Living, Women’s Health, and Esquire.

    The new Leadership roles include an MD Clients; MD Commercial Operations UK & Global; Chief Customer Officer; Chief Transformation Officer; MD Brand Diversification; MD Good Housekeeping/Good Housekeeping Institute; MD Brand Portfolio; and MD Content. As well as the Good Housekeeping division, Hearst UK has also organised around its brands with the creation of five new portfolios: Luxury, Health & Wellness, Homes, Women’s Lifestyle and Entertainment. 

    Ben Chesters, previously Hearst UK’s Head of Agency Sales, UK & Global, was appointed MD Clients in August 2023 with overall responsibility for the business’s client growth strategy and agency development. Chesters also oversees Hearst Global Solutions, providing partnership opportunities across all markets where the business operates.

    Gianluca Ena, previously Chief Commercial Operations Director, was made MD Commercial Operations UK & Global in July 2023. Ena leads client success and commercial operations at both a local and global level. 

    David Robinson was named Chief Customer Officer in October 2023 with the remit of driving multi-product, multi-channel subscriptions growth and leading customer marketing and data. Robinson is also responsible for Hearst UK’s Health & Wellness portfolio (Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World). He has previously worked for market-leading organisations such as News UK and BBC Studios, and held roles including Managing Director of The Sun, Customer Retention Director at The Times and Sunday Times, and Publisher of Radio Times.

    Elizabeth Minshaw was appointed Chief Transformation Officer in March 2023 with a mandate of commercialising new ideas and spearheading growth initiatives. Minshaw also oversees Hearst UK’s Entertainment portfolio (Digital Spy, best and Inside Soap). She joined from Condé Nast where she was Chief of Staff based in New York, and has a wealth of experience from working at companies including The Wall Street Journal and The Times. 

    Sharon Douglas was named MD Brand Diversification in July 2023 with responsibility for areas including eCommerce, licensing and branded products. Douglas joined Hearst UK in 2004, and has held roles including Chief Brand Officer – Lifestyle, New Business Development Director and Customer Sales & Marketing Director.

    Liz Moseley joined Hearst UK as MD Good Housekeeping/Good Housekeeping Institute in September 2023 and is responsible for the overall direction of the brand. 2024 is a landmark year for the Institute as it celebrates its 100thanniversary with a host of events, strategic developments and a dedicated consumer research survey. Moseley has held senior marketing positions at The Telegraph and The Times, and is the former publisher of Heat. She was also Chief Marketing Officer for Ascential plc and Partner and Editor at Tortoise Media. 

    Celine Gilg will join the business as MD Brand Portfolio on 1st March from PUIG, where she is Managing Director for UK and Ireland. Gilg will be responsible for leading the overarching strategy and direction for Hearst UK’s Luxury (ELLE, ELLE Decoration, Esquire and Harper’s Bazaar), Homes (Country Living and House Beautiful) and Women’s Lifestyle (Cosmopolitan, Prima and Red) portfolios. She has 25 years’ marketing and management experience from global beauty companies including L’Oréal, Guerlain and Estée Lauder.

    Toby Wiseman was appointed MD Content in August 2023, and his role is pivotal in driving Hearst UK’s strategy for growth, ensuring quality and consistency of its trusted output. Prior to this, Wiseman spent 18 years as Editor-in-Chief of Men’s Health.  

    Katie Vanneck-Smith, CEO of Hearst UK, said: “I’m excited to have our full Leadership team in place as we supercharge our efforts to identify new revenue opportunities and use the power of our world-class, trusted brands to deepen our direct relationships with customers and clients. 2024 will be a pivotal year for Hearst UK, and we are laser-focused on delivering long-term sustainable growth.”

    Jonathan Wright, president of Hearst Magazines International, said: “We are excited about the team Katie has assembled to implement a strategy that is designed to drive long-term growth for the UK business.”

    Hearst UK’s Leadership team is completed by Julien Litzelmann, Chief Finance Officer; Surinder Simmons, Chief People Officer; Aimee Nisbet, Head of Legal; and Alison Forth, Director of PR & Communications. 

  • New leadership teams at Bauer

    New leadership teams at Bauer

    Helen Morris and Steve Prentice named co-CEOs for Bauer’s UK Publishing print business, and UK Publishing CEO Chris Duncan decides to step down after four years.

    Bauer Media Group has announced a new UK print and international digital leadership team to support its long-term strategic aims. These changes see three senior appointments who will lead its newly unified international digital business and the appointment of co-CEOs in the UK to oversee the existing print business in the UK following current CEO Chris Duncan’s decision to step down later this year. 

    Bauer Media Group builds up international digital business in publishing

    Bauer Media Group will significantly expand its international digital publishing business, merging all digital areas of global publishing into one, with three executives to lead its ambitious growth plans.

    The digital business will be headed by Stefan Betzold as Chief Product Marketing Officer, Walther Steinhuber as Chief Product and Technology Officer, and Jan Rudolph as Chief Content Officer – Digital. All three have decades of experience in the development and establishment of digital business models. Stefan Betzold and Jan Rudolph will start in February, while Walther Steinhuber will begin in April 2024.

    Jan Wachtel, President of the Bauer Media Group’s global publishing business, explains: “Due to our localised structure, we are currently not making full use of our digital expertise. By merging the divisions, we will unlock new opportunities and better utilise Bauer Media Group’s international scale.” 

    Helen Morris and Steve Prentice appointed co-CEOs of UK Print Business

    Bauer Media has also announced the promotion of UK Group Managing Directors Helen Morris and Steve Prentice to Co-CEOs of the existing print business in the UK. 

    In her new role, Morris will have overall responsibility for content ensuring its editorial teams work together effectively to produce the content that its brands are known for. She brings more than 20 years’ experience and joined Bauer Media in 2005. Most recently, she expanded her portfolio as Group Managing Director to include all lifestyle and entertainment brands, such as Grazia, Empire, MOJO, TV Choice, and Bella among others. 

    Steve Prentice, meanwhile, will have overall responsibility of operations which includes advertising and sales management and the performance of its print production among others. He returned to Bauer as Group Managing Director for Special Interest and Puzzles in June 2021 having previously spent 15 years with the business including stints as Managing Director of Sport and Director of Publishing. 

    UK Publishing CEO Chris Duncan to depart after four years

    Chris Duncan will leave Bauer after four years having played an important role in the development of the business’s strategy. 

    Jan Wachtel said: “Since I joined the business, Chris has been an invaluable member of the global Publishing leadership team and been a key contributor to the development of the strategy for our business. We thank him for his brilliant work over the last four years and wish him all the best in the next stage of his journey.” 

    During his time with the business, Bauer Media’s UK publishing has maintained its positions as the UK’s biggest consumer magazine publisher and continued to build its reputation for delivering meaningful content to its readers across a variety of sectors and interests. Chris has also been a vocal leader across a number of key industry issues through his work with associations such as the PPA and IPSO. 

    Chris Duncan said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Jan and the other leaders across the business, particularly in the last year where we have collaborated so closely to define the best strategy for the future of our publishing business in the UK and internationally. I’ve also been immensely proud of the brilliant way all our people have continued to serve our readers and partners.

    “All of this has been made possible by the brilliant talent in our UK leadership team and I’m delighted to hand the reigns of our print business over to Helen and Steve, who I know will ensure Bauer’s print business goes from strength-to-strength.”

  • New publisher and associate members join PPA

    New publisher and associate members join PPA

    Publisher members:

    Akabo

    Akabo Media provides decision makers within the fields of logistics, supply chain and intelligent transportation systems with the informed intelligence they need to stay one step ahead.

    The Channel Company

    The Channel Company empower the growth and evolution of the technology industry through our passionate people, deep partnerships, and unrivaled suite of services.

    Creature & Co.

    Creature & Co. is a purpose-driven creative agency that helps brands drive positive change for the benefit of people and planet.

    Kennedy

    Kennedy has become the fastest-growing and third-largest children’s magazine publisher, with over 60 titles distributed across the UK and the rest of the world. We have achieved this through our steady and unwavering focus on our highly-engaged young consumers.

    Sunday

    Sunday is an independent content marketing agency. Their tight-knit team of strategists, editors, designers, and channel specialists create effective, award-winning content to deliver ROI for successful brands.

    What On Earth/Britannica

    Britannica’s What on Earth! Magazine, is a brand-new non-fiction monthly magazine designed for all curious young minds.

    Associate members:

    Atlas

    Atlas is a strategic growth consultancy specialising in recurring revenues. They provide expertise, analysis, and guidance for customer-driven subscription businesses.

    Flume

    Flume Sales Training is a powerful mix of platform-based learning and live action-coaching that provides sales teams with the skills, knowledge, and motivation to take action and perform at the highest level.

    HH&S

    HH&S provides marketing solutions and subscription fulfillment to publishers.

    TMotions

    TMotions is a digital transformation company offering bespoke IT services. Their integrated service portfolio can help customers embrace the future of work and reshape their businesses for what lies ahead.

    The Viveri Group

    The Viveri Group is a full-service B2B company, offering a suite of interactive services to enable businesses to engage and monetise their audiences using digital billing capabilitie

    Workbooks CRM

    Workbooks core CRM services extend beyond sales, marketing and customer services to include powerful marketing automation, event management, order management and fulfilment, invoicing and supplier management functionalities.

  • PPA mentor partnership with MEFA (Media for All) returns for second year

    PPA mentor partnership with MEFA (Media for All) returns for second year

    The six-month programme, facilitated by MEFA, champions Black, Asian, and ethnic minority talent, and provides learning from lived experiences and practical expertise in a safe space.

    The PPA is offering a limited number of places to PPA members.

    To qualify, the mentees must:

    • Identify as either Black, Asian, or Ethnic minority (including mixed-race individuals).
    • Currently work in the UK media and advertising industry and have 0 – 5 years’ experience.
    • Commit to the six-month programme and meet (in person or virtually) with their mentor at least once a month.

    For more information, and to apply please email Gareth.Pritchard@ppa.co.uk by Friday 9 February 2024.

    MEFA is run by media professionals volunteering their time to increase diversity in the media and advertising industry. Their mission is to help Black, Asian, and ethnic minority talent thrive. Through their work, events, and forums, MEFA focuses on the recruitment of diverse talent, the retention of diverse talent, and the career development of its members. To find out more, click here.