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  • New category: PPA Community Engagement Award

    New category: PPA Community Engagement Award

    The judges will be looking to understand how entrants deliver content and value to their audience, as well as opportunities for commercial monetisation. Publishers will need to be able to demonstrate the impact of their activity – engagement, audience growth, commercial performance, as well as evidence of advertiser ROI.

    Beth Crane, PPA Next Gen Board member and Affiliates Director, Immediate Media commented:“We designed the Community Engagement award to showcase inspiring examples of brands who are building spaces for meaningful conversation with their special interest audiences. In an era where authenticity is key, we’re excited to hear from those who demonstrate how creating these spaces allows them to stay aligned to their audience’s interests and values. And in turn, helps them to deliver highly trusted content”.

    Sophie Eke, PPA Next Gen Board mentor and Chief Marketing Officer, Arc added: “I am thrilled to see the hard work of the PPA Next Gen Board result in a new Community Engagement category for this year’s PPA awards. Specialist communities are extremely valuable, they provide relevant and engaging content and promote individuality and trust with our audiences. We hope the new award will inspire PPA members to showcase their communities and the power they hold to inform trusted content which is firmly at the heart of business and consumer media.”

    The PPA Next Gen Board is a group of fifteen aspiring under 30s who have been chosen from across the industry to work in tandem and collaboratively with the main PPA board to help shape the future of the specialist interest media sector.

    PPA members and independent publishers receive discounts on Awards entries. Entry deadline: 9 February 2024. Eligibility period: 1 Jan 2023 – 31 Jan 2024. You can find out more and enter here.

  • PPA and members respond to impact of potential reduction in Royal Mail deliveries

    PPA and members respond to impact of potential reduction in Royal Mail deliveries

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was prompted to respond in parliament following publication of an Ofcom consultation document on the future of the Universal Service Obligation (USO). This currently states that there will be a six-day delivery service, which many publishers with time sensitive and weekly titles rely on.

    Currently, the USO legally requires Royal Mail to deliver letters Monday to Saturday. However, the service has been struggling – with Ofcom issuing a £5.6m fine after Royal Mail failed to reach its delivery targets in the 2022/23 financial year.

    The PM restated the Government’s commitment to ensuring the Universal Service Obligation (USO) “remains as it is” in Prime Minister’s Questions this week.

    On publishers specifically, the report acknowledges that the sector ‘would be more adversely impacted if the minimum days requirement is reduced’ and suggested that publishers ‘would need to revise production timelines if possible’. However, changes to the USO requirements need parliamentary approval.

    Speaking to BBC Radio Four, Richard Campbell, Managing Director – News, Future PLC said Ofcom’s suggested amendments to the USO are “deeply concerning to publishers of products like mine, because they are designed to be weekend reads when people have a bit more time. They’re part of people’s weekend rituals”.

    He continued: “[the potential reduction in deliveries] is a big concern for us and what that might mean for our readers, their experience, and therefore our business. Without other changes in the marketplace, without Royal Mail introducing a replacement service, or other providers bringing new services to the market, we would be left high and dry. There would be no service available to us.”

    Jess Burney, Managing Director – Subscriptions, Immediate Media commented: “We’re hugely concerned about the proposal to remove Saturday deliveries. Radio Times is the UK’s biggest selling weekly subscription magazine and it is really important that the magazine arrives in good time for readers to plan their weekly viewing. We have seen a significant reduction in the quality of service in the last few years and we are very worried this will make a difficult situation worse.”

    Sajeeda Merali, CEO, PPA also made a statement: “The PPA is closely engaging with this latest Ofcom review. We will continue to call on the government and Ofcom to prevent any moves to reduce the USO as it will directly impact our members. The removal of Saturday services will effect time-sensitive titles if Royal Mail can no longer guarantee a timely delivery. These legally mandated services must be maintained so as not to significantly impact a sector worth £3.74 billion to the UK economy. The PPA will represent our members at the highest level of government and Royal Mail to ensure that consumers’ access to time-sensitive information continues.”

    Next steps: Ofcom is now consulting stakeholders on the proposals and has stated that their immediate aim is to ‘stimulate an informed discussion about potentially changing the USO specification to better align with users’ ‘reasonable needs’.

    The PPA will be responding to Ofcom’s consultation re-affirming the importance of Saturday deliveries to the specialist publishing sector. We will also be raising awareness of the industry’s concerns to parliamentarians and Government officials.

    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 watch Immediate Media’s Jess Burney speaking to ITN news on the matter, click here

  • Bauer announce new commercial operations lead for UK publishing

    Bauer announce new commercial operations lead for UK publishing

    Bates will lead a team of more than 120 commercial specialists focused on the delivery of print, digital, and event revenues across the organisation’s portfolio of consumer and B2B brands. She will report to Chris Duncan, CEO – UK Publishing, Bauer Media Group.

    The role marks a return to Bauer for Bates, having spent three years as Managing Director for the company’s specialist and food brands between 2016 and 2019. Previously, she worked for five years within Bauer’s UK Publishing marketing teams, including a stint as Head of Marketing.

    Bates has also fulfilled several senior publishing industry roles including Chief Brand Officer at Dennis, and most recently was Chief Executive Officer of Autovia.

    Chris Duncan, CEO – UK Publishing, Bauer Media Group said: “I’m really pleased to welcome Nicola back to Bauer. She brings a great track record of delivering sustainable growth for publishing brands across many disciplines, which includes building meaningful partnerships with commercial partners. She’s perfectly placed to support our teams in providing industry-leading products and services across different platforms.”

    Nicola Bates, Group Managing Director, Commercial – UK Publishing, Bauer Media Group added: “It’s an exciting time to be returning to Bauer. The business continues to cement its position as the UK’s largest consumer publishing business and provides commercial partners with a great reach and a real breadth of opportunities. I’m looking forward to working with the rest of the leadership team to maximise these opportunities.”

  • Immediate Media announce Dan Hutson as Managing Director of Nutracheck

    Immediate Media announce Dan Hutson as Managing Director of Nutracheck

    With has a background in launching and scaling digital experiences, he joins Nutracheck from Constellation Automotive Group where he was Group Product and Design Director, leading the discovery and delivery of new products and innovations across UK and Europe to solve customer problems.

    Hutson commended: “I’m looking forward to working with the talent team to further build on the incredible success they’ve already achieved and continuing their unrelenting focus on their customers. I’m also excited at of being part of Immediate’s market-leading Food media business and the growth opportunities it offers Nutracheck.”

    Hutson will work closely with Immediate’s Food MD, Jessica Norell Neeson, to continue to accelerate Nutracheck growth and develop Immediate’s content and service offer in the food, nutrition and well-being markets.

    Jessica Norell Neeson, Food Managing Director, Immediate Media added: “I’m delighted to welcome Dan to Immediate and Nutracheck. With a proven track record in driving customer-centric digital businesses and developing new digital products, Dan is well placed to continue to develop the Nutracheck business and help develop our digital content and product offer.”

    Nutracheck, the UK’s leading subscription-based weight management and dietary improvement platform. Acquired by Immediate in November 2022, Nutracheck is one of the biggest paid-for digital apps in the UK, with 400,000 premium subscribers. Since becoming part of Immediate, Nutracheck has seen record subscriptions numbers and revenue growth.

  • PPA Editors Dinner in partnership with Shutterstock Editorial

    PPA Editors Dinner in partnership with Shutterstock Editorial

    The lively discussion covered key themes including:

    • Practical implementation of AI
    • Team structures and skills
    • Building the brand of journalists as experts
    • Sustainability
    • Paywall strategies
    • Newsletters
    • Membership vs subscriptions
    • Events
    • Changing media consumption

    This was just one of a series of events for specific function leaders across the spectrum of specialist content providers. If you’re a PPA member interested in meeting those in a similar role to yours across different brands and businesses, get in touch with hannah.bray@ppa.co.uk

  • Immediate Media Co appoints new Chief Commercial Officer

    Immediate Media Co appoints new Chief Commercial Officer

    Hawley is an experienced senior cross-functional strategic commercial leader, previously working across retail, e-commerce, and consumer goods. Before joining Immediate, Christina was Chief Commercial Officer of Ocado, with responsibility for buying, commercial strategy, monetisation, and data. 

    Prior to this, she was Associate Partner in the Digital Practice at McKinsey, building and delivering digital and product strategies. Her other roles include Head of Strategy at Marks & Spencer and Managing Director of technology and digital marketplace company, Jumia, with responsibility for commercial and logistics teams across six countries.

    Hawley, says: “I’m delighted to be joining Immediate with their award-winning commercial and subscriptions teams, enviable portfolio of live events, and market-leading brands. Immediate has developed a great reputation, and I can’t wait to start working with the teams to help on build on their success.”

    Sean Cornwell, Immediate CEO, adds: “Christina brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in this important new role. Her proven track record in developing new revenue opportunities will be key in our continued success as we look to further to diversify our revenue and transform the business.”

    Hawley takes up her new role on Tuesday 29 August.

  • 1919 Magazine celebrates second anniversary

    1919 Magazine celebrates second anniversary

    The minister was joined by MSPs and MPs from across the political spectrum at the Edinburgh reception, along with Scottish Police Federation (SPF) representatives and journalists from many of Scotland’s leading media publications.

    1919 Magazine focuses on policing and justice issues in Scotland, and is funded by the SPF. It has been shortlisted for four PPA Scotland awards since being launched in June 2021.

    The audience at the event was addressed by Constance, SPF chair David Threadgold, Jamie Greene MSP, who was Conservative justice spokesperson at the time, and Alan Roden from the 1919 editorial team.

    Constance, who was recently appointed to the role of Justice Secretary by Humza Yousaf, told the reception: “I want to recognise the significant pressures on our police officers and staff, responding to and supporting mental health incidents in our communities.”

    Along with Jamie Greene, she praised 1919 for shining a spotlight on policing and justice issues which would otherwise not be covered by the media.

    Alan Roden told the audience: “We’re proud to tell so many stories from the frontline of policing and to give a voice to those serving the public.

    “Scotland is blessed to have such a strong media and although we’re only a very small part of it, we hope our contribution has made it even stronger.”

    You can view the latest issue of 1919 here.

  • PPA Scotland Awards open for entries

    PPA Scotland Awards open for entries

    With 22 categories to enter there’s something for every job function and organisation – from highly respected editors, world-class writers, and commercial teams, to the designs and creativity that bring our brands to life, innovative events, and excellent digital products.

    Entries are encouraged from both b2b and b2c publishers, and those with diverse backgrounds and job roles. The rigorous judging process and expert judging panel ensure that truly standout work is celebrated.

    Entry deadline: Friday 15 September
    Eligibility period: 1 June 2022 – 30 July 2023
    Special offer: get five entries for the price of three

    PPA members receive discount on entry and attendance rates, find out more and enter here.

  • Immediate Media partner with Werther’s Original for exclusive campaign

    Immediate Media partner with Werther’s Original for exclusive campaign

    Titled A Little Piece of Warmth, the campaign sees highly targeted digital display and social amplification across Immediate brands including BBC Good Food, Easy Cook, and olive – driving audiences to a digital hub.

    The hub features a series of innovative recipes, developed by Immediate’s food team, offering new ways of enjoying Werther’s Originals – from banana and sultana oat bars to caramelised Korean beef with sticky rice.

    Immediate’s content studio, Imagine, has overseen the creative development and execution of the campaign, including video content and enticing imagery. Further amplification will occur via print, podcast, and live events.

    Sam Pietrasiewicz, Senior Partnerships Manager at Immediate, says: “We are thrilled to join forces with Werther’s Original once again. Drawing on the momentum of last year’s successful campaign, we bring the full power of our world-class content studio, unparalleled food knowledge as the home of the UK’s no. 1 food brand, and an extensive array of publishing platforms. This gives Werther’s Original an ideal opportunity to engage with a highly receptive audience, igniting their curiosity and inviting them to sample the delights of the Werther’s Original collection.”

    The campaign includes a digital ad takeover of BBC Good Food and video-first social amplification, inviting consumers to a competition hosted on the campaign microsite. Select entries will be showcased on the campaign’s ‘wall of warmth’ both online and on social media.

    Meanwhile the campaign’s print activation will see an olive magazine cover sponsorship, inviting caramel lovers to explore new ways of enjoying Werther’s Original candies. It will also see advertorials in titles across the portfolio, including BBC Good Food, BBC Gardeners’ World and Radio Times, reaching Immediate’s passionate and scaled audiences.

    Werther’s Original will also have a presence at a series of BBC Good Food Shows over the Summer.

    Finally, the campaign will include a podcast sponsorship of BBC Good Food’s Tom Kerridge podcast, and an outdoor ‘plodcast’ with BBC Countryfile, plus continuing a bespoke sponsorship of the olive podcast.

  • DC Thomson names new editor of The People’s Friend

    DC Thomson names new editor of The People’s Friend

    Johnstone becomes the 11th editor in the magazine’s 154-year history, previously working as a writer and editor at DC Thomson for over 20 years, he succeeds Angela Gilchrist.

    On his appointment, Johnstone says: “I’m excited to be taking on the role and I feel the weight of history on my shoulders, taking on such a cherished title. It isn’t just a magazine, it’s a way of life.

    “Angela Gilchrist is a truly inspirational and dedicated editor, I give her and our readers my sincere promise to do my very best to continue bringing them the fantastic mix of stories and features that they enjoy in every issue.”

    Published weekly in Dundee by DC Thomson, The People’s Friend is known around the world for its regular offering of feel-good fiction and features.