View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. Magazines
September 9, 2010

Government shuts Developments mag to save £400,000

By Oliver Luft

The Government is to cease publishing its magazine on international development in order to redirect its £400,000 annual budget to frontline world poverty projects.

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell wrote to subscribers of the magazine this week informing them that the September issue of the quarterly free Developments Magazine was to be its last.

The decision to close the title came as part of a wholesale review of spending across the Department for International Development, he told subscribers.

The title lists two editors and a designer on its staff. Press Gazette understands these three staff worked on a freelance basis and will not have their contracts renewed.

“In these difficult economic times we need to ensure that every penny of the UK aid budget goes to those who need it most, which is why I have established a full-scale review of all DFID programmes across the world,” Mitchell wrote to subscribers.

“As part of this review, I have made the decision to stop the publication of Developments Magazine.

“This will save £400,000 annually – a saving that will be re-directed towards projects that directly help the world’s poorest people lift themselves out of poverty.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

“Across government there is a drive to get more resources to the frontline, and this decision about Developments Magazine is supported by a government-wide freeze on all non-essential marketing and advertising expenditure.

“With record levels of national debt, all departments need to be smarter about our communications spending, looking for free and online alternatives before high cost printed products – a move which is also better for the environment.”

Developments Magazine was quarterly, but was revised down to three issues annually earlier this year and sent out to 85,324 subscribers across the globe.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network