It was third time lucky for Your Family editor Susannah Pearce last night as she picked up editor of the year at the Association of Publishing Agencies’ Effectiveness Awards after being shortlisted for two other awards last month.
Pearce was crowned editor of the year at the customer publishing industry awards last night after being shortlisted for editor of the year at Press Gazette’s Magazine and Design Journalism Awards and customer publishing editor of the year at the British Society of Magazine Editors’ awards.
She launched the bi-monthly title for the NSPCC four years ago with customer publishing giant Redwood, and 395,000 copies of the free magazine are now distributed through Early Learning Centres nationwide, NSPCC drop-in centres and family centres.
Pearce told Press Gazette that this was her first editor’s award. She said: ‘The magazine has a great ethos. It’s creative in a dynamic way that gets across powerful information, as well as being entertaining and appealing to a target market that’s hard to reach and that doesn’t read other parenting information. We’re particularly trying to target vulnerable parents.”
The judges praised Pearce for her ‘precise understanding of the client’s objectives’and said her ‘delicate balance of not appearing preachy or worthy is achieved by adopting the style of a women’s weekly, balancing lifestyle with more serious issues such as domestic violence and bullying”.
Your Family was also named most effective non-retail consumer publication.
Redwood was the highest scoring publisher of the night – along with Your Family’s awards, it picked up two for its magazine for Virgin Media, Electric!, editorial solution of the year and launch of the year, and also most effective internal communication for Courier for Royal Mail.
Journalist of the year went to Waitrose Food Illustrated’s senior writer James Steen. His work for the John Brown published magazine includes an interview with Marcus Wareing regarding his ex-boss Gordon Ramsey, which was picked up by a number of national newspapers.
The judges said: ‘Steen grabs your attention from the very first word. You feel like you’re getting an exclusive look at his subject and come away with a real insight into what they’re really like.’
Jon Butterworth, art director for Camouflage – the British Army’s magazine for 13-17 year olds published by Haymarket Network – won designer of the year. Butterworth has been nominated for a number of awards for his work on the title, and last year scooped designer of the year at Press Gazette’s MDJAs.
Julia Hutchison, chief operating officer of the APA, said that in the current economic climate customer publishing is a vital tool for brands. ‘These awards are all about effectiveness. The foundations of our industry are built on delivering results for brands.
“As the entries have clearly demonstrated through their impressive results, customer publishers know what works. With the continuing downturn ROI has never been so important and the fact that the industry is producing cost effective marketing solutions for brands across different channels, it is unsurprising that we are one of the only media currently experiencing growth.”
The awards were held last night at The Room by the River on London’s South Bank.
The full list of winners
Editorial Solution of the Year
Electric! for Virgin Media
Redwood
Most Effective Automotive Title
Lexus Magazine for Lexus
Story Worldwide
Special commendation: LIV, Volvo, Redwood and Today Tomorrow, Toyota, Sunday
Most Effective Finance Title
Sense for The Royal Bank of Scotland
John Brown
Most Effective Travel and Leisure title
Business Life for British Airways
Cedar Communications
Most Effective Membership Title (consumer)
Eight for 888.com
Cedar Communications
Most Effective Membership Title (Not-for-profit, Charities and Associations)
Flipside for The Institute of Engineering and Technology
BCB&
Special Commendation: Shine On, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Northstar and RSA Journal, Royal Society of Arts, Wardour
Most Effective Public Sector Title
Camouflage for Army Recruiting Group
Haymarket Network
Most Effective Internal Communication
Courier for Royal Mail
Redwood
Most Effective Business-to-business title
Contact for Royal Mail
Redwood
Special Commendation: Via Immarsat, Immarsat, Publicis Blueprint
Most Effective Consumer Publication (retail)
Asos.com (For men) for ASOS
Seven Squared
Special commendation: Waitrose Food Illustrated, Waitrose, John Brown and Asos.com (for women), ASOS, Seven Squared
Most Effective Consumer Publication (non-retail)
Your Family for NSPCC
Redwood
Special commendation: Electric!, Virgin Media, Redwood
International Publication of the Year
Nikon Pro for Nikon Pro BV
Cedar Communications
Specialist Communication of the Year
Icons of England for Campaign to Protect Rural England
Think Publishing
Special commendation: www.junkmonkeys.tv, British Heart Foundation, John Brown
Digital Publishing Solution of the Year
https://blog.oasis-stores.com for Oasis
Story Worldwide
Launch of the Year
Electric! for Virgin Media
Redwood
Integrated Marketing Solution of the Year
Asos.com (for women)
ASOS
Seven Squared
Special commendation: Zappas, Communkator, Zappas
Journalist of the Year
James Steen
Waitrose Food Illustrated, for Waitrose
John Brown
Special commendation: Steve McCormack, Teachers, DCSF, John Brown
Designer of the Year
Jon Butterworth
Camouflage for Army Recruiting Group
Haymarket Network
Special commendation: Warren Jackson, Electric!, Virgin Media, Redwood
Editor of the Year
Susannah Pearce
Your Family for NSPCC
Redwood
Special commendation: Stuart Knott, Contact, Redwood, Royal Mail
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