Consumer magazines spent most of the past two decades managing decline. The more confident publishers have stopped doing that. Newsstand sales and print advertising are still shrinking, but well-made titles with loyal readers are raising cover prices and growing.
Scale matters less than it did. Bauer has made Grazia a more premium product and charged more for it, while independents such as Anthem have put print back at the centre of the business and grown their export sales. Stylist has changed format several times without losing its readers. Others have gone the other way, and Gay Times dropped print entirely to build a global audience online.
For most consumer publishers, print is our USP. It’s the anchor that makes advertisers trust us and the very thing that readers want from us.
Jon Bickley Our print strategy: Anthem
Behind the confidence sits some hard arithmetic. Newstrade is now a small share of revenue and events and ecommerce are growing from a low base. Trust has become a selling point as AI fills the web with content of uncertain origin, but the paid-for consumer model that works at scale is still being worked out.
Below you'll find some of our best feature articles on consumer magazines, from premium print and cover pricing to brand extensions, membership and the future of specialist titles, alongside our latest news and industry commentary.
For a while now, magazine publishers have been on the defensive, unsure about the viability of their traditional business model in a fast-changing world. Katie Vanneck-Smith wants to change all that.
We asked Tamar Riley, portfolio managing director at Immediate, what does best practice publishing look like in consumer media? This is what she said…
For premium titles like Grazia, Mojo and Empire, growth is increasingly coming not from extending reach but from deepening engagement with existing passionate audiences, as Lauren Holleyoake tells Ciar Byrne.
The printed magazine will be a cherished part of people’s lives for years to come, says Jon Bickley, co-founder and CEO. That is why it’s the key component in Anthem’s publishing strategy.
With the arrival of AI and the widespread availability of unattributable content, specialist publishers need to ensure that their titles are the trusted go-to brands in their sectors, Our Media’s Andy Marshall tells Ciar Byrne.
Stylist’s mission has been clear from day one: to engage with its female audience in an intelligent, positive and non-exploitative way. 16 years on, and current PPA Media Brand of the Year, they are staying true to those values, says Lisa Smosarski.
Gay Times was stuck in a rut, tied to its traditional publishing model and reaching only a small part of the LGBTQ+ community. Under the editorship of Lewis Corner, that began to change, as he explains to Ciar Byrne.
Whatever the rest of 2024 holds, two things are certain. Firstly, the bumpy economic ride will continue. Secondly, the need for media companies to have a broad base of revenue streams has never been more important or more challenging to achieve.
How do you create a specialist consumer media business that is fit for the future? What steps do you need to take to be resilient and flexible as audiences and technology evolve? Carolyn Morgan researched 20 innovators from across Europe to find out.
For many publishers, circulation is all about chasing volume, but they would be much better off chasing profitability, says Natalie Smith, client relationship manager at Warners.
Following the announcement of Mike Mirams' retirement from his position as Chief Executive Officer of NewstrAid, the trustees have announced that Neil Jagger has been appointed to the role.
Michael R. Bloomberg has announced the inaugural class of Bloomberg New Economy Catalysts: a new global community of public and private sector innovators and entrepreneurs.
Following extensive data evaluation of recycled paper manufacturing at its Schwedt paper mill, LEIPA has launched four new signets.
Taboola has announced a new partnership with Hearst UK, to become its exclusive content recommendations provider.
Bauer Media’s Empire magazine has published four different collector’s covers dedicated to The British New Wave in celebration of the current wave of “hot, fresh homegrown” actors and filmmakers.
Readly, a digital subscription app, has teamed up with fashion brand H&M to offer H&M customers an exclusive offer.
Project Wingman is set to launch its inaugural magazine “WingTips” on June 14th to showcase their achievements since being founded at the start of the Covid pandemic.
The Manson Group, the St Albans-based magazine printer, has migrated to Process Free Printing Plates following successful trials in the spring.
Zach Everson joins Forbes’ “Journalist Entrepreneurs” initiative and launches a new premium newsletter titled “Checks & Imbalances”.
Rusted Radishes: Beirut Literary and Art Journal has launched a digital edition through the Exact Editions platform.
At the end of May, Daily Mail and General Trust released its Half Yearly Financial Report for the six months ended 31 March 2021.
Through virtual content, hosted by Tom Evans, ACE announces the winners of its 2021 Newspaper & Magazine Awards.
Forbes has unveiled its inaugural “50 Over 50” List, which spotlights the diverse voices and work of female entrepreneurs and leaders over the age of 50.
Cyclist, Dennis’ magazine dedicated to all things road cycling, has created its first family supplement, Cyclist Junior, to inspire and advise the next generation of riders.
Grazia has announced that TV presenter and personality AJ Odudu is joining the brand as a Contributing Editor.
