Customer publishing is the part of the industry most readers never think of as publishing. Membership magazines, airline and supermarket titles and the content agencies behind them reach millions of people, often with circulations that consumer titles would envy.
The purpose is different too. A membership magazine is usually there to keep members renewing, and a brand title has to show a return for the client paying for it. That creates a running question about independence, and the strongest titles tend to have an editorial identity of their own rather than sounding like the organisation behind them.
If there’s something customers don’t need more of today, it’s content.
Jackie Scully Customer media
The agencies have changed shape around this. They produce fewer print editions and more digital content, and put far more effort into distribution and income generation, while publishers' own branded content studios compete for the same budgets. Print still matters, though. Members continue to rank the magazine among the benefits they value most.
Below you'll find some of our best feature articles on customer and contract publishing, from membership magazines and in-flight titles to content agencies and branded content studios, alongside our latest news and industry commentary.
We asked Jackie Scully, managing director at Think, what does best practice publishing look like in customer media? This is what she said…
The National Trust is a treasure trove of historic and beautiful places, and, unsurprisingly, it has a huge membership. One of the benefits of membership is its highly regarded magazine…
Content marketing is all the rage, and companies like River, that have been doing it for over twenty years, are highly expert at it. River CEO Nicola Murphy tells Jo Bowman that while quality content is the bedrock of the company, it’s the marketing
Content has become mission-critical for many membership organisations. But, Mike Sewell asks, should this valuable asset be regarded as an exclusive member benefit, or used as a marketing tool?
Lots of publishers are now offering club style membership schemes, looking to generate extra revenue and deeper engagement. Dickon Ross looks at the membership model.
Ann Hartland, group business and strategy director, Cedar Communications, tells Ciar Byrne about how the customer media sector is managing the digital transformation journey.
What does the future hold for customer media? CPL One’s Sarah Simpson, looks ahead.
Spring hasn’t sprung until CRUNCH takes place, writes Richard Reeves, MD of the Association of Online Publishers, which recently held its first CRUNCH event of the year. The mood was suitably optimistic for a change of season.
For publishers, writes Sajeeda Merali, CEO of the PPA, 2025 marked the moment when artificial intelligence moved decisively from the margins, reshaping how our audiences discover, consume and value content.
In a very unpredictable landscape, Jackie Scully sees reasons to be hopeful, particularly for those committed to meaningful storytelling.
The new best practice guide for the responsible use of generative AI in advertising, developed under the auspices of the Government and Industry-led Online Advertising Taskforce, was published by the Advertising Association earlier this month.
Subscriptions and video provide biggest revenue opportunities, say publishers, while private marketplaces are set to become more commonplace.
AdvantageCS has announced a partnership with Revaly to enhance digital payment recovery.
67 Bricks has appointed former international CEO Peter Lake as a board advisor to support its next phase of growth.
Micropress announces the launch of its new online print platform, Press Print.
According to IPA analysis, trust-building advertising delivers stronger business growth.
Atria is a new premium marketplace that aims to give advertisers easy access to quality audiences and trusted editorial brands.
Air Business has achieved ESSA Tier 4 Accreditation, setting the standard in sustainable event logistics.
The Stationers’ Company says 2026 sees continuing growth in applications for the Stationers’ Warrants scheme established in 2014.
The new Advisory Board features Google, Meta, WPP, TikTok & Mail Metro Media as it calls on industry to address digital measurement challenges.
WARC has released The Future of Media 2026 highlighting current trends in media planning, advertising investments and the media ecosystem.
UK marketing budgets hold firm during turbulent final quarter.
Last week, the European Commission published a summary and the individual contributions received in response to the consultation on the ongoing review of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
