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 subscription copies, mailing is the final piece of the jigsaw. Neil Carter, sales & commercial director at Posthub, outlines the key components of the distribution plan.
How Google AI offerings are harming publishers: the PPA last week submitted recommendations to the Competition and Markets Authority.
After more than four decades at the helm of ESco, founder and Managing Director, Susan Duffin, will be stepping into a new role as chairwoman.
Bishops Printers has announced the launch of a new wave of investment, not in machines, but in people.
Atex has been selected as one of the winners of FAIR’s Spoke 5 grant.
The latest AA/WARC Expenditure Report shows UK adspend rose 8% to reach £10.6bn in Q1 2025.
As an industry, we often talk a good game when it comes to diversity but are we putting up barriers to prospective non-middle-class journalists?
According to the IPA Bellwether Report, UK marketing budgets bounced back in Q2, reversing previous decline.
Her Majesty The Queen has become an Honorary Freeman and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers.
Some of the best of the Communications and Content industries have been announced in the annual Innovation Excellence Awards shortlist.
WoodWing has appointed Reinder Repko as AI lead.
The CEO of the Professional Publishers Association has commented on Royal Mail reforms.
Ahead of InPublishing’s ‘celebration of print’, James Evelegh muses on the special qualities of the medium.
Intermedia Brand Marketing Ltd has announced the acquisition of Gordon & Gotch Publishing Ltd.
The Stationers’ Company has announced Doug Wills as new master.
