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Customer & Contract Publishing

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.


Essential Resources

Customer media
Best Practice in Publishing

Customer media

We asked Jackie Scully, managing director at Think, what does best practice publishing look like in customer media? This is what she said…

People, passions and places
INTERVIEW

People, passions and places

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…

The River Group
PUBLISHER PROFILE

The River Group

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

Membership publishers wrestle with content conundrum
RESEARCH

Membership publishers wrestle with content conundrum

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?

Join the club
FEATURE

Join the club

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.

Customer media
The Digital Transformation Journey

Customer media

Ann Hartland, group business and strategy director, Cedar Communications, tells Ciar Byrne about how the customer media sector is managing the digital transformation journey.

Opportunities & Threats: Customer Media
FEATURE

Opportunities & Threats: Customer Media

What does the future hold for customer media? CPL One’s Sarah Simpson, looks ahead.

AOP CRUNCH: Driving growth through branded content
REVIEW

AOP CRUNCH: Driving growth through branded content

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.


All Articles

PPA Awards 2025: winners revealed
News

PPA Awards 2025: winners revealed

On Wednesday night, the publishing industry gathered at City Central at The HAC to celebrate the annual PPA Awards hosted by comedian, presenter, author, and podcast host Josh Widdicombe.

27/06/2025

The Debating Group celebrates anniversary
News

The Debating Group celebrates anniversary

The Debating Group is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a reception at the Palace of Westminster.

24/06/2025

The InterGo Group makes senior board changes
News

The InterGo Group makes senior board changes

The InterGo Group has announced today a series of appointments to its executive team, effective 1st September 2025.

12/06/2025

Adnami appoints Stevie Antonioni
News

Adnami appoints Stevie Antonioni

Adnami has strengthened its UK leadership with the appointment of Stevie Antonioni as managing director, bringing a wealth of commercial experience from leading media brands to the fast-growing AdTech.

12/06/2025

BSME Talent Awards 2025: winners revealed
News

BSME Talent Awards 2025: winners revealed

Britain’s rising editorial stars have been honoured at the BSME Talent Awards 2025.

12/06/2025

InspiringFifty 2025: Jennifer Schivas named
News

InspiringFifty 2025: Jennifer Schivas named

67 Bricks CEO, Jennifer Schivas, has been named as one of EQL:Her‘s 2025 InspiringFifty.

11/06/2025

ABC announces update to standards
News

ABC announces update to standards

ABC has streamlined standards to reflect the digital shift.

05/06/2025

The Mailing People announce investment
News

The Mailing People announce investment

The Mailing People has announced a triple investment in greener technology.

02/06/2025

Content Creation Special
Content Creation Special

Content Creation Special

Welcome to our ‘content creation’ special, in which leading publishers and suppliers give us strategy insights and best practice tips for efficient content creation.

By James Evelegh  |  02/06/2025

Image editing / enhancement
Content Creation Special

Image editing / enhancement

A well-defined imaging strategy helps publishers of all sizes maintain visual quality without overloading teams, says Derek Milne, commercial pixometrist at Pixometry.

By Derek Milne  |  02/06/2025

Workflows
Content Creation Special

Workflows

We know that streamlined collaboration and the integration of digital asset management and multichannel publishing tools can reduce content production time by 40%, says Jeroen Goemans, managing director (EMEA) at WoodWing.

By Jeroen Goemans  |  02/06/2025

IPA publishes Digital Media Owners Spring 2025 survey
News

IPA publishes Digital Media Owners Spring 2025 survey

The survey reveals who IPA agencies and digital specialists consider to be the best media owners to work with.

22/05/2025

Make yourself useful
COLUMN

Make yourself useful

This was Douglas McCabe’s advice to publishers at the recent PPA Festival.

By James Evelegh  |  21/05/2025

Pelcro partners with BCC and Satori Software
News

Pelcro partners with BCC and Satori Software

Pelcro has partnered with BCC and Satori Software to enable newspapers to manage print and digital subscriptions from one platform.

14/05/2025

The PPA and Enders release report
News

The PPA and Enders release report

Publishers should focus on trust, usefulness and community and avoid trap of chasing consumer behaviours, says new Enders report.

09/05/2025

814 articles