This award recognises the brand or publication which has successfully responded to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Be it a strategic pivot or a new product/service launch, our judges are seeking to reward those who have successfully helped their audience navigate the crisis.

Entries should demonstrate:

• how they specifically set out new strategies and objectives to navigate through unprecedented times
• the impact of the measures taken to the brand/publication
• how this response has served and supported its community
  

This award is for the business intelligence product that demonstrates:

• how it has delivered value for its audience across one or more platforms
• innovation and insight in responding to its target market
• evidence of the product’s performance within the market it serves
• strong commercial performance
  

This award is for any campaign, using either a single or omni-channel approach to drive internal or external objectives.

Entries should demonstrate:

• performance against objectives
• where the campaign sits within the context of the brand strategy
• creativity, new approaches, and innovation backed up with solid results
  

This new award is open to any brand or magazine who publishes specifically for the younger reader.

Entries should demonstrate:

• understanding of the needs of the target audience
• strong commercial performance
• editorial & design appropriate for the audience
  

This award is for Columnists who reach their audiences through a regular column or feature, or by blog, e-mail or newsletter.

Entries should demonstrate

• an authoritative writing style
• content which is informative, educational or leads opinion within a target community
• a sense of personality and individual style which is obvious throughout the series of features
  

This award is for a collaboration between a publishing business and commercial partner(s) that has promoted a product, service, or brand through any (or multiple) platform(s), be it print, online, face-to-face, events, broadcast, mobile, or other digital offerings.

Entries should demonstrate:

• a mutually beneficial partnership to all parties
• strong commercial performance
• creativity and innovation which has generated significant traction among the target audience
  

This award will recognise an outstanding agency or division really leading the charge in content marketing.

Entries should demonstrate:

• success in enhancing their market position through the development of their client’s brands
• strong commercial performance
• omni-channel approach
• how they are leading the way in innovation and change
  

This award is open to Art Directors or Designers who have worked on the design for a media brand or publication.

Entries should demonstrate:

• evidence of how the design work has played a key part in the overall success of the brand or publication
• excellent use of photography, typography and illustration
• imaginative and creative designs which push the usual boundaries
• an awareness of the needs of the target audience

Please enter nominees for one brand/publication only. Individuals may enter this category once-only.

This award seeks to recognise a brand or publication that is championing Diversity & Inclusion within their business, or to their audience. This may be via a new product, campaign, brand extension, podcast, magazine, event, or anything which enhances or promotes D&I across the business and beyond.

Entries should demonstrate:

• a focus on making publishing more accessible
• the impact within the company and/or the wider publishing industry
• the long-term plan to make this sustainable
  

This award is for editors of a media brand or publication whose consistent brilliance has put their publication at the forefront of the market.

Entries should demonstrate:

• high quality journalism
• significant editorial developments and initiatives
• understanding and engagement with the market and/or audience
• impressive results including audience reach and commercial performance

Please enter nominees for one brand/ publication only. Individuals may enter this category once-only.

This award will recognise an outstanding event, either in-person or online, which can be but is not limited to: an exhibition, awards, conference, experiential event, pop-up, festival, launch, commercial partnership event, celebration or anniversary, community event, or a bespoke event, at which the publisher brings together its target audience.

The event can either stem from an existing parent brand or be a wholly standalone experience.

Entries should demonstrate:

• evidence of innovation and creativity in relation to the event format and content
• increased audience reach and/or strong commercial performance
• deep levels of engagement with the target audience
  

This award is for the standout front covers from 2020 that were simply unmissable, and which really captured that magical magazine moment.

Entries should demonstrate:

• imaginative use of design, photography, and/or illustration (including the use of colour, type, and/or logos)
• coverlines that sell the content
• a front cover that changes the conversation
• how the cover appeals to both new and core readers
• supporting sales/readership figures
• how the cover fits in with the overall brand positioning

Note: the judges shortlist will be put to public vote to decide the winner. Brands/publications may enter multiple front covers.

This award recognises the suppliers to our industry who have really gone the extra mile in their partnerships with professional publishers. Any organisation that supplies a product, platform or service to the industry can enter, from distribution and fulfilment, to digital publishing, training, subscription management, printing, marketing, paper, event services and beyond.

Entries should demonstrate

• evidence of service levels & a genuine partnership
• meeting or exceeding client objectives and expectations
• innovation and creativity in finding solutions
• working towards sustainability alternatives and best working practices
  

For the purpose of this award, an innovation is anything which expands the reach and influence of a brand or publication among an existing/new target audience. Innovations can include (but not restricted to) launches within 2020, new products, lead generation, use of data, new methods of working, enhanced communication methods or cultural change.

Entries should demonstrate:

• a creative and innovative approach
• strong commercial performance
• the longer-term sustainability of the relationships and revenues generated
  

This award is for the multiple or independent retailer who has most successfully demonstrated:

• dedication to the cause of selling more magazines
• commitment to offering a good choice of titles to its customers
• enhanced shopping experience for the magazine consumer (e.g. through store appearance, shelf layout, information, innovation, customer service, etc).

This category is free to enter

This award is for a consumer or business media brand which demonstrates

• how they understand and meet the needs of their target audience
• strong commercial performance
• editorial & design that represents and enhances the brand
• omni-channel approach

Please note that brands cannot enter both Media Brand of the Year and Special Interest Magazine Brand of the Year.

This award is for podcasts which are specifically produced by the publishing industry.

Entries should demonstrate:

• excellent audience engagement and listening figures
• innovation and creativity
• content which meets the needs of the target audience
• strong commercial performance
  

For the purposes of this award, a special interest magazine brand is one which by title or description addresses a specific business-to-business community or consumer leisure interest (including food, health, sport, hobbies, homes, interiors, and travel), or one which publishes within a specific sector.

Entries should demonstrate

• understanding of the needs of the target audience
• strong commercial performance
• editorial & design that represents and enhances the brand with an omni-channel approach
• innovation in responding to the changing dynamics of its market

Please note that brands cannot enter both Media Brand of the Year and Special Interest Magazine Brand of the Year.

This new award looks to recognise a brand, campaign or portfolio that has maximised revenue through effective implementation of a new or enhanced subscriptions strategy.

Entries should demonstrate:

• innovation and creativity
• understanding of the target market
• effective use of data to drive conversions
• strong commercial performance
  

This award looks to recognise and reward a change, campaign, project or event (internal or external) that has enhanced the environmental credentials of the publishing company in 2020.

Entries should demonstrate:

• an understanding of the company’s responsibility towards the environment
• the impact of the movement on the business
• the success in relation to the objectives and expectations
  

This award is for a team or department that has excelled in making a positive and measurable contribution to the company in 2020.

Eligible teams include, but are not limited to: Content, Creative, Commercial, Marketing, Production, HR, Operations, Subscriptions, Business Development and Events.

Entries should demonstrate:

• contribution to the overall company strategy
• how the team has exceeded business expectations
• creativity, new approaches, and innovation backed up with solid results 

Credit for business success often goes to the leaders. The hard work and efforts by those on the ground can go unrecognised but these efforts can be equally important for the long-term success of the business.

We invite nominations for someone who has demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment to the success of their team or company over many years. One who is a role model to their peers, has helped the business achieve exceptional results and champions best practice.

This award looks to recognise that person who may otherwise be overlooked, but without whom the business would not be the same.

This award is open to anyone who writes for a media brand or publication on one platform or across multiple platforms.

Entries must demonstrate:

• original, entertaining and/or engaging writing style
• well researched and credible journalism
• content that is appropriate to the relevant audience