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 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 is for editors of a B2B 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 the Editor category once-only.

This award is for editors of a consumer 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 the Editor category once-only.

This Award recognises an individual who is emerging as a leader within their organisation, and in the sector they represent.

The judges will be looking for an individual that can demonstrate success over the past 12 months for their respective brand/company. The individual must have no more than 5 years of experience in their current field to qualify for the award.

Judges will be marking entrants against:

• meeting and exceeding objectives in line with overall business objectives
• new and creative ideas
• how the individual has shown great leadership qualities.

This award recognises a newcomer to the role or industry (can include those undertaking apprenticeships) and their outstanding contributions to their workplace and exceptional progress in both their skills development (and studies if relevant).

Judges will be looking for a demonstration of:

• hard work and commitment to achieving the best possible results
• how the individual has made a positive difference to their organisation
• true creativity
• outstanding commitment to their own personal development and progression through learning.

This award is for a team or department that has excelled in making a positive and measurable contribution to the company in 2021.

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

Entries should demonstrate:

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

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 engaging writing style
• well researched and credible journalism
• content that is appropriate to the relevant audience
  

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. 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 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 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 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, the wider publishing industry and/or the sector or audience the brand speaks to
• the long-term plan to make this sustainable
  

This award will recognise an outstanding event, either in-person or online, 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 will recognise an outstanding event, either in-person or online, 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 2021 that were simply unmissable, and which really captured that magical magazine moment.

Entries should:

• create instant impact
• create an enticing promise
• explain how the cover supports sales/readership figures and 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.

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, new products, lead generation, use of data, new methods of working, enhanced communication methods or cultural change.

Entries should demonstrate:

• significance and value to the audience and/or business
• a creative and innovative approach
• strong commercial performance
• the longer-term sustainability of the relationships and revenues generated
  

This award is for a Market Intelligence brand or product - open to both B2B and consumer - that demonstrates:

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

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
  

This award looks to recognise a brand 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 social and environmental credentials of the publishing company in 2021.

Entries should demonstrate:

• an understanding of the company’s responsibility towards a more sustainable now (and future)
• the impact of the movement on the business
• the success in relation to the objectives and expectations
  

This award is open to any brand or magazine who publishes specifically for the younger reader, including the teen market.

Entries should demonstrate:

• understanding of the needs of the target audience
• strong commercial performance
• editorial & design appropriate for the 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
• how they are leading the way in innovation and change
  

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
  

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 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
• innovation in responding to the changing dynamics of its market

This award is for a 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
• innovation in responding to the changing dynamics of its market

For the purposes of this award, a special interest magazine brand is one which by the 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 for a particular industry or 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
• innovation in responding to the changing dynamics of its market
• omni-channel approach

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