PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR CIRCULATION OVER 14000
English Heritage – English Heritage Members’ Magazine
English Heritage has revitalised its magazine to align with its refreshed brand vision, “Creating New Connections.” The reimagined publication adopts an audience-centric approach, placing greater emphasis on emotional storytelling rather than transactional content. This shift is designed to build deeper relationships with members and enhance overall reader engagement.
Editorially, the magazine now focuses more on inclusivity. It features a broader range of human stories, amplifies diverse voices, and incorporates member contributions. The content is also structured to reflect contemporary publishing trends, using episodic narratives and offering multiple entry points to accommodate different reader preferences.
Visually, the magazine has a modern identity that harmoniously merges traditional heritage aesthetics with bold typography, conceptual illustrations, and contemporary layouts. This refreshed design enhances visual appeal while remaining true to the brand’s historical roots.
The recent magazine relaunch was both cost-effective and environmentally conscious. It delivered an 18% saving on postage and adopted sustainable production methods, including carbon-balanced paper and recyclable wraps.
Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Strategic use of resources and thoughtful planning have laid a strong foundation for future growth and audience engagement.
Institute of Biomedical Science – The Biomedical Scientist
From Alfred Hitchcock-inspired covers to irreverent competitions and topical quizzes with questions ranging from the serious (Papanicolaou staining haematoxylin) to the fun (Justin Bieber and viral diseases), the Biomedical Scientist magazine is vital, engaging, authoritative – and never dull.
Each issue walks a tightrope between being packed full of crucial information and the latest scientific advances, while being entertaining and – where appropriate – humorous.
In the same issue you will find a punchy opinion piece with experts explaining a surge in human metapneumovirus cases, an exclusive cover feature on a groundbreaking study into microbiological urine culture (yes, we embraced the challenge of creating a bold vector cover about urine samples) and a tongue-in-cheek regular ‘What’s hot and what’s not?’ news feature based on the latest scientific headline, but inspired by the glossy consumer women’s magazines of the nineties.
Institution of Engineering and Technology – E+T Magazine
With more than 156,000 members – engineering and technology professionals spread across 148 countries and at varying career levels – ensuring the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s flagship print title serves all audiences’ needs is no mean feat.
But that’s exactly what’s at the heart of our strategic commitment: ‘To create the best engineering and technology magazine in the world, closely aligned to the objectives of the IET and delivering valuable insights for members, whatever their age, experience and areas of expertise.’
With such a large readership that spans so many technical disciplines, it would be easy to fill the pages with specialist articles that appeal to very restricted segments of the membership. E+T’s approach is different. By using some of the industry’s most talented and knowledgeable writers, it produces articles that engage, inform and have far-reaching appeal.
Market Research Society – Research Live
Research-Live.com, a leading UK-based online platform for market research news, faced stagnating engagement and ad revenues, despite its wide and international audience. To address this, MRS closed its print magazine Impact and implemented an 18-month strategy to transform Research Live into its primary international lead generator. With 28,000 monthly visitors—67% non-members—Research Live was repositioned to meet both strategic and commercial goals.
A 10-point plan guided the overhaul, focusing on enhancing content quality, introducing career-focused and community-driven material, and aligning design with MRS branding to increase credibility, especially abroad. Key initiatives included a tiered content model (free, freemium, member-only), improved SEO visibility, and increased calls to action for MRS membership.
The redesign prioritised accessibility and UX, reflecting best-in-class digital publishing. Launch content featured exclusive interviews, investigative podcasts, and industry reports. Editorial authenticity was maintained by using professional journalists instead of AI. As a result, web traffic rose by 24%, email subscriptions by 8%, and advertising income grew by 25%, with sponsored content up 150%.
User engagement improved through opinion submissions and social media. Research Live now plays a critical role in promoting MRS campaigns and generating leads, reinforcing its value as both a content hub and strategic asset.
Railway Industry Association – RIA Manifesto
The Railway Industry Association’s Manifesto: A Fresh Start for Rail is a standout advocacy publication launched ahead of the 2024 UK General Election. Developed to champion the priorities of the UK rail supply sector, it presents a compelling vision for a more efficient, greener, and better-funded railway system. The Manifesto delivers five clear, evidence-based policy asks aimed at influencing the incoming Government, securing long-term strategic planning, investment in sustainability, and meaningful reform.
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners – STEP Journal
The STEP Journal has undergone a transformative relaunch from a traditional print publication into a fully digital, interactive platform that reflects STEP’s commitment to sustainability, accessibility and member value. Serving a global audience of trust and estate professionals, the Journal now offers a personalised, mobile-optimised reading experience, complete with interactive features that support professional development, community discourse and engagement.
The relaunch delivers on key priorities and STEP’s strategic goals: enhancing educational value, increasing relevance and usability, and empowering all members through inclusive design. Accessibility tools, including text-to-speech and translation features, ensure the platform meets diverse user needs.
To support reader familiarity and intuitive navigation, the digital Journal mirrors the structure of traditional print through clear issue layouts and navigable content hubs, blending innovation with continuity. Enhanced data analytics now provide deeper insights into member reading habits and content preferences, allowing us to refine our editorial strategy and deliver more targeted, relevant content.
This strategic transformation has future-proofed a vital member resource, showcasing innovation, responsiveness and sustainability. By reimagining what a professional membership publication can be, the new STEP Journal stands as a compelling model for digital publishing and a worthy candidate for Publication of the Year.
The Society and College of Radiographers – Synergy
Synergy, the official publication for the Society and College of Radiographers’ (SoR | CoR) 34,000+ members, has undergone a significant digital transformation. Replacing its traditional print format, the new multimedia Synergy pushes the boundaries of storytelling with interactive features, video, and data visualisation, creating a more engaging and immersive reader experience. This strategic shift directly aligns with the society’s sustainability goals and the needs of a modern, digital-first audience.
The new format has been an immediate success, achieving record-breaking readership. Innovations like a member-exclusive gated preview, a weekly e-newsletter, and content series like “Career Spotlights” and “Meet the Team” have boosted engagement, strengthened the member value proposition, and fostered a vibrant community hub. Synergy is now a dynamic, indispensable resource that truly serves the radiography profession.
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust – Waterlife Magazine
The relaunch of Waterlife, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust’s flagship publication, marked a pivotal step in aligning communications with WWT’s bold new brand and strategic direction. With a mission to deepen member engagement and drive meaningful action for wetlands, the refreshed magazine became a central storytelling tool that reflects the organisation’s evolving identity.
The redesign introduced a confident visual style, featuring bold imagery, clear structure, and accessible editorial to bring WWT’s conservation efforts vividly to life. Member stories and interactive features not only humanised the mission but also encouraged a stronger sense of community among supporters.
Strategic changes, including reducing the magazine’s frequency and eliminating advertising, helped cut costs by £18,000 per issue. The use of eco-conscious materials ensured that the relaunch supported WWT’s sustainability values in both message and practice.
Beyond its print form, Waterlife’s new direction set the foundation for broader multi-platform membership communication. It successfully extended WWT’s reach, driving increased traffic to digital channels and encouraging visits to WWT sites. The result is a more engaging, cost-effective, and mission-driven publication that strengthens member relationships while supporting the organisation’s long-term strategic goals.
u3a UK (The Third Age Trust) – u3a matters
Friendly, Sociable, Inclusive, Welcoming, Engaged, Exploring, Giving, Challenging, Proactive, Fun, Positive, Living life to the full…
u3a wanted a membership title that embodies its brand personality – encapsulated by the characteristics stated above.
So 2024 proved truly transformation for our official magazine – starting with a title change from Third Age Matters (TAM) to u3a matters. Putting the brand front and centre, and using ‘learn, laugh, live’ from the u3a logo as its magazine’s strapline. Right from the start, helping to define and promote a single u3a identity and what the movement stands for.
Driven by member research into preferred topics – and the content that turns readers off – gone are the lengthy opinion pieces that frequented TAM. Replaced with more opportunities for this enthusiastic and loquacious audience to interact, share and start conversations. With every issue committed to include (in some format) the subjects that resonate with them most.
