The Drum named Scottish Magazine of the Year

THE media and marketing magazine, The Drum, has been named the Scottish Magazine of the Year.

The win – at the Scottish Magazine Awards, hosted just a few hours ago by the Professional Publishers Association (Scotland) – caps a brilliant few months for the title, which was last week named Media Brand of the Year at the PPA Independent Publisher Awards (with publisher and editor, Gordon Young named Editor of the Year at the same awards), and in June was chosen Business Magazine of the Year at the PPA Awards.

At the ceremony, in Edinburgh, the Murray Cochran [lifetime achievement] Award, sponsored by The Scots Magazine, went to Peter Martin, general manager (magazines), at Menzies Distribution, for – say the award organisers – “his outstanding 33 years’ service to the Scottish magazine publishing industry”.

The Murray Cochran Award was established four years ago to recognise the outstanding achievement and contribution made by an individual to the Scottish magazine publishing industry.

Edinburgh-based publisher, White Light Media, took home two awards: Fraser Allen was named Publisher of the Year and its drinks title, Hot Rum Cow, was awarded Consumer Magazine Design of the Year.

The People’s Friend, published by DC Thomson, won Consumer Magazine of the Year and Big Issue editor, Paul McNamee, took home the award for Consumer Magazine Editor of the Year.

PPA Scotland business manager, Nikki Simpson, said: “Our eleventh successful Scottish Magazine Awards are testament to just how strong the magazine publishing sector is in Scotland.

“The standard of entries was exceptionally high and well done to all our winners but especially The Drum, in what has been an outstanding year for the team.”

Chair of the judging panel was Sally Cartwright – ex-Hello! Magazine and ABC chair. She was joined by Gordon Adam, business development and communications manager, Royal Society of Edinburgh; Nick Alexander, chair, Acorn Web Offset; Grace Aungier, chief executive, Magazines Ireland; Alastair Balfour, director, Company Creators; Kathy Crawford Hay, publishing consultant, ex-PPA Scotland; Nick Haworth, director, Primitive Media; Rebecca Heaney, managing director, RAPP Edinburgh; Peter Houston, director, Flipping Pages, consultant and trainer; Margaret Hughes, journalism course leader, University of West of Scotland; Ally Palmer, director, Palmer Watson; and David Riddell, publishing consultant, ex-Homes & Interiors Scotland.

The winners’ list reads:

Scottish Magazine of the Year

The Drum – Carnyx Group

Brand Extension of the Year

The Scottish Dental Show – Connect Communications

Business & Professional Magazine of the Year

The Drum – Carnyx Group

Business & Professional Magazine Design of the Year

The Drum – Carnyx Group

Business & Professional Magazine Editor of the Year

Gordon Young – The Drum, Carnyx Group

Consumer Magazine of the Year

The People’s Friend – DC Thomson

Consumer Magazine Design of the Year

Hot Rum Cow – White Light Media

Consumer Magazine Editor of the Year

Paul McNamee – The Big Issue

Customer Magazine of the Year

Discover NLS – Think

Business & Professional Magazine Writer of the Year

Katie Mackintosh – Holyrood, Holyrood Communications

Consumer Magazine Feature Writer of the Year

Adam Forrest – The Big Issue

The Murray Cochran Award

Peter Martin – General manager (magazines), Menzies Distribution

Internal Magazine of the Year

Slàinte – NHS Western Isles

Magazine Cover of the Year

Holyrood ‘Hung out to Dry’ – Holyrood Communications

Online Presence of the Year

Film.list.co.uk – The List

Publisher of the Year

Fraser Allen – White Light Media

Sales Performance of the Year

Antony Begley – 55 North

Small Publishing Company Magazine of the Year

Menopause Matters – Menopause Matters