Hosted by the British Society of Magazine Editors, the celebration took place in the Ballroom at Rosewood London, with entertainment from live illustrator Lucia Emanuela Curzi, magician Mark Guest, and the brilliant Brass Funkeys.
Accoding to BSME this annual ceremony is one of the highlights of the editorial calendar, celebrating some of the best of UK digital and print publishing excellence - encompassing innovation, creativity and trusted journalism.
The evening was co-hosted by Laura Whitmore and Andrea Thompson, BSME Chair 2025 and editor-in-chief at Marie Claire. Guest presenters included Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Clara Amfo and Terri White.
Andrea Thompson said: “A huge congratulations to all the winners of the BSME Awards 2025, and thank you to everyone who entered. The standard of entries was particularly high this year and the judges were blown away by the quality of the work on display. The BSME champions trusted journalism, editorial excellence, independent voices and innovation and it was great to see so many examples of this in the entries.
“There is still work to do to make magazine media more accessible to everyone so we’re delighted that our raffle is in aid of the Young Writers’ Prize with Caitlin Moran. This initiative, which we’re excited to launch this year, aims to support talented young writers from historically under-represented groups into the creative industries.
“I’m immensely proud to be chair of an organisation that works so hard to support and champion quality trusted journalism and safeguard the future of the magazine industry.
“The BSME is a not for profit organisation. Thank you to all of our sponsors who supported the BSME Awards and the society this year. Without you, this would not be possible.”
A total of 31 awards were given out to editors, journalists and creatives. The full list of winners is as follows:
EDITORS OF THE YEAR
Branded Content: Jenny Roper, Work. (for the CIPD)
Culture: Mike Williams, Sight & Sound
Current Affairs & Politics: Jonathan Beckman, The Economist's 1843 Magazine
B2B: Bryan Glick, Computer Weekly
Homes, Gardens & Country: Stephanie Mahon, Gardens Illustrated
Independent: Alex Mead, Rugby Journal
Men’s & Women’s: Jane Bruton, Good Housekeeping
Motoring: Ginny Buckley, Electrifying.com
Newspaper Magazine: Martin Hemming, The Sunday Times Magazine
Specialist: Nick de Semlyen, Empire
Sport, Health & Fitness: Alex Mead, Rugby Journal
Travel: Rory Boland, Which? Travel
Youth: Andrew Pettie, What on Earth! Magazine
SPECIAL EDITORIAL AWARDS
New Editor of the Year: Catherine de Lange, New Scientist
Editor-in-Chief/Editorial Director of the Year: Maria Pieri, National Geographic Traveller (UK), National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food, National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food Festival, National Geographic Traveller (UK) Collection, National Geographic Traveller (UK) Masterclasses, Living360, Travel Media Awards & Step Up internship scheme
Innovator of the Year: Jaimie Kaffash, Pulse
Launch of the Year: Katherine Andreou, Minecraft Magazine
The DEI Leadership Award: CIPD content teams, People Management, CIPD events, Work. (for the CIPD)
Chair's Award: Serlina Boyd, Cocoa Magazine
ART DIRECTORS OF THE YEAR
B2B: Rob Hearn, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Consumer: Chris Lupton, Empire
Branded Content: Rob Hearn, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Newspaper supplements: Maggie Murphy, Guardian Saturday Magazine
Independent: Peter Allen, Magneto
COLUMNISTS OF THE YEAR
B2B: Helen Edwards, Marketing Week
Consumer: Will Dunn, New Statesman
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Editor’s Editor of the Year: Catherine de Lange, New Scientist
Mark Boxer Lifetime Achievement Award: Barry McIlheney (posthumously), former editor of Empire and Smash Hits
EDITOR’S EDITOR OF THE YEAR
The 2025 Editors’ Editor, Catherine de Lange, was nominated by her peers for her work as editor at New Scientist. Since taking the helm of one of the world's most respected science publications, Catherine has proven that exceptional editing is about more than managing content; it's about spotting trends before they break, transforming complex science into unmissable stories, and building a team that consistently delivers journalism that matters.
CHAIR’S AWARD
The inaugural winner of the BSME’s Chair’s Award was Serlina Boyd, who founded Cocoa Publishing as editor and creative director of Cocoa Girl and Cocoa Boy – the UK’s first Black children’s magazines – and launched the Cocoa Dream Society this year, boosting literacy through partnerships with Bloomsbury and Audible, publishing over one hundred child-author books and helping young people create stories while supporting journalists, writers, authors and families. The Chair’s Award recognises someone shaping the future of magazines by opening doors, innovating, and helping others thrive.
MARK BOXER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Voted for by members of the BSME committee, the Mark Boxer Lifetime Achievement Award recognises outstanding commitment to magazine journalism across an entire career. This year's posthumous winner was Barry McIlheney, who passed away in May 2025.
Barry was a giant of British magazine publishing. He became editor of Smash Hits in 1986 and doubled its circulation to 800,000 during the magazine's golden era. In 1989, he founded Empiremagazine, forging its identity as the world's biggest movie magazine. He went on to lead Heatmagazine at launch in 1999, became Managing Director of EMAP Metro, and later CEO of the PPA (Professional Publishers Association).
The award was presented by former Empire editor and 2021 Mark Boxer winner Terri White, and accepted by Barry's wife, Lola Borg.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Editor of the Year - B2B: Maisie McCabe, Campaign
Editor of the Year – Independent: David McKendrick, Paperboy Magazine
Art Director of the Year - Branded Content: Hannah Proud, Imagine
NEW INITIATIVE: BSME YOUNG WRITERS' PRIZE WITH CAITLIN MORAN
The British Society of Magazine Editors says it has teamed up with journalist and 2024 BSME Columnist of the Year, Caitlin Moran, to launch an annual prize to uncover brilliant young writing talent.
Moran, who hosted this year's raffle, shared her mission to help young writers who lack access or industry connections – especially those from under-represented backgrounds. "There are eighteen-year-olds whose biggest dream is to be in this room, but they'll never make it without our help," Moran told the audience. "We can't afford to miss out on the next generation of talent simply because they can't afford to throw their hats in the ring."
The prize will provide a cash prize for a young writer aged 18-25, with Moran personally selecting and mentoring the winner. The BSME raised nearly £4,000 toward the prize fund at the Awards.
To find out more information, or if you can support through sponsorship, paid internships, outreach, publicity - or any other way you're inspired to help - please get in touch with nat@bsme.com.
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