The PPA Diversity Award gives publishers the opportunity to showcase work that has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to promoting diversity.
The award will be judged by a select panel who will consider how a title has represented a variety of body sizes and shapes, ages, sexualities and ethnicities through both editorial and imagery.
Barry McIlheney (pictured), CEO of the PPA, said: “The PPA Diversity Award is an innovative and exciting addition to The PPA Awards in 2012.
“The rich content produced by magazine publishers creates an important connection with millions of people across the UK, and this new award is a chance to celebrate the important role our members play in representing all those readers and their interests.”
Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said: “Magazine publishers are in a unique position to reach out to a whole range of readers.
“I’ve been really impressed by the work I know many titles have already undertaken on diversity and this award is a great opportunity to applaud that. The government’s body confidence campaign is about challenging the use of unrealistic images and encouraging more diversity.
“I am delighted to be backing the award and look forward to seeing the entries.”
The PPA Awards claim to be the magazine publishing sector's leading awards event, with publishers competing in a total of 22 categories. As well as The PPA Diversity Award, the 2012 event also sees the introduction of the Front Cover of the Year category, which will give the public the chance to vote on the most iconic magazine cover from the past 12 months.
Winners of the PPA Awards 2012 will be named at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London's Mayfair on June 20.
About PPA
The PPA says: “The Professional Publishers Association (PPA) promotes and protects the interests of print and online publishers of consumer and business media in the UK. The PPA has around 200 publishing companies in its membership, which collectively produce more than 2,500 consumer and business magazines and journals as well as digital media, data products and events.”
