Students from the PTC-accredited course won the New Student Magazine category for Aspire. The title, which lays claim to being the UK’s first and only disability sport magazine, includes features on the academy set up by multiple-gold-medal-winning wheelchair athlete David Weir; a profile of the man behind the Paralympics; and an exploration of the ‘lost legacy’ of London 2012.
As the prize for winning the category, the magazine has been professionally printed by Polestar on paper supplied by Finnish paper manufacturer UPM, and it will be distributed throughout the magazine publishing industry by the PPA.
As well as scooping the main prize, the University of Sheffield also claimed the New Magazine Concept category for Off the Ground, while the New Digital Product Concept category went to Cardiff University for Capital Man.
Now in its 10th year, Magazine Academy brings together students on the UK’s 17 PTC-accredited journalism and publishing higher education courses to encourage and develop the skills required by today’s magazine publishers.
This year’s event, held at The Brewery on the evening of October 17, was hosted by Jim Douglas, Editorial Director of Future and Chair of the PTC, and Tim Danton, Editorial Director and Deputy MD of Dennis Technology and Chair of the PTC’s Editorial Training Group.
Supported by founding sponsors Polestar and UPM and Dovetail Services, the Magazine Academy event also incorporates the graduation ceremony for those who have completed a PPA Professional Qualification.
Loraine Davies, Director of PTC, said: “Congratulations to the University of Sheffield on their two wins and particularly to the team behind Aspire. It’s a fantastic magazine idea that’s been executed really well, and they deserve the satisfaction of seeing it professionally produced through Magazine Academy’s founding sponsors Polestar and UPM. We are committed to support the new talent entering our industry, and events such as Magazine Academy are a reminder of the exciting skills within the PTC-accredited courses across the UK.”
Thomas Waltasaari, Sales Director, Magazine Publishers, UPM UK added: “It is particularly encouraging to see great print magazines being created. UPM remains committed to the future of magazines.”
James Povey, Marketing Director - UK Print, The Polestar Group, commented: “Polestar is delighted to sponsor future magazine talent through the Magazine Academy. Every year we are amazed at the quality of entries we see.”
Ranj Begley, Client Services Director at Dovetail Services, added: “Congratulations to all the winners of Magazine Academy 2013. We feel honoured to work with the PPA and are particularly proud to support this event and the new talent that will be working in our industry in the future.”
About the PPA
The PPA says: “The PPA promotes and protects the interests of the UK’s business and consumer publishers. The PPA has around 200 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.”
