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[independentnews]

Weekly News Title Wins Media Innovator Award 2020

Congratulations to Pulman’s Weekly News digital team named “Best Local News Publication 2020 - West Country” by Corporate Vision Magazine in their Media Innovator Awards.

PULMAN’S WEEKLY NEWS & ADVERTISER SERIES was founded in 1857 by West Country publisher George Philip Rigney Pulman. For generations his papers have been highly regarded by communities as a reliable source of news and for their local advertising services. Today this honourable tradition continues. New and growing readership demands have required a gradual transition from print to digital.

This long-term technology investment has already resulted in the company being presented with the West Country ‘Media Innovator Award’ for 2020 by Corporate Vision Magazine.

Says Devon born Managing Editor, Duncan Williams: “This validation for our digital outreach, particularly during these Covid-19 aware times, has been been most welcome. We are seeing more readers and businesses needing to read, promote and connect to our local news services than ever before.”

[independentnews]

SORTED magazine was used as an evangelical calling card - says media director

Sorted magazine was first launched as a mainstream media brand in 2004 by Brighton based publisher Russell Church. In 2007 the title was given a careful makeover and redesigned as a evangelical Christian promotional vehicle, with the catchy strap-line 'The men's mag with morals!'

Director of publishing, Duncan Williams, later admitted: "Sorted Magazine was a real career challenge. It was a period of time where many evangelicals were keen to align themselves with Donald Trump and the AltRight and I felt alarmed by this trend. I was more interested in encouraging an era of progressive changes and promoting inclusiveness within the Christian community as a whole...

Sourcing enough relevant content that would be convincing from a secular and faith perspective was not easy. Celebrities on the 12 Step rehab circuit were not hard to find but genuine and thought provoking theological commentary was usually in short supply from the Hollywood set."

[independentnews]

'Wholesome' men's mag with a Christian slant bucks the trend of circulation decline

By Emma McGarth

The circulation of men's magazines such as Loaded, Nuts and Zoo have been in freefall in recent years – but a title with more "wholesome" content claims to be bucking the trend.

Sorted, a men's title with a Christian slant, comes out six times a year and has doubled its circulation over the last year from 20,000 to 40,000.

Launched in 2007, it has a newsstand sale of 2,000 and 3,300 subscribers with the remainder circulated via bulk distribution deals to outlets including bars, gyms and health clubs. Business backers pay for the title to be distributed for free into UK prisons and to the armed forces.

The title covers usual men's mag fare of science, football and movies – but also deals with "faith".

Publisher and editor Steve Legg says he was inspired to launch Sorted after talking to a dad: “He was telling me how his 11-year-old son's mates were bringing in lads mags and he was complaining at the lack of something more positive and wholesome in the marketplace.”

Director of publishing Duncan Williams said Sorted is a more mature, upbeat and wholesome magazine than other men's titles, with more in-depth content.

He says: “It’s something for men to identify with in a positive way…A lot people buying it are women as presents [for men] as it’s not derogative.”

Each publication features an in-depth interview with a male celebrity. He said that big names who have spoken to the title include Will Smith, Steve Carrell, Denzil Washington, Anthony Hopkins and Michael Caine.

Williams says: “We try to ask in-depth questions that aren’t the usual PR fair…which produce interesting interviews. Asking that key question about faith is rewarding.”

The magazine is next published on 18 February priced £4.

It has a full-time staff of three, with six freelances, and revenue comes from a mix of subscribers and advertisers such as Apple and David Beckham’s deodorant brand. Regular editorial contributors include TV adventurer Bear Grylls.

Williams said: “Advertisers are very keen to be associated with a more wholesome and mature publication.”

There are plans to expand the title into New Zealand and Australia.