ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED

Cost of entering

If you were not a member of the BSME before 1 July 2023, the non-member rate applies.

The member rate applies when;

a member enters themself in an
- Editor of the Year
- Art Director of the Year
- Editorial Director of the Year
- Launch of the Year
- DEI Leadership Award
a member editor enters a columnist in Column of the Year category
a member editor or art director is a named entrant in Cover of the Year category

Entries will be invoiced following the closing date. Discounts will be calculated for multiple entries.

Ensure you complete invoice details (including PO numbers if required) when submitting your entries.

Invoices must be settled prior to shortlisting.

Entries will not be considered for shortlisting until payment is received.

EARLY BIRD:

Early bird fees are valid until Monday 17 July 2023 at 6pm.

INDEPENDENT ENTRIES:

The independent rate is only applicable to publishers of no more than a few core titles and where the annual turnover is less than £10m.

FEES:

MULITPLE ENTRY DISCOUNTS:

Enter your brand in 3 categories, receive a fourth entry FREE. Subsequent entries receive a 50% discount. For example,

Entry 1 - Full price

Entry 2 - Full price

Entry 3 - Full price

Entry 4 - FREE **

All subsequent entries - 50% OFF **

** The complimentary fee for the fourth entry and discounted entries thereafter apply to the lowest-priced entries for the brand.

Criteria

Specific criteria for entering are listed under each category group. In essence, awards will be given to the entrant whose brand, in the judges’ opinion, has achieved, maintained and advanced consistently high editorial quality appropriate for their audience. Entries will not be judged on scale and reach of the title – judges will instead be looking for proof of editorial excellence allied to commercial performance and strategic development.

ELIGIBILITY

Any editor of a British magazine or digital title who has been editing the brand for at least six months during the eligibility period.
Print titles must be published at least twice a year.
Any editor of a digital product (including digital-only magazines, websites, the digital arm of a print title, or any associated standalone products including apps, iPad editions, intelligence platforms, etc. published in Britain) that was operating for at least six months during the eligibility period.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Quality - The BSME Awards recognise excellence in digital and print magazines. The judges commend editors who have consistently produced high-quality content appropriate for their audience, and who can show how their brand has developed successfully during the year.
Creativity - The Awards celebrate brands with exceptional visual appeal and a unique editorial voice. The judges look for editors who consistently produce compelling features and who are brilliant in communicating with their audience.
Innovation - Judges are looking for magazines that push boundaries and engage their audiences in unique ways. Editors who experiment with new formats, designs and techniques, and bring fresh perspectives will be recognised.
Leadership - The BSME seeks to recognise editors who can demonstrate inspiring leadership – spearheading new initiatives, steering editorial teams through periods of change, as well as nurturing talent.
Impact and influence - The Awards consider the impact a magazine has had on its readership, industry, and society at large. The best editors create content that sparks ideas, shapes opinions and drives cultural trends. Brands that have made a significant influence in their field will be celebrated.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Tell us in no more than 500 words what you’ve done that marks you out as exceptional. Key points to address might be:

Summarise your title for judges who may not be familiar with it.
Who is your audience and how does your brand fit into the marketplace?
What are your brand objectives and how have you met them?
What have you done to change, improve or maintain your title?
How have you made use of your resources?
How have you demonstrated leadership and management skills?
Provide statistics to demonstrate performance, sales and success.

SUPPORTING ASSETS

Include 3 examples of content published during the eligibility period.

Print titles:

Provide 3 complete issues, hard copy or digital versions (2 issues for bi-annuals, 1 issue for annuals).

Digital titles:

Enter 3 URLs linking to the content.
A copy of web traffic analytics to show audience engagement (such as a screengrab, Google Analytics or similar).

View all Categories

New Editor of the Year

ELIGIBILITY

Submissions are welcomed from any print or digital editor of a British brand within their first two continuous years of editing (e.g. who was not an editor before 1 August 2021) and at least six months into their current editorship.
Editors may only enter once during the two years.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Quality - The BSME Awards recognise excellence in digital and print magazines. The judges commend editors who have consistently produced high-quality content appropriate for their audience, and who can show how their brand has developed successfully during the year.
Creativity - The Awards celebrate brands with exceptional visual appeal and a unique editorial voice. The judges look for editors who consistently produce compelling features and who are brilliant in communicating with their audience.
Innovation - Judges are looking for magazines that push boundaries and engage their audiences in unique ways. Editors who experiment with new formats, designs and techniques, and bring fresh perspectives will be recognised.
Leadership - The BSME seeks to recognise editors who can demonstrate inspiring leadership – spearheading new initiatives, steering editorial teams through periods of change, as well as nurturing talent.
Impact and influence - The Awards consider the impact a magazine has had on its readership, industry, and society at large. The best editors create content that sparks ideas, shapes opinions and drives cultural trends. Brands that have made a significant influence in their field will be celebrated.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Tell us in no more than 500 words what you’ve done that marks you out as exceptional. Key points to address might be:

Summarise your title for judges who may not be familiar with it.
Who is your audience and how does your brand fit into the marketplace?
What are your brand objectives and how have you met them?
What have you done to change, improve or maintain your title?
How have you made use of your resources?
How have you demonstrated leadership and management skills?
Provide statistics to demonstrate performance, sales and success.

SUPPORTING ASSETS

Include 3 examples of content published during the eligibility period.

Print titles:

Provide 3 complete issues, hard copy or digital versions (2 issues for bi-annuals, 1 issue for annuals).

Digital titles:

Enter 3 URLs linking to the content.
A copy of web traffic analytics to show audience engagement (such as a screengrab, Google Analytics or similar).

View all Categories

Art Directors of the Year categories

Art Director of the Year - B2B
Art Director of the Year - Consumer
Art Director of the Year - Branded Content
Art Director of the Year - Independent (NEW)
Art Director of the Year - Newspaper supplements (NEW)
Art Director of the Year - Digital (NEW)

ELIGIBILITY

Any art director of a British magazine or digital title who has been overseeing the design of the brand for at least six months during the eligibility period.
Art Director of the Year - Digital is only open to art directors who DON’T oversee a print edition of the title.
The entrant should be the most senior person in the art department.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Design excellence – art editors/directors whose brand has produced consistently brilliant design for their title. The Awards recognise the work of art directors who create visually compelling content that enhances the reading experience, resonates with the target audience and stands out in a crowded market.
Vision – art directors who have defined a unique visual personality for their publication and can show how their brand has developed successfully during the year.
Creativity – judges are looking for magazines that push boundaries and engage their audiences in unique ways; art directors who experiment with new formats, designs and techniques, and bring fresh perspectives will be recognised.
Leadership - the BSME seeks to recognise art editors/directors who can demonstrate inspiring leadership – spearheading new initiatives, steering editorial teams through periods of change, as well as nurturing talent.
Impact and influence - the Awards consider the impact a magazine has had on its readership, industry and society at large. The best art directors create content that sparks ideas, shapes opinions and drives cultural trends. Brands that have grown or have shown significant influence in their field will be celebrated.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Tell us in no more than 500 words what you’ve done that marks you out as exceptional. Key points to address might be:

What were your objectives across the year and how successfully did you achieve them?
Who is your audience and how does your brand fit into the marketplace?
What have you done to improve, change or consistently maintain your title?
How have you made use of your resources?
Summarise your title, its frequency and market position for judges who may not be familiar with it

SUPPORTING ASSETS

Include 3 examples of content published during the eligibility period.

Print titles:

Provide 3 complete issues, hard copy or digital version (2 issues for bi-annuals, 1 issue for annuals).

Digital titles:

Enter 3 URLs linking to the content.
A copy of web traffic analytics to show audience engagement (such as Google Analytics or similar).

Columnist of the Year categories

Columnist of the Year - B2B
Columnist of the Year - Consumer

ELIGIBILITY

Any named columnist who writes regularly for a print magazine or digital title and who has contributed to the title at least three times during the eligible period.
If the columnist writes regularly for more than one brand then each brand may enter.
A columnist entry must be entered by their editor.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Writing excellence – writers who consistently deliver compelling, relevant columns in a manner that expresses complex ideas clearly and resonates with readers.
Originality – columnists who captivate readers, and bring a fresh perspective, showcase a unique personality, challenge conventional wisdom or demonstrate innovative thinking to stand out in a crowded field.
Audience engagement – writers who understand intimately the passions and concerns of their readers, and connect deeply with their audience, fostering a sense of community and eliciting regular feedback.
Impact and influence – columnists who address current issues in way that provokes thought, influences perspectives and shapes broader conversations.
Brand awareness – writers who align their columns with the brand's values, mission, and target audience to enhance the profile of the publication they represent.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Tell us in no more than 500 words what marks your columnist out as exceptional. Key points to address might be:

What contribution does this columnist make to your brand?
How have readers responded and reacted to the column?
Summarise your title, its frequency and market position for judges who may not be familiar with it

SUPPORTING ASSETS

Print titles:

Provide 3 columns, which may be from consecutive issues, during the eligible period. Only upload, or provide URLs to, the supporting columns.

For digital titles:

Enter 3 URLs linking to the content of the columns available during the eligible period.

Launch of the Year

This award is to celebrate the editor who has bucked the trends and launched a successful new title - print and/or digital - in the past year.

ELIGIBILITY

Editors of British magazines and digital publications whose titles launched after 1 April 2022 and who have been editing the title for at least four months since the launch date, including content-based brand extensions (e.g events, awards, clubs etc) and excluding campaigns.
If your title has re-launched but retained the same name you are not eligible to enter the Launch category and should enter the relevant Editor of the Year or other categories.
You may, if eligible, enter other award categories including New Editor of the Year, but excluding all other Editor of the Year categories.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Vision – editors who have developed a compelling and innovative concept for a new digital or print publication, including identifying a gap in the market, defining the magazine's target audience and crafting a unique proposition in order to stand out in a crowded market.
Editorial excellence – curation of high-quality content that resonates with the target audience, showcasing the editor's ability to identify talented contributors, secure engaging features and produce an innovative product.
Design excellence – editors who have collaborated with the art team to create a visually appealing package with a clear identity that enhances the reading experience and reflects the magazine's brand.
Impact and growth – editors who demonstrate a strategic approach to marketing and promotion, which has resulted in significant growth and whose brand has made a significant impact on the market, its audience and recognition within the industry.
Leadership – editors who provide inspiring leadership that has helped drive the new project forward while nurturing talent.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Tell us in no more than 500 words what you’ve done that marks you out as exceptional.

Key points to address might be:

What are your brand objectives, who is your audience and how does your brand fit into the marketplace?
How have you met your objectives?
How have you made use of your resources?
What has been the response, audience measurement or feedback?
What leadership and management skills have you shown, and how have you motivated your team?
Summarise your title, its frequency and market position for judges who may not be familiar with it

SUPPORTING ASSETS

Include a maximum of 3 examples of content published during the eligibility period.

Print titles:

Provide examples of content (including the launch issue) or a download link to the issue (2 issues for bi-annuals, 1 issue for annuals).

Digital titles:

Enter 3 URLs linking to the content.
A copy of web traffic analytics or other data to show audience engagement (such as Google Analytics or social media activity).

Cover of the Year categories

Cover of the Year - B2B
Cover of the Year - Consumer
Cover of the Year - Digital (NEW)

ELIGIBILITY

Any magazine cover that was published during the eligibility period.
The award will be given to the magazine title and will be presented to the editor and/or art director.
Each entry must be entered on a separate entry form.
There is no limit to the number of covers you can enter but each cover is a separate entry.
For Cover of the Year - Digital, the cover must have been created solely for digital use, not print. If your cover has been created for print as well, the print version may be entered alongside in a print cover category.

SHORTLISTING CRITERIA

A stand-out cover that perfectly serves and reflects the interests of the readers
Originality and relevance to a brand
Evidence of success

WINNING ENTRY

The shortlisted entries in each Cover of the Year category are voted for on the evening of the awards by attending guests. The entry in each category with the most votes wins.
Covers and supporting statements will be available to view online in advance of the awards event.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT QUESTIONS

Tell us in no more than 250 words what you’ve done that marks your cover out as exceptional. Key points to address might be:

Why does your cover deserve to win?
How was the cover conceived?
How did you make use of your resources?
What was the reaction/response to the cover?
For digital covers, explain how you took advantage of a range digital platforms.
The brand’s editor and cover designer should take into account the needs of the digital medium and have altered the cover treatment accordingly, to ensure maximum engagement and shareability.
Summarise your title, its frequency and market position for judges who may not be familiar with it.

SUPPORTING ASSETS

Upload 1 high-res cover of your title in PDF/JPEG/MPEGs/M4V format published during the eligibility period.

Editor-in-Chief/Editorial Director of the Year

ELIGIBILITY

An editorial director or editor-in-chief

Who looks after one or more brands.
Who manages a team/s of editors and a wider editorial team.
An editor-in-chief can also enter other categories, as long as there is no named day-to-day editor on your title. If there is, the editor should enter the “Editor of the Year” category, and the editor-in-chief should enter the “Editor-in-Chief of the Year” category.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Vision and strategy - demonstrate successful strategic vision within their market sector and develop strategic plans for marketing and sales
Leadership - offers inspiring leadership and management
Innovation - ability to develop or redevelop products, manage projects and provide leadership in change management
Impact and influence - Who works closely with a team to ensure high editorial quality appropriate to their readership
Growth - Who can show their brands have developed editorially during the year
Driving progress - Who may have created internal and/or external programmes to champion diversity, sustainability, career development and mentoring

SUPPORTING STATEMENT QUESTIONS

Tell us in no more than 500 words what you’ve done that marks you out as exceptional. Key points to address might be:

What were your objectives across the year and how successfully did you achieve them?
How have you developed your brands and illustrated strategic vision?
How have you made use of your resources?
How have you developed the people, the workplace or your products?
Have you overseen a new project/product development?
How have you improved/developed the working environment?
Summarise your title, its frequency and market position for judges who may not be familiar with it

SUPPORTING ASSETS

Supporting data for the brands you look after (this could include PDFs or hard copies of print titles, circulation figures and analytics to prove digital engagement)
Include one example of content, a magazine issue in PDF format or URL for digital, from each of your brands created during the eligibility period.

The DEI Leadership Award

This award is to celebrate a leader or brand that has committed to recognising the importance of diversity and inclusion across their team and business. The winner of this award may have spearheaded changes that have created an inclusive workplace where all team members can thrive or made shifts in the past year via a campaign or content that champions under represented communities.

ELIGIBILITY

Leaders of British magazines and digital publications.

JUDGING CRITERIA

The judges will be looking for leaders who demonstrate they have

Actively tackled inequalities, prompted inclusivity and broken down barriers through their content.
Engaged underrepresented communities and raised awareness about challenges these communities face.
Changed recruitment or working practices to make their teams more inclusive and representative.
Successfully embedded long-term DEI throughout content creation, day to day operation, and campaign activity.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Tell us in no more than 500 words what you’ve done that marks you out as exceptional. Key points to address might be:

Summarise your title for judges who may not be familiar with it.
How you have met your objectives and statistics that show your success?
Details of long-term changes you have put in place to make your initiative sustainable
How have you made use of your resources?
What has been the response, audience measurement or feedback?
What leadership and management skills have you shown, and how have you motivated your team or company?
How your team or audience has changed as a result.
Summarise your title, its frequency and market position for judges who may not be familiar with it.
Data or other evidence to show the diversity of your team or work and progress during the eligibility period

SUPPORTING ASSETS

Include a maximum of 3 examples of content published during the eligibility period.

Editors’ Editor of the Year

For this award, we ask you to nominate a fellow editor, editor-in-chief or editorial director whom you respect and admire. It should be someone who, in your view, deserves to be celebrated for their outstanding achievements in the past year.

There is no fee to submit a nomination for this special category.

WHO CAN YOU NOMINATE?

The eligibility period is 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2023.
Any editor, editor-in-chief or editorial director of a British magazine or digital title who has held the position for at least six months during the eligibility period.
The nominee does not have to be a member of the BSME.
Editors cannot nominate themselves nor can they be nominated by colleagues working on the same title/s.
You do not need to submit additional material with your nomination.

WHO CAN MAKE NOMINATIONS?

Any editor, editor-in-chief or editorial director of a British magazine or digital edition may submit a nomination regardless of whether they are a BSME member or not.
Any full, associate or honorary BSME member.
You do not need to enter the BSME Awards in order to make a nomination.
Only one nomination per person may be made.
There is no fee to make a nomination.

NOMINATION FORM

Mark Boxer Award

Our most cherished award for outstanding service to the industry, this award was introduced in 1988 in memory of the talented editor, writer and cartoonist Mark Boxer. It is presented to an individual who, in the opinion of the BSME committee, has made an outstanding editorial contribution to magazines in this country.

RECENT WINNERS OF THE MARK BOXER AWARD:

2022 - Marcus Fairs
2021 - Terri White
2020 - Lorraine Candy
2019 - Susy Smith
2018 - Jeremy Leslie
2017 - Jane Bruton
2016 - Ian Hislop
2015 - Tony Chambers
2014 - Richard Ingrams
2013 - Nicola Jeal
2012 - Dylan Jones OBE
2011 - Gill Hudson
2010 - Mike Soutar

The award will be nominated and awarded by a majority vote of BSME committee members. However, any suggestions for worthy recipients are most welcome (you do not have to be a BSME member to make a nomination).

NOMINATION FORM

For queries, further information or to make a suggestion, please contact us at admin@bsme.com.