January - June
Maria Pieri and Clara Amfo host the BSME Awards 2020
It’s fair to say 2021 has been a rollercoaster of a year, where we’ve tried to get the society more back to normal, but continued to operate under the cloud of COVID. Nonetheless, I think it’s been a year where we’ve experimented with hybrid events, got the Talent Awards and BSME Awards back on the publisher’s radar and worked collaboratively as a committee. So, thank you all for your support of the society this year.
We began 2021 in lockdown with the delayed but hugely successful virtual BSME Awards 2020 in February 2021 With guest presenters such as Alan Titchmarsh and Julia Bradbury and our co-cost Clara Amfo, the event was brilliant at celebrating magazine talent despite the circumstances. We were kindly supported by Marks & Spencer, who provided gift hampers hand-delivered to people’s homes, and Evessio who gave us the software to put on what we hoped would be our last virtual event.
Still in lockdown we then hosted a series of virtual events designed to show the multi-platform approach of the BSME: first up was How to Pivot Your Career to be More Digital. We then interviewed Nicola Mendelsohn, the vice president of Facebook about how publishers can work with the platform more effectively. And finally, we asked guests including the Big Issue’s Paul McNamee about the lessons for Publishing in a Post Pandemic World.
We also hosted virtual events with big names in the industry; our Mark Boxer Award winner Lorraine Candy in March, Dylan Jones, giving his first interview since his departure from GQ was announced, and Radio 4 Women’s Hour host Emma Barnett.
June - November
Hattie Brett and Anita Rani at the Talent Awards 2201
We also had great fun filming our Talent Awards at the beautiful London EDITION Hotel, joined by my co-host Anita Rani, and guest presenters such as UK VOGUE cover photographer Misan Harriman. This event was kindly supported by John Lewis, Waitrose and Partners, Evessio and EFX Awards. The charity we championed was The National Literacy Trust. Whilst the event was still streamed to audiences, we saw huge engagement on our social platforms – and entries far exceeded previous years. So if you scored a spot on the shortlist – even better, if you won – you should be really proud of yourself.
September saw us kick off our Social Season, kindly pulled together by Deborah Joseph, and thanks to her we hosted masterclasses from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and TikTok.
We managed to squeeze in some real life events as well. As well as the lovely night we came together as a committee at The Groucho Club, we hosted our first public event in October at Nolita Social, the beautiful space at the Bvlgari Hotel, where they very kindly hosted us. The positive reaction at the BSME Autumn Party demonstrated the power that the BSME has at bringing people from lots of different sectors of the industry together.
Alongside all this Maria Pieri and Tim Pollard continued to champion our education strand, helping organise 10 guest lectures which have massively benefited the colleges involved. In addition, they hosted the last event of 2021: a webinar based around how to get your magazine career off the ground.
The BSME Awards 2021
The Awards are always a highlight in every editor’s calendar, and we were very excited to be hosting a black tie dinner and spoiling everyone for all of the amazing things we’ve achieved this year, at the beautiful Pan Pacific London in January, London’s first SMART ballroom, and with kind support from the hotel itself, Marks & Spencer, and EFX once again who are sponsoring the trophies, it was going to be a fantastic night. However, with the news about the Omicron variant growing bleaker by the day, the committee has made the difficult decision to cancel the physical event. Whilst it’s disappointing not to be able to meet in person, nothing will get in the way of us celebrating the industry’s achievements across 2021 – another rollercoaster of a year, a year filled with incredible talent and creativity. So, we’re now planning a virtual ceremony, which will be streamed on January 31st at 5pm. Our next in person awards event will be designed to celebrate the winners from both 2021 and 2022 so will be worth the wait!
The committee
Like every year, the BSME Committee has widened its horizons. We said goodbye to the lovely Laura Rowe andthe wonderful Alex Mead of Rugby Journal, after six years of being with the committee. We welcomed Helen Graves of PIT magazine and Laurence Mozafari of Digital Spy. To maximise our development, committee members continue to support the society through sub committees, and I thank them for their time, effort and enthusiasm.
The BSME committee at December’s committee meeting
Readly
We continue to work with Readly, who are the sponsors of the Talent Awards. Readly gives you, and your family, unlimited access to thousands of Magazines & Newspapers. All in one app. You can explore more with our special offer, which gives you two months complimentary access to Readly.
Membership of the society
Thank you to those of you who are members. Don't forget to renew or contact us if you wish to join us and take advantage of member benefits such as hugely discounted entry rates to our awards, the chance to apply for a press card and discounted subscriptions to a variety of publications.
Chairmanship of the Society
This year I will be in position until December 2021, and from the January 2022 committee meeting, the Chair will be Tim Pollard, Digital Editorial Director, Bauer Automotive and Specialist, supported by Vice Chairs Deborah Joseph, editor-in-chief, GLAMOUR and Jaimie Kaffash, editor, Pulse. Together I am confident they will continue to strengthen the Society.
We are currently looking ahead and planning the event schedule for 2022 and beyond. If you have any suggestions please send them to the BSME Team and we’ll certainly consider them.
All in all, 2021 has been a very practical, fun and productive year for the BSME. Thank you all from Juliette, David from the BSME HQ, and myself for joining us on this journey and your support of the society.
And Happy New Year from us all at the BSME!
