AdVantage awards magazine, editor excellence

The AdVantage May 2009 cover showcasing the new design.

The occasion was also a preview of the new AdVantage magazine design, content plan and masthead (the May 2009 issue), which rolls off the presses this week. In the words of industry doyenne, Jane Raphaely, yesterday, the redesign and repositioning of AdVantage has “set benchmarks” in magazine publishing in South Africa and for print.

The AdVantage ADmag Awards, an accolade for magazines in the consumer and custom magazine category in South Africa, recognise the editorial skill of the editors in steering their magazine brands to publishing success. The emphasis is on editorial strategy, content, innovation and excellence.

Judging took place in March over two days. Ninety one magazines entered the 18 print magazine categories. There were 15 entrants in the new ADmags Innovative Digital Publishing award, in association with Bizcommunity.com, to recognise the publisher which has successfully launched an online edition of the magazine title. Factors such as navigation, design, content focus, interactivity and reach were taken into consideration during the voting procedure.

AdVantage's new editor, Louise Marsland, congratulated all the ADmag winners which demonstrated the high standards of magazine print publishing in South Africa, and paid tribute to her team as well as Tip Publishing, which conceptualised the redesign of AdVantage.

AdVantage main awards

Lifetime Achiever: Jane Raphaely.

What the judges said: “Jane Raphaely has consistently pushed the boundaries in publishing, standing up for what she believes in. She is brave, a visionary and a true doyenne of this industry, producing world-class magazines.” (Full tributes to her from industry peers will be carried in the May issue of AdVantage in a showcase tribute).

Publisher of the Year: Media24

What the judges said: “Media24 produces consistent excellence in publishing and is currently leading in the digital application of its magazines.”

Editor of the Year: Sumien Brink

What the judges said: “Sumien produces world-class publications that are consistently excellent.” Brink is editor of Woolworths Taste and current editorial director of both Visi and Plascon Colour.

Newcomer of the Year: Bravo!

What the judges said: “Vibrant, challenging, beautiful, entertaining, pushes boundaries, a great read.”

Magazine of the Year: Move!

What the judges said: The judges singled out Move as opening up a new target market, almost doubling circulation, and at R5 it is the cheapest woman's title. “Move has gone into a target market where there wasn't necessarily a magazine reading culture.”

Best International Title: Psychologies

What the judges said: “Fulfills a unique niche.”

Category awards

Travel

Gold: SA Country Life and Weg!/Go!

Youth Culture

Gold: NAG
Silver: Hip 2B & Salt Water Girl

Lifestyle

Gold: Real Simple
Silver: Eat In and Eat Out

Arts & Entertainment

Gold: Bravo

Format supplements

Gold: Business Day Wanted

Business

Gold: Fin Week
Silver: Entrepreneur

Sport

Gold: Sports Illustrated
Silver: Golf Digest and Bicycling

Parenting

Gold: Fit Pregnancy
Silver: Your Pregnancy

Female 24-35+

Gold: Cosmopolitan and Move!

Décor & Home

Gold: Visi
Silver: Tuis & Home and SA Garden/SA Tuin Paleis

Female 35+

Gold: Sarie
Silver: Femina

Custom

Gold: Plascon Colour
Silver: Woolworths Taste

General Interest

Gold: Huisgenout, You
Silver: FairLady

Health & Wellness

Gold: Psychologies

Innovative Digital Publishing (with Bizcommunity.com)

Gold: Your Parenting (Your Baby, Baba & Kleuter, Your Pregnancy) (www.yourparenting.co.za)
Silver: Shape SA & Sport Illustrated (www.shapemag.co.za and www.sportsillustrated.co.za)