CATEGORIES

ENTRY INFORMATION

The PPA Scotland Awards recognise and celebrate individuals and companies within the Scottish professional publishing sector who have demonstrated excellence in the past 12 months.

Entry Eligibility Period - Jun 1, 2020 to July 30, 2021

Within each entry you will be asked to detail your success in 500 words, which is the main bulk of the entry form. We will not require hard copies of magazines, but you will have the chance to upload three supporting documents, which can include full editions where the space permits (max capacity is 40MB per document). If you are providing any links to information behind a data wall, please make sure to include login details for our judges to make sure they can access the information.

Important note: when giving details on commercial success, audience reach or any other measurable results please make sure to give context by comparing to previous years, business plan or to the rest of the market. Any results given without context are very hard to judge and weaken the entry.

The judges will take the effects of the coronavirus pandemic into consideration when adjudicating all entries.

  • Click on the arrow to expand each award and to see the criteria
  • Use the tick boxes to the right to select multiple categories you would like to enter
  • Discounts will automatically calculate at payment which is stage 4 of the checkout process
  • PPA members should use the code: PPAMEMB21

Judges may award both B2B and B2C winners in some categories.

ENTRY DEADLINE: MONDAY OCTOBER 4 11, 2021

PPA SCOTLAND MEMBERS GET 50% OFF WITH THE CODE: PPAMEMB21

OFFER: 5 ENTRIES FOR THE PRICE OF 3

(Discount automatically applied at checkout)

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For the purposes of this award, a brand extension is anything which expands the reach and influence of a brand or publication among an existing/new target audience. Examples can include (but not restricted to) new print or digital content streams, social media channels, launches, events, merchandise, books, or new uses of data.

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Entries should demonstrate:

  • a creative and innovative approach
  • strong commercial performance
  • sustainability of the relationships and revenues generated
  • interaction with the community that the brand serves
  • robust metrics that outline how the brand extension has contributed to wider business goals

This award is for business-to-business publications either in print or digital form which are published more than four times a year.

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Entries should clearly demonstrate the following:

  • expertise in its core business area
  • editorial & visual that represents and enhances the brand
  • understanding the needs of its audience
  • a strong commercial performance
  • innovation and creativity in approach

Note: publications do not have to exist in print.

This award is open to any brand or magazine who publishes specifically for younger readers.

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Entries should demonstrate:

  • understanding of the needs of the target audience
  • strong commercial performance
  • editorial & design appropriate for the audience
  • a multi-channel approach which results in deeper audience engagement
  • innovation in responding to the changing dynamics of its market

Open to commentators and opinion-formers who reach their audiences through regular by-lined content in print or online. Our judges will be looking for content of the highest quality and insight that informs, educates, and leads opinion within their target communities.

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Entries should demonstrate:

  • an authoritative writing style
  • content which is informative, educational or leads opinion within a target community
  • a sense of personality and individual style which is obvious throughout the series
  • examples of this individual’s content positively impacting the community
  • examples of increased audience engagement or similar metrics that contribute to the brand’s success

This category recognises a brand that has achieved outstanding sales performance on a publication, project or brand extension over the past 12 months. Judges will be interested in seeing new ideas and innovation, e.g. launching new channels, events, etc.

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Judges will require evidence of:

  • Proactive generation of revenue, volume, yield and market share
  • Innovative, cross-platform solutions addressing customers’ needs
  • Expert knowledge of market, medium and brand
  • Client satisfaction through testimonials
  • Customer satisfaction through testimonials, engagement data or other metrics

This award is for consumer publications that have had an excellent overall performance in the market.

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Entries should clearly demonstrate the following:

  • understanding the needs of its target audience
  • a strong commercial performance
  • editorial and design that represents and enhances the brand
  • a multi-channel approach which results in deeper audience engagement
  • innovation in responding to the changing dynamics of its market

This category recognises the digital and print publication that has best served the members or customers of an organisation, society or institution, as a medium for news, views and information in the last year.

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Judges will look for:

  • How the publication matches the readers’ information needs and reflects the organisation’s aims and values
  • How the publication adds value to the readers’ relationship with the organisation
  • Well-targeted editorial, design and production for the target audience
  • Evidence of innovation to improve the publication for the readership
  • Strong commercial performance

This award is open to Art Directors or Designers who have worked on the design for a media brand or publication.

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Entries should clearly demonstrate the following:

  • evidence of how the design work has played a key part in the success of the brand or publication
  • excellent use of photography, typography and illustration
  • imaginative and creative designs which push the usual boundaries
  • an awareness of the needs of the target audience
  • how the design work translates across all platforms for the brand/publication

Individuals may enter this category once under one brand/publication only

This award is for editors of a media brand or publication whose consistent brilliance has put their publication at the forefront of the market.

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Entries should clearly demonstrate the following:

  • how their overall contribution has enhanced the success of the brand/publication
  • how they have driven high quality journalism and trusted content
  • significant editorial developments and innovative approach
  • understanding of and engagement with the market and/or audience through content
  • impressive results including audience reach and/or commercial performance

Individuals may enter this category once under one brand/publication only.

This award recognises an outstanding event, either in-person or online, such as awards, conference, experiential event, festival, community event, virtual talks or any bespoke event, at which the media brand or publisher brings together its audience.

The event can either stem from an existing parent brand or be a wholly standalone experience.

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Entries should clearly demonstrate the following:

  • evidence of innovation and creativity in approach
  • relevant event format and engaging content
  • significant audience reach or measurable results
  • strong performance against the event’s aims and objectives
  • deep levels of engagement with the target audience

This award recognises the media brand or publication who has launched or relaunched successfully during the eligibility period.

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Entries should clearly demonstrate the following:

  • measurable results detailing the success of the launch/relaunch
  • innovation and creativity
  • strong performance against the aims and objectives
  • how it meets the needs of its target audience or community
  • deep levels of engagement with its audience or community

Does your magazine cover shout “Pick up and read me!”? This category rewards the standout front covers from the last year that were simply unmissable.

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Entries should clearly demonstrate the following:

  • an instant visual impact with imaginative use of design, photography, and/or illustration
  • coverlines that sell the content and changes the conversation
  • how the cover appeals to both new and core readers
  • evidence of audience engagement
  • how the cover fits in with the overall brand

Note: the judges shortlist will be put to public vote to decide the winner. Brands/publications may enter multiple front covers.

This award is for a consumer or business media brand that demonstrates excellence in serving the needs of its target audience across multiple channels (print, online, face-to-face, events, broadcast, mobile, other digital offerings). Our judges are looking for a brand that has shown outstanding innovation in responding to the changing dynamics of its market.

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Entries should clearly demonstrate the following:

  • adapting to the needs of the target audience
  • a strong commercial performance
  • innovation in responding to the changing dynamics of the market
  • a multi-channel approach that creates a deeper engagement with the audience
  • increasing the visibility of the brand within the market

This category rewards the very best Scottish photograph in the last year. The winner of this category will be determined by the judging panel.

All entries for this award are FREE.

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In selecting the winner, judges will look for demonstration of:

  • an instant visual impact, does the photo evoke an emotion from the viewer
  • the use of creativity to convey an idea, message or thought in an original and imaginative way through their lens
  • the use of style to showcase personal originality and technique to influence how the image is presented and interpreted
  • was the subject matter displayed in the photo appropriate to the story being told
  • use of the photo to evoke the viewer’s imagination, which may differ by each viewer. Is the story being told the right story for the Sponsor and their brand

This award is for podcasts which are created in-house to complement existing brands or publications, or to help launch new ones. The podcasts can be produced in-house or using external production support.

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Entries should clearly demonstrate the following:

  • excellent audience engagement and listening figures
  • innovation and creativity
  • content which meets the needs of the target audience
  • strong performance against the podcast’s aims and objectives
  • well researched topics and trusted content resources

Do you reach a wide audience with your social media presence? Does your Twitter account inspire your audience to engage with you in new ways, get involved in your campaigns or visit your online content? Do you have an Instagram following that builds your audience and sells your product?

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Judges will look for:

  • A strategic approach with a compelling narrative
  • Creativity and visually compelling content
  • Strong engagement
  • A positive impact on the product/portfolio/initiative
  • An innovative and original approach

This award recognises ways in which publishers have created long-term positive impact by developing strategies, initiatives, projects or events that impact the ecological, social or economic environment.

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Entries should clearly demonstrate the following:

  • an understanding of the company’s responsibility towards acting sustainably
  • initiatives that are helping to create long term change
  • the impact on the business
  • success in relation to the objectives and expectations
  • ways in which sustainability is a clear priority for the business

This award is open to anyone who writes for a media brand or publication on one platform or across multiple platforms.

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Entries should clearly demonstrate the following:

  • original, entertaining and/or engaging writing
  • well researched and credible journalism
  • content that is appropriate to the relevant audience
  • a distinctive personal style
  • an understanding of the audience

Individuals may enter this category once under one brand/publication only.

We are looking for a young writer (aged 25 and under on 31 December 2021) who has made significant impact to a print or digital publication.

All entries for this award are FREE

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The winning entry will show evidence of:

  • the writer’s promise, originality, and flair
  • ability to engage and captivate target readers
  • a broader contribution to the print or online publication. (This will be judged through a 300-word testimonial from an editor, course leader or other senior figure they have worked with.)

All shortlisted entrants will win a free place to attend the PPA Scotland Awards celebration on December 1st, 2021. The winner will also receive a year-long mentorship from a top publishing professional (suited to their interests).

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