Periodicals Training Council Magazine Academy 2009

Last week saw the annual PTC bash celebrating excellence in the magazine and business media industry.

The Magazine Academy was held at the E Rejuvenation Centre in trendy Shoreditch and comprised the PTC Chairman’s Reception, the Magazine Academy Awards Presentation, and the PPA Professional Qualifications Graduation Ceremony.

Highlights included ‘Cheapskate’ winning The New Student Magazine of the Year Award for the University of Central Lancashire - a witty and well conceived take on living for less – and the long line of PPA Diploma Graduates lining up to receive their certificates and a firm handshake from Eric Verdon-Roe, PPA Consultant and former director at Haymarket.

My favourite moment was when the eponymous publisher Felix Dennis took to the stage to present the Felix Dennis Publisher of the Year award to Emily Hutchins at IPC Media.

Never one to do things by halves (Emily Hutchins receives £5,000 as part of her award) he also made an impromptu offer to publish the winner of the New Magazine Concept from the student category, ‘Wild’.  A delighted Alice Lipscombe-Smith, another UCLan student, leapt up on stage to hug Dennis as he reflected on how his team back at the office would view the offer.

Wine and canapes aside, this was an inspiring illustration of an industry that celebrates excellence in higher education while investing and recognising CPD for existing staff.