The Pica awards, which were held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Thursday 4 November, are unique in the magazine industry and acknowledge all aspects of publishing excellence, based on editorial and design content as well as the total marketing process.
New Media dominated the custom magazine categories, with foresight (produced for Alexander Forbes Risk Services) winning best business-to-business magazine, and Mercedes (for DaimlerChrysler), which also won a SAPF award last week, named best leisure and lifestyle magazine. After only one year in the market, Woolworths' TASTE magazine, with respected editor Sumien Brink and food editor Phillipa Cheifitz at the helm, added to its success as best retail custom magazine. In the same category, another New Media title, OFF-LIMITS (a bi-monthly published for the Edgars teen market) was highly commended.
In the consumer magazine category, VISI was awarded the best home, décor and garden magazine - an achievement to be proud of according to Bridget McCarney, managing director of New Media: "VISI won this award in the face of stiff competition and has proved that it is a magazine that sets the standard for others to follow." In the motoring category New Media's 4x4 lifestyle magazine Drive Out received deserved recognition with a highly commended award.
Previous Pica winner, VISI Colour (now Plascon Colour), received a Traditional award for excellence in magazine design - ahead of 20 other magazines. TASTE was again recognized in the Traditional awards as a runner-up for innovation. In the categories of general interest, news and entertainment and annuals and special editions respectively, INSIG and the annual Eat In were runners-up.
"The awards for innovation and design are always pleasing," says McCarney, "because that is what New Media is about. We are constantly striving for what's new and interesting, reaching new heights and breaking boundaries."
