Women’s title Frankie has taken home the coveted Magazine of the Year crown at the 2012 Australian Magazine Awards (AMAs). The bi-monthly fashion and lifestyle magazine, published by Queensland-based independent Morrison Media, was also awarded winner of the women’s fashion category, trumping luxury publications and finalists Vogue Australia and Harper’s Bazaar.
Unlike its glossy rivals, Frankie is adored for its matte pages and simple covers, and is the go-to source for its culture-loving readers. The brainchild of Australians Louise Bannister and Lara Bourke, its content covers design, fashion, art, travel, music and craft, and boasts a strong local voice.
Despite the uncertain times in the magazine industry, Frankie hasn’t been threatened. The title performed exceptionally well in its highly competitive category, outshining its rivals and posting impressive year-on-year (YOY) results in all three key categories. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, Frankie sold 58,631 copies for the six months to June 2012, a 4.03% increase on the prior corresponding period. However, readership is where the title really shone, with Roy Morgan figures showing an increase of 35.47% YOY for the three months to June 2012. Nielsen AdEx figures recorded a substantial spike in its ad pages, despite a particularly challenging environment, rising to 228 from the previous year’s 180 – a whopping 27% increase.
Computing and gaming title Game Informer also reported outstanding growth for the second year running, dominating its category and once again taking out the top gong. The Citrus Media title boasted a major 29.84% YOY increase in its circulation, selling 50,893 copies for the six months to June 2012, compared with 39,196 in the prior corresponding period. It also boosted its readership by an overwhelming 70.71% YOY.
Another stand-out at this year’s AMAs was ACP (now Bauer Media Group) interiors title Belle, which won in the Home & Garden category. With a history just short of 40 years, the magazine has established itself as a market leader for the design, architecture and decorating industry. It reported YOY increases of 29.41% in readership and 11.57% in circulation, while its ad pages were up 6.2% to 503.
The Australian Women’s Weekly was crowned queen of the Women’s Lifestyle category, while Vogue’s 2011 Fashion’s Night Out took out the inaugural Magazine Event award. This year’s awards also saw industry icon Ita Buttrose inducted into the Hall of Fame, following Matt Handbury’s entrance last year.
2012 Australian Magazine Awards Winners and Finalists
MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR
Winner
Frankie
Morrison Media
Finalists
Donna Hay
NewsLifeMedia
The Monthly
The Monthly
In The Black
ACP Magazines
GENERAL INTEREST
Winner
Empire
ACP Magazines
Finalists
RM Williams Outback
Outback Publishing
Rolling Stone
ACP Magazines
HOME & GARDEN
Winner
Belle
ACP Magazines
Finalists
Australian Home Beautiful
Pacific Magazines
Country Style
NewsLifeMedia
HEALTH & FAMILY
Winner
Diabetic Living
Pacific Magazines
Finalists
Good Health
ACP Magazines
Women's Health
Pacific Magazines
WOMEN'S FASHION
Winner
Frankie
Morrison Media
Finalists
Harper's Bazaar
ACP Magazines
Vogue Australia
NewsLifeMedia
WOMEN'S LIFESTYLE
Winner
The Australian Women's Weekly
ACP Magazines
Finalist
Shop Til You Drop
ACP Magazines
WOMEN'S WEEKLIES
Winner
Famous
Pacific Magazines
Finalists
OK!
ACP MAGAZINES
Who
Pacific Magazines
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
Winner
Donna Hay
NewsLifeMedia
Finalists
Australian Gourmet Traveller
ACP Magazines
Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine
ACP Magazines
MEN'S
Winner
Men's Health
Pacific Magazines
Finalist
Australian Men's Fitness
Odysseus Publishing
MOTORING
Winner
Wheels
ACP Magazines
Finalists
Australian 4WD Action
Express Media Group
Australian Motorcycle News
ACP Magazines
BUSINESS, FINANCE & CURRENT AFFAIRS
Winner
The Monthly
The Monthly
Finalists
Money Magazine
ACP Magazines
BRW
Fairfax Media
COMPUTING & GAMES
Winner
Game Informer
Citrus Media
Finalists
PC User
ACP Magazines
APC
ACP Magazines
NICHE
Winner
Russh
Switzer Media and Publishing
Finalists
Rolling Stone
ACP Magazines
Australian Sailing + Yachting
Yaffa Publishing
YOUTH / KIDS
Winner
Girlfriend
Pacific Magazines
Finalists
Dolly
ACP Magazines
K-Zone
Pacific Magazines
LAUNCH
Winner
Feast
Pacific Magazines
U-TURN OF THE YEAR
The Weekend Australian Magazine
News Limited
NEWSPAPER-INSTERTED MAGAZINES
Winner
The Weekend Australian Magazine
News Limited
Finalists
AFR Magazine
Fairfax Media
Wish
News Limited
CUSTOM PUBLISHING
Winner
In The Black
ACP Magazines
Finalists
Qantas The Australian Way
ACP Magazines
Myer Emporium
ACP Magazines
Coles Baby & Toddler
ACP Magazines
MAGAZINE APP
Qantas The Australian Way
ACP Magazines
Finalists
The Australian Women's Weekly
ACP Magazines
Donna Hay
NewsLifeMedia
MAGAZINE WEBSITE
Winner
TopGear Australia
ACP Magazines
Finalist
GQ Australia
NewsLifeMedia
MAGAZINE EVENT
Winner
Vogue Australia
Vogue Fashion's Night Out 2011
NewsLifeMedia
Highly Commended
The Adviser
Australian Broking Awards
Sterling Publishing
Finalists
Girlfriend
Girlfriend Model Search
Pacific Magazines
Delicious
Delicious Produce Awards
NewsLifeMedia
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