The Dec 2006/Jan 2007 issue of COSMOS, Australia's Magazine of the Year
The glossy popular science magazine COSMOS has won an unprecedented eight honours at Australia's Bell Magazine Awards, including the coveted Magazine of the Year and Editor of the Year.
The 2006 awards, given annually by the magazine industry association, Australian Business & Specialist Publishers, were presented at a gala ceremony in Sydney's Four Seasons Hotel on Friday 24 November.
The event was held before an audience of almost 500 and was hosted by Ita Butrose AO OBE, the seasoned publisher, journalist and media personality. It was judged by a panel of 32 independent industry specialists and academics who selected winners in 33 categories.
Wilson da Silva, the editor of COSMOS, won Editor of the Year - for the second consecutive year - in what the judges have described as a "stylish, ambitious and erudite publication, realised through the vision of an editor". He also picked up Best Opinion Series for his editorials throughout the year.
The magazine's new website, Cosmos Online (www.cosmosmagazine.com), which features daily news and features, won Best Internet Site - despite launching only five months ago. The magazine's technical director Anthony Willis collected the hotly-contested award.
Meanwhile, the magazine's editorial assistant Kate Holdsworth snapped up the Best Newcomer to Journalism award - pipping COSMOS colleague, staff writer Erica Harrison, who was also finalist and received a Highly Commended certificate. Another finalist was deputy editor Sara Phillips, whose cover story "The Water Crisis" in June 2006 was in the running for Best Single Article.
Luna Media, the publishers of COSMOS, also picked up Best Small Publisher, against a tough line-up of finalists that included Australian Geographic, recently acquired by ACP Magazines.
But it was COSMOS' win of the Consumer Magazine of the Year (Print Run Over 30,000) - ahead of Australian Geographic, Wellbeing and Auto Salon Magazine - that set it up as a finalist for the coveted overall award of Magazine of the Year, which it also won.
"We were delighted and, frankly, amazed to do so well," said publisher Kylie Ahern, who collected the Best Small Publisher and Consumer Magazine of the Year trophies. "It shows that a commitment to excellence pays dividends. Luna Media may be small today, but we are innovative, ambitious, and we are going places. Watch this space."
"This augurs well for our new green lifestyle title, G Magazine: the same team who scooped the pool at this year's Bell Awards are also behind it," said Wilson da Silva, who is editor-in-chief of the bold new title launched on November 22. "We have high hopes for G: there's a growing desire to do something about the environmental issues facing us. G Magazine will try to show readers how to do it without abandoning their lifestyles."
"Small publishers can be innovative, and both COSMOS and G Magazine is a good example of the next wave of publishing: entertaining and intelligent, light without being trite," said Dr Alan Finkel, Luna Media's Chairman and the entrepreneur who founded Luna Media. "People want practical, evidence-based solutions to living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. We hope G Magazine will quickly become a trusted and respected guide to the green consumer landscape."
Even the production excellence of COSMOS was recognised, with printers Offset Alpine winning the Best Single Issue Print Magazine category with the December 2005 issue of COSMOS.
Australian Business & Specialist Publishers was founded in 1964 and represents most of the country's magazine publishers. It has 120 publisher members who produce 500 magazines. This year, the Bell Magazine Awards attracted 230 entries across its 33 categories.
Altogether COSMOS won:
- Magazine of the Year
- Editor of the Year - Wilson da Silva
- Best Small Publisher - Luna Media Pty Ltd
- Best Consumer Magazine (Print Run Over 30,000)
- Best Internet Site - Anthony Willis
- Best Newcomer to Journalism - Kate Holdsworth
- Best Opinion Series - Wilson da Silva
- Highly Commended, Best Newcomer to Journalism - Erica Harrison
