Date: 17 June 2024
Students in the third-year magazine journalism module Creating Packages celebrated in style at the 12th annual London Met Magazine Awards, showcasing the achievements and successes they have made on the BA Journalism courses.
The jubilant soon-to-be graduates competed in several categories, including Best Website, Best Cover, Best Profile and Best Live Event, proudly showing off to industry judges a collection of magazines they have been working on tirelessly since October.
The most coveted award – Most Commercial Potential – came with a cash prize and one-to-one business mentoring from London Met's very own Student Enterprise Team, to help the winning publication make a splash in the marketplace.
“Getting in judges from the industry takes time, but it is so worth it,” said Assoc Professor Wendy Sloane, who runs the module. “It is great to see recognition for our students from the people who are on the publishing frontlines.”
The print and digital submissions included (in alphabetical order) Alt-Natives, an alternative lifestyle magazine; Bloom, for those who want a vegan lifestyle; Crunch, which is all about snacks, and Endorphin, for “everyone interested in living a happier life”.
Five esteemed judges presided at the event, including shining stars in journalism from Hello!, New Scientist, and Whytt Magazine, along with Lloyd Bradley, one of the UK’s biggest authorities on Black music and a pioneer in the country's magazine industry. London Met newcomer Elecia Du-Bisette, the new Senior Student Enterprise Manager who has only been at the University for four weeks, judged the Most Commercial Potential award.
Award winning minimalism
Amidst huge fanfare, it went to the minimalist glossy Alt-Natives, which featured articles about London’s queerest camp event space, collecting kitsch knick-knacks, and the questionable ‘art’ of AI tattoos. Its motto? ‘To build a safe space for those whose normal is considered weird or out of the ordinary. Who decides what's normal anyway?’
The magazine “offers a captivating read, maintaining a consistent tone throughout,” Du-Bisette told students. “The visuals seamlessly complement the text, enhancing the readers’ experience... Alt-Natives is a commendable magazine with compelling content tailored to a specific audience. I can envision it thriving on magazine stands and attracting a dedicated readership."
The Alt-Natives editorial staff – Sam Sorabjee, Lorena Cristea, Sara Valle and David Pasia – were all on hand to receive their (albeit plastic) Oscars and bask in the glory of their win.
As their editorial letter states: “Just as there is room for people who want to live conventionally, people who don’t should be afforded the same accommodations. This is our love letter to the anarchists, the weirdos, the esoterics who don’t give a damn about social norms.
“Keep raising hell out there.”
Photo by Sam Sorabjee