Marketing Week is relaunching this week with an editorial restructure and a revamped look. Editor Mark Choueke has taken some time out to talk to us about the upcoming changes to the title:
About the publication:
Tell us a little about the relaunch of Marketing Week.
There’s probably a clever way and a not-so-clever way to do pretty much any task. Relaunching or redesigning a magazine for the sake of a new look without thinking about the content of the publication first, or even at all, could be classed as the not-so-clever way. I think what you’re seeing this week is the final stage of the relaunch of Marketing Week magazine. Since the turn of the year we’ve identified what changes we wanted to make to our content, built a new team enabling us to do that and have therefore created a lot of change already. This new look will give us even more ability to deliver great content and even then we won‘t be finished. We’re investing heavily in a new digital platform that will see an overhaul of MarketingWeek.co.uk in June, again for reasons that are totally driven by content.
What are your views on print vs. online publications?
There’s no ‘versus’ about it. They don’t compete. They absolutely complement one another. The Marketing Week brand is all about relevant, timely news and exclusive features content and is driven through three vehicles: the magazine, the website and through market-leading events and conferences.
How did you initially get involved in producing the title?
I was once a lowly reporter at Marketing Week and have a great deal of affection for it built up over many years. I applied for this job in December and presented a new strategy and vision to my employers. One which they shared.
What would you say is your target audience?
Marketing directors, marketing managers, marketing executives media owners, chief executives and chairmen, marketing services professionals, PRs and my family.
What makes you different from the other publications in your sector?
Plenty. We have restructured our editorial team to create dedicated news and features departments to ensure both disciplines are done properly. I think the benefits of that have been seen both on and off-line since we made the changes in January. Without wishing to remark on our rivals (some of whom I think do a great job and produce a great product), we are talking to more marketers than they are, and I think, consistently producing more interesting content.
About PRs:
Do you work closely with PRs (e.g. for supplements, round tables, events) or do you prefer to keep them at arm’s length?
Perhaps we once worked differently but at the moment we are embracing PRs who know the business that we write about and who have good ideas on strong, content driven features, round-tables etc. My intention is to retain that culture, PRs who are good at their job are an absolute must to a magazine like ours.
What are you looking for from PRs and what information is most useful to you?
Exclusive information and market research that we can use to shape features content that nobody else on the market has.
Do you have a PR pet hate?
PRs being long-winded by phone or email and not getting right to the point. However, my staff will testify that I also suffer from the same bad habit.
When and how should a PR contact you?
If you ring me on a Tuesday be quick. Otherwise, by phone, email – the normal routes
About you:
What interests you most about your job?
The whole package. I have a great boss, a superb team and market-leading products. I love it. I feel incredibly lucky.
How did you first get into journalism?
As a small boy I always loved the Clark Kent part of the Superman movies more than the flying around in red undies. Journalism was all I ever wanted to do.
Do you have you own specialist subject area?
Business, brands and marketing.
Where do you hope to be in five years time?
Right here winning awards along with my talented team.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what one thing would you hope to have with you?
My wife.
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[img|jpg|Mark Choueke]
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