Internship-Assignment B

Holly Osborn


Company: "This is London" (magazine)


A. Mission statement: "Launched in 1956, we are London's longest established "whats on" magazine, distributed to visitors staying at top London hotels. We provide up-to-date information on all events, shows, museums, restaurants and shopping venues across the capital. We also offer an online ticketing service with exclusive discounts."


B. It is distributed every other week. The chain of command is less formal, both Julie and Beth work together to get things done. They receive emails from P.R. representatives, both new and those they have worked with before. They turn P.R. releases into short catchy magazine worthy pitches and organize them into categories (Music, Theatre, Exhibitions). 


C. Both Julie and Beth Jones make decisions about new policies, they are a great team. But technically Julie is the main owner/editor. 


D. The main competition is "TimeOut London" magazine, which is a lot bigger. But it's rarely ever talked about at all.


E. It is funded by advertisements and subscriptions/distribution of sales. Most of the advertisements come from theaters and complexes that host events who want to draw people.


F. It serves tourists and those who want to keep up to date on what's going on in London.


G. Two main employees (Julie and Beth Jones), the printing publisher, and one woman outside of the city who runs the website.


H. Since it's just two people, mum and daughter, they get the benefit of working from anywhere they want. They can go to events and write from anywhere since their is just two of them. Additional benefits include free tickets to shows and events for both the purpose of the magazine and leisure.


I. Issues include advertisement funding. They said that in a recession the first thing that companies cut is the P.R. department. The P.R. department is who contacts the magazine and funds its advertising. One good thing that Beth said is, "Even in a recession, London still has its tourists. When people are on vacation they are more likely to spend money on the things we tell them to do. No Londoner in their right mind would pay 65 quid for tickets to Ladykillers, but tourists on vacation will."