Big Issue editor Paul McNamee crowned British Editor of the Year

The Big Issue is celebrating awards success this week after editor Paul McNamee was named British Editor of the Year at the prestigious British Society of Magazine Editor (BSME) Awards.

Our columnist Damian Barr was also highly commended in the hard fought Columnist of the Year category. The Big Issue was also shortlisted as cover of the year at the awards. Judges praised Damian’s “interesting and consistently readable voice in a magazine that asks the reader to look beyond face value”.

It’s the second time McNamee has scooped the gong, having previously won in 2013.

“I’m delighted,” he said. “This is testament to the incredible work all the staff put in every week to get this wonderful title together. We are an independent and respected voice and we can all celebrate together. We work to build a magazine that vendors can sell and lift themselves up with.”

Chuffed to win Editor of the year award at @bsmeinfo. Incredible team put incredible @bigissue every week. Thanks to them

— Paul McNamee (@PauldMcNamee) November 15, 2016

This rounds off a major year for The Big Issue. We celebrated our 25th birthday last month and made our 200 millionth sale across Britain earlier this year.

Next month, the magazine is also up for a further FOUR publishings award. The nominations come at this year’s PPA Scotland Awards, which recognises magazines that are produced in Scotland – where The Big Issue, that is sold across Britain, has its editorial base.

We have been nominated for Cover of the Year and Magazine of the Year, while features editor Steven MacKenzie and social media editor Andrew Burns have been shortlisted for Feature Writer of the Year and Rising Star respectively.

The PPA Scotland Awards takes place in Glasgow on December 1.