Francis Beckett: contract publisher
Organisations whose publications I have edited, published and managed include:
The University of the Third Age wanted to relaunch and expand its magazine, U3A News - www.u3a.org.uk. I took over the magazine in January 2000, and have been responsible for all aspects of its editorial, design and production ever since.
I completely redesigned it and changed its editorial content, introducing heavyweight features for the first time. Since then the magazine has expanded from 20 pages to between 40 and 56 pages, and advertising pays most of the cost.
The magazine goes to the University of the Third Age's 130,000 members.
The Commission for Racial Equality asked me to help create an entirely new kind of magazine.
Previously the CRE has produced what were in effect newsletters, designed to keep those involved in race and community relations aware of the latest news and thinking.
It wanted something much more ambitious: a magazine which also spoke to opinion-formers in politics, journalism and industry, and could take its place alongside respected magazines like the Economist, Spectator and New Statesman.
In January 2006 I helped the Commission to launch its new bi-monthly magazine, Catalyst - www.catalystmagazine.org. Catalyst is a forum on matters of race and the community, and I have brought it some distinguished writers, including Lord Roy Hattersley and former Europe minister Denis MacShane.
Department for Education and Science: I edited Insight, the DFES magazine of education and business.
The Association of MBAs: I created, launched, and published and editited for seven years, AMBA's first national magazine, Ambassador.
The Strategic Planning Society: I redesigned and relaunched its magazine Strategy.
The British Council: I wrote, edited, and annually updated the British Education Guide, aimed at persuading overseas students to study in Britain.
National Aids Trust: I created, launched, and edited NAT's monthly magazine AIDS Matters.