Third Sector, the UK’s leading subscription magazine for the voluntary and not-for-profit sector, will end its print run in October and transition to a digital-first offering.
The title launched in the early 1990s, as a fortnightly magazine featuring sector news and an extensive recruitment section. It was acquired by Haymarket Media Group in 2002 and it stepped up to weekly publication, produced by an editorial team of 20.
In 2014, the magazine reduced its frequency to monthly, then bi-monthly, as Third Sector invested in new channels including a wider variety of live events and the launch of a free podcast in 2018.
In November 2019 the title unveiled a major magazine rebrand, with a renewed focus on imagery and creativity, and launched the strapline: “Championing those who make a difference.”
The brand faced multiple challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic that saw Third Sector evolve to a quarterly print circulation, and a subscriber survey at the end of 2021 found that just one in five readers said the magazine was of vital importance to their subscription.
In 2022 the increased prices of printing and posting magazines, as well as a strategic focus on reducing carbon emissions, has prompted Haymarket to roll out a digital transformation across its brands and end Third Sector’s print circulation.
The title will focus on developing new digital channels in the coming year, evolving its popular charity pay study for an online environment, further growing its popular podcast offering and continuing to deliver the latest news and analysis to its charity audience.
Emily Burt, editor of Third Sector, said: “I’m so proud of the stories we have been able to tell in print, and am incredibly sad the magazine will not have a longer run.
“But Third Sector’s greatest strength is the quality of its reporting. We now have the opportunity of bringing those stories to life in the digital space.
“What will not change is our commitment to covering the voluntary and not-for-profit sector and championing those who make a difference.”
