The List (magazine)

{{Short description|Arts and entertainment magazine based in Edinburgh and covering central Scotland}}

{{Redirect|The List (website)|the American women's lifestyle site created in 2016|Static Media}}

{{Infobox magazine

| title = The List

| logo = The List logo.png

| logo_size = 120px

| image_file =

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| image_caption =

| editor = Brian Donaldson

| editor_title =

| previous_editor =

| staff_writer =

| photographer =

| category =

| frequency = Monthly
Weekly (during the Edinburgh Festival)

| circulation = 15,000

| publisher = Sheri Friers

| founder = Robin Hodge

| founded =

| firstdate = {{Start date|1985}}

| company = List Publishing Ltd

| country = Scotland

| based = Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

| language = English

| website = {{URL|www.list.co.uk}}

| issn = 0959-1915

| oclc =

}}

The List is Scotland's biggest and longest standing guide to arts and entertainment and was founded in 1985.

The company's activities include content syndication and running a network of websites carrying listings and editorial, covering film, eating and drinking, music, theatre, visual art, dance, kids and family, clubs and the Edinburgh Festivals. Originally launched in 1985 as a paid-for fortnightly arts and entertainment magazine covering Edinburgh and Glasgow, The List magazine switched to a free monthly magazine in 2022 and is weekly during the Edinburgh Festivals in August.

History

The List was founded as an independent limited company in October 1985 by Robin Hodge (publisher){{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-30209047|title=The List magazine to become a free title|last=Brown|first=Angie|date=26 November 2014|work=BBC News|access-date=12 May 2018}}{{cite book|last=McKay|first=Jenny|title=The Magazines Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VMSEAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22The+List%22+Hodge+1985&pg=PA207|year=2000|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781134698851|page=207}} and Nigel Billen (founding editor). The first editors were Nigel Billen and Sarah Hemming.

In 2007 the company launched its listings website.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/mar/23/newmedia.pressandpublishing |title=The List goes digital |first=Jemima |last=Kiss |work=The Guardian |date=23 March 2007|access-date=12 May 2018}}

In June 2016, The Sunday Times Scotland launched a fortnightly events guide pullout section, produced in collaboration with The List.{{cite news |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/the-sunday-times-scotland-launches-fortnightly-events-guide/ |title=The Sunday Times Scotland launches fortnightly events guide |first=Amaka |last=Opara |work=Press Gazette |date=28 June 2016 |access-date=12 May 2018}}

After near closing its doors in 2021, The List was relaunched after a successful Crowdfund campaign as List Publishing Ltd. Sheri Friers is the CEO and its board includes Assembly director William Burdett-Coutts and Dani Rae.

The original company, The List Ltd, changed name to Phylum Forge Ltd, and trades under the name Data Thistle.

Data Thistle continues the live events data services that formed part of The List’s original business, with List Publishing Ltd purchasing listings from Data Thistle.{{Cite web |title=Success stories |url=https://www.datathistle.com/success-stories/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Data Thistle}}{{Cite web |title=The List |url=https://list.co.uk/about-us |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=list.co.uk}}

Activities

The List was a member of the group of organisations who developed an International Venue and Event Standard (IVES). A now dormant project.

The List was a member of the Creative Industries Federation.

Publications

The List publishes several printed guides throughout the year. These include the [https://issuu.com/thelistltd/docs/efg2024 Edinburgh Festival Guide], the Eating & Drinking Guide, which includes reviews of over 900 restaurants, cafes and bars in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the annual Guide to Scotland's Festivals. The List also publishes [https://issuu.com/thelistltd/docs/adelaide_summer_festivals_guide_2024 Summer] and [https://issuu.com/thelistltd/docs/the_list_s_adelaide_winter_festivals_guide_2024 Winter] Festival magazines in Adelaide, Australia.

The List also publishes a series of guides under the Larder imprint. Since 2009, it has published two national editions and more than twenty regional editions. The Larder provides comprehensive information and articles about producers and sources for local food and drink across Scotland.

Online activity

As the print magazine came under increasing competition in the early 2000s, listings were increasingly moved to its website.{{cite news|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10006008.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513011505/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10006008.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 May 2018|url-access=|title=All change as The List gets caught in crossfire of newspaper wars; With newspapers increasingly encroaching on its territory the venerable what's on guide has undergone a rethink|last=Vass|first=Steven|date=24 October 2004|work=Sunday Herald|access-date=12 May 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/default_content/12764109.web-freesheets-see-lists-sales-hit-new-low/|title=Web and freesheets see The List's sales hit new low|date=17 February 2008|work=Sunday Herald|access-date=4 January 2022}} The network of sites includes minisites dedicated to Film, Food & Drink and Edinburgh Festivals.

An archive (1985–2020) is available at http://archive.list.co.uk.

Awards

Best Relaunch, PPA Scotland Awards 2022
Best Brand Extension for [https://issuu.com/thelistltd/docs/the_list_s_adelaide_summer_festivals_guide The List Adelaide Summer Festival Guide] PPA Scotland Awards 2023
Best Online Presence, PPA Scotland Awards 2003, 2008, 2009, 2013,{{cite web|url=https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/scottish-magazine-awards-2013-the-winners-7440 |title=Scottish Magazine Awards 2013 – the winners|website=www.inpublishing.co.uk |date=16 December 2013 |access-date=5 December 2021}} 2015{{cite web|url=https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/scottish-magazine-awards-2015-winners-announced-4736 |title=Scottish Magazine Awards 2015 – winners announced |website=www.inpublishing.co.uk |date=12 December 2015 |access-date=5 December 2021}}
Best Digital Strategy, PPA Scotland Awards 2011{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}
Allen Wright Award, Fringe Society 2011,{{cite web|url=https://www.edfringe.com/uploads/docs/About_Us/Annual%20Review%202011.pdf |title=Annual Review 2011 |publisher=Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society |page=12 |access-date=5 December 2021}} 2012, 2016{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}