The River Group’s Founder and Group CEO Nicki Murphy to run the TCS London Marathon
The River Group’s Founder and CEO, Nicki Murphy, has been training tirelessly for the past few months in order to run the TCS London Marathon 2024 on 21 April, which is coming up very soon!
FOUR RIVER SUPERSTARS SHORLISTED AT THE BSME AWARDS 2020
The content marketing agency has received four nominations for the prestigious 2020 BSME Awards, celebrating the very best talent within the publishing industry. Editorial director Ellie Hughes, who has been nominated for Editor of the Year, in the Branded Content category for curating stand-out content for Holland & Barrett’s Healthy magazine. Co-op Food Editor Nicky Rampley-Clarke, who’s […]
The River Group Celebrates Its 26th Year
The River Group is proud to celebrate its 26th year. Based in London’s Marble Arch, the Group started in 1994 to become the UK’s largest independent content agency in the UK. Founded by CEO Nicola Murphy, River produces industry-leading campaigns for 26 international brands, operates in 18 international markets and employs 104 staff. Nicola comments […]
THE RIVER GROUP IS WORKING WITH THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION
Multi-channel content marketing agency, The River Group, together with its PR and communications agency, Maven, are pleased to announce that they’re working with The Big Issue Foundation to support vital fundraising initiatives. Demand for health, housing, and financial support has been high during Covid-19 lockdown with all of the Big Issue vendors currently having no […]
River strengthens strategic team with two new directors
The River Group is proud to introduce our new Strategy Director, Allan Moffat, who will commence his position as of Tuesday 25 February 2020. We are also welcoming the return of Non-Exec Editorial Director, Joely Carey, who will commence her position in March. Allan has worked with UK and International retail businesses, major brands and […]
How I did it James Waldron, Advertising Manager, Walk
My sales career began with a job that taught me more in seven years than I may learn in the rest of my working life. I studied media at college (2003-2005), which I failed, as that’s what I did in exams in my younger days – big fat FAIL. It’s not for everyone, and it […]
Healthy For Men at the Festival of Marketing
With so much conversation about men’s mental health, masculinity is more topical than ever. It’s an important time for men’s magazines like Healthy For Men as we’ll be helping redefine masculinity for a positive future. Because of this, I was lucky enough to be invited to the Festival of Marketing to talk on a panel […]
HOW I DID IT ELLIE HUGHES, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, HEALTHY
River’s Ellie Hughes, Editorial Director of Healthy Magazine, tells us about her exciting career, including what led her into the world of health magazines and why she’ll ‘never look back’. After doing a postgraduate diploma in magazine journalism at City University, I freelanced as a features writer and a sub editor, and then got a […]
How I Did It Jo Hoare, Editorial Director AS Watson
I always knew I wanted to write in some capacity. I just wasn’t sure what or how. A love of books sent me to university to study for a degree in English Literature. A lack of knowledge about what to do next led me to continue onto a Master’s Degree, for which I wrote 20,000 […]
River’s Healthy magazine team host ‘Apprentice-style’ workshop at the Holland & Barrett Hall of Fame event
Working closely with our clients is part of River’s DNA – so we decided to take our knowledge and passion along to a Holland & Barrett company event. This week, the Healthy magazine team has helped run an interactive ‘Apprentice-style’ workshop at the Holland & Barrett Hall of Fame event (@HOF30) at Heythrop Park in […]
River 25th Anniversary 25 Mile Walk Raises over £5,000 for Charity
On Thursday, 16 May 2019, 18 members of staff took part in a 25-mile sponsored walk around London to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The River Group. They raised money for River’s three chosen charities: Katie Piper Foundation, Demelza Hospice Care for Children and Dogs Trust. As of 16 May, the walk had raised £5,000 […]
The River Group nominated for three PPA Awards
The River Group’s wealth of talent has once again been recognised at an industry level. The content marketing agency has received three nominations for The PPA Awards 2019, which celebrates the very best talent within the publishing industry. Hot on the heels of her Branded Content Editor Award at the BSME’s in November 2018, Editorial […]
How I Did It: Keith Amess
Our Chief Financial Officer, Keith Amess, talks us through an exciting career, travelling the world and the Wild West of the Dot-com ‘bubble’. In August, I’ll have been with River 17 years and during that time I’ve been asked several times how I came to be in media. I started by training in accountancy in […]
The River Group nominated for British Podcast Award
The River Group is among the nominations for the prestigious British Podcast Awards 2019. The Healthy For Men podcast, produced by The River Group for Holland & Barrett, is up for Best Branded Podcast. The categories were announced live on Monday, 3 April ahead of the ceremony, which takes place on Saturday, 18 May in […]
River Group CEO appointed to global media board
River Group CEO Nicola Murphy has been appointed a Global Board Member of the network for global media – FIPP. She will now join the other FIPP board members in a bid to help shape the future of the media. Nicola says she is excited to join such an ‘illustrious’ group of fellow media elites […]
DARE magazine’s Katie Piper photoshoot picked up by the Daily Mail
The River Group has earned national press coverage for Superdrug’s DARE magazine with its fantastic feature on Katie Piper. DARE cover star Katie Piper has opened up about her life as a mother and being a reluctant role model in the March/April edition of DARE magazine. Parts of her compelling interview and a selection of […]
How I did it: Dafina Keys
Senior Group Account Director Dafina Keys tells us how a diverse background in publishing and production now helps her to manage campaigns for one of the UK’s biggest health and wellbeing companies. What career did you decide to pursue after leaving university? I had always kept an open mind about the career I wanted, but […]
How I did it – Rachel Middlewick
Other than a long-held dream before the age of 14 to be a farmer’s wife (!), I always wanted to work in media. It started with a two-week work experience placement on Women’s Realm back in the early 1990s, where I discovered, to my sadness, that the horoscope lady really wasn’t very kind and that […]
How I Did It – Sam Turner
River Group Ad Director, Sam Turner, reveals how throwing the javelin pointed the way to where he is today I always wanted to be a professional athlete – which may surprise you if you see my current physique. At 15, I ranked 13th in the UK for the javelin (under-17 weight class) and am currently […]
How I did it – Fiona Mercer
From trainspotting to having an encyclopaedic knowledge of every Premier League football club, Fiona talks us through the exciting world of being a publisher. Over the years, I have been a trainspotter, a pre-jet-engine airplane enthusiast, a dog lover and a country pursuits novice. I have had a temporary pet-shop licence and could recite every […]
How I did it – Matt Ford
River’s Associate Creative Director tells us how, after years of working in consumer magazines, it was the need for a new challenge that led him to The River Group’s doors. I feel I was lucky because I had a very clear idea of what I wanted to do from an early age, and that was […]
How I did it – Nikki Reginiano
River’s Director of Marketing and Business Development takes us on her journey from wannabe music journalist to marketing professional. In my teens, I had dreams of working for the NME or Melody Maker, so when I had the chance to move away from my sleepy seaside town to the bright lights of London to study […]
Season’s Greetings from The River Group
This year, instead of buying gifts for clients, we’ve decided to give donations to River’s chosen charities: Dogs Trust, The Katie Piper Foundation and Demelza Hospice Care for Children, on your behalf. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Co-op Food magazine takes a trip to York to work with Your Cafe
Linzi Pucino, Assistant Food Editor of Co-op Food, speaks to us about her recent trip to York, along with Editor Sarah Akhurst. While there, they whipped up 100+ portions of curry for a community shoot for an upcoming issue of Co-op Food The Your Cafe group, based in York, serves up a weekly lunch at […]
I’m an Account Director, get me out of here…
…literally, I thought, as the zip on the exit flap of the inflatable snowdome jammed for a heart-stopping second. What a fitting end to a rollercoaster 2018 to see your humble Account Director wheeled out of Manchester Central convention centre trapped in his winter wonderland pod, like Derek Smalls in that scene from Spinal Tap. […]
How I Did It: Johnny Meredith
Last week, as I participated in Co-op’s annual Sporting Challenge (culminating in me cross-country skiing in front of hundreds of clients, colleagues and, erm, Kriss Akabusi), it seemed an excellent time to reflect on how I ended up here. I’m currently group account director for Co-op Food. It’s been a journey in publishing that started […]
The River Group Strengthens Senior Team with Three Prominent Female Hires!
The River Group is delighted to announce the appointment of three women to the company’s senior leadership team. This news comes alongside the announcement that River’s gender pay gap is an incredible -2% (mean hourly rate), demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to empowering women in the workplace. River CEO Nicki Murphy states “as River continues to […]
River’s Rising Stars attend the British Media Awards
The British Media Awards took place last night, with two of the River team being shortlisted for the prestigious Rising Star award. Both Mollie, Junior Beauty Writer for Superdrug, and Lauren, Editor of The Perfume Shop blog, Scents, were nominated, and while neither were awarded the final prize, both River and the nominees are extremely […]
River kicks off its 25th year with plans, pizza and Prosecco!
Monday 15th May marked the start of The River Group’s 25th year in business. To kick off a year of celebrations and charity challenges, Nicki, Jackie and Keith arranged a company-wide extra special brunch, described by all as ‘the best Monday ever!’ Over pizza and Prosecco, the board took everyone through the exciting plans instore […]
How I Did It: Hannah Kettle
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to work in magazines; I just didn’t know in what capacity. Throughout my teenage years, I hoarded stacks of them in my bedroom, and at the age 17 I had an epiphany – I wanted to be a magazine designer. I come from more of […]
How I Did It: Andy Greening
A mix of persistence and a bit of foresight got me where I am today. When I left the University of Hull with a degree in Creative Music Technology, my plan was to be a music studio engineer. But even after doing some high-profile internships at a top music studio in London, I knew I […]
How I Did It: Mollie Hammond
It’s Monday morning, and here I am staring deep into the eyes of Marcel Somerville (y’know, the one who was in Love Island and Blazin’ Squad) while slowly flexing my guns. I couldn’t help but think, how the hell did I get here? OK, OK, it isn’t as weird as it sounds. I somehow managed […]
From intern to editor
An internship is about so much more than administration and cups of tea, as the editor of Healthy For Men, Tom Rowley’s, first-hand experience can tell you.
Q&A with Kitty Aldis, Content Manager for Co-op Food
What is a Content Manager? Basically, it’s my responsibility to manage the output of our online content. I make sure that our recipes, images and videos…
The working life of Jo Levitas, Art Director of Healthy & Healthy For Men
I joined River after working on various magazine titles covering interiors to travel and food to parenting. Now, after five years here, with my slippers now firmly under the bed as it were, I feel more than part of the furniture.
A Day in the Life of Lauren Carbran, Editor of the Scents Blog
Call me cheesy, but on 28 February 2016 I started the job of my dreams – editor of The Perfume Shop’s blog, SCENTS, at The River Group. I practically skip to work every morning, making the businessmen and city bankers VERY jealous on the bus commute. So here’s a typical day in my working life…
An EXCLUSIVE with Martin Black returning to office! 💪🏼
For those of you who are learning about Martin Black, River’s Senior Production Manager, for the first time. He recently had a terrible accident and we could not wait to welcome him back. River spent a few minutes to see how his first back went.
The River Group raids Gravity Road for new Director of Editorial Content position
Carey, who joins from Gravity Road, will be responsible for all content across digital, social and print and will work with Creative Directors Jonathan Clayton-Jones and Phil Tristram.
River’s CEO Nicola Murphy shows her Winning Attitude
In a white paper for Zircon that focused on ‘Winning Attitudes’, River’s CEO Nicola Murphy was asked to comment on the topic. The research found that there are 10 attributes of a Winning Attitude including, Realistic Optimism, Burning Ambition and Maximising Opportunities!
Rounders at Hyde Park
On 27 June, The River Group descended on Hyde Park for a game of rounders aimed at improving team-building skills.
River launches Superdrug Loves, a new daily blog
The River Group is delighted to announce its partnership with Superdrug for the launch of Superdrug Loves, a new daily lifestyle blog on Superdrug.com.
How Sally changed our lives…
Sally Brampton, who died this week, was Healthy magazine’s Agony Aunt for three years, from January 2010 to December 2013.
River Lauches The Perfume Shop’s New Blog
The River Group is delighted to announce the launch of The Perfume Shop’s new expert fragrance blog, SCENTS – an inspirational, conversational content hub for people with a passion for perfume.
Secrets of entrepreneurial success revealed
Our CEO, Nicola Murphy, was invited to speak at The Business Magazine’s prestigious Southern Entrepreneurs dinner to reveal her journey to business success. Nicola’s honest account of starting the award-winning company in a basement in soho with just two computers, and winning the first client with an ‘interesting’ presentation and a box of chocolates, kept the room of 50 business owner peers captivated and entertained.
Claire Irvin to speak at Words By The Water
River’s Editorial Content Director Claire Irvin will be taking to the stage at this year’s Words by the Water event in Keswick on March 10.
River’s Claire Irvin appointed Chair of BSME
The British Society of Magazine Editors has announced that its 2016 Chair is Claire Irvin, Editorial Content Director at River.
The British Society of Magazine Editors is the only society exclusively for print and digital brand editors and their teams in the UK. Its strapline is: ‘Get connected. Get inspired. Get on.’ Its role is to support, represent and inform editors of all disciplines. It acts as a forum for editors to meet and exchange ideas, via industry functions, events and social gatherings. Events in 2015 included breakfasts with Joanna Coles, Editor-in-Chief of US Cosmopolitan, Glenda Bailey MBE, Editor-in-Chief of US Harper’s Bazaar, and Luke Lewis, Editor-in-Chief of Buzzfeed, as well as a forum on indie magazines and other networking events.
Jackie Garford promoted to position of Managing Director
River is delighted to announce that Jackie Garford, Group Publishing Director and River Board member since March 2014, has been promoted to the position of Managing Director.
Jackie has been with River for nearly 10 years, joining in 2006 as Group Account Director for The Sunday Times Travel Magazine. In that time, she has taken responsibility for a number of titles and accounts and has been instrumental in River’s growth. Jackie holds operational responsibility for running both the publishing and advertising sides of the business.
River appoint Bauer Media’s Claire Irvin as Editorial Content Director
Claire Irvin, Bauer Media’s Editor-in-Chief is to join River Publishing as Editorial Content Director.
A Day in a Life: Art Director, Rob Cuthbertson
River’s Art Director, Rob Cuthbertson, joined the team in June 2014 with a background in content marketing for international brands from the UK to Dubai.
Day in a life: Group Account Director, Kate Burton
As the Group Account Director for The Co-operative Food and regional retail groups, Kate Burton came to The River Group having previously worked as a Publishing Director at a multichannel publishing agency and as an editor in customer publishing.
A day in the life of Sophie Adams, Advertising Manager
Having come from consumer titles across various different markets, it’s great to be doing something slightly different but still in the same industry. By that, I mean still being involved with the advertising in magazines yet working for a content marketing agency and not just a publishing house. My days are varied and can differ greatly but what I love is being involved with our clients business and also working with my advertising clients and creating some great ideas and relationships that result in some great pieces of activity.
A day in the life of Martin Black, Senior Production Manager
As Senior Production Manager, I oversee the production of River’s magazines and printed materials from design to delivery. The day always starts with a cup of tea. Generously made by whoever gets in to the office first and left on your desk. Very civilized indeed.
A day in the life of Lucy Morris
Before working at River, I spent 10 years climbing the ladder, on some of the UK’s biggest glossy fashion and lifestyle magazines, and I am now at a point in my career when all that knowledge, training and the contacts made along the way are really coming together!