They not only sponsor the PICA Awards with high quality paper, but also with financial support to make the event possible for years to come. Says Philip Palmgren, managing director of Nordic Paper & Packaging: “We feel that it’s a great medium to connect with the publishers and show that we are committed to printed media.”

Commenting on why he believes the PICA Awards are important, Palmgren says: “Paper and magazines still have a bright future ahead despite the digital change in the market, but it needs professional publishers, articles and high quality content. Magazines and digital media complement each other giving consumers a broader range of information channels. The PICA Awards pushes the publishers to produce interesting and professional content, and that is in our interest as a major paper supplier.”

Palmgren says that out of the box content and graphic design will set the winners apart in the eyes of the judges at this year’s event. “Apart from this, the combination of printed and online media could have an affect on who has really been able to combine these two mediums in this fast moving information world.”

In conclusion, Palmgren says: “We feel that printed media has a bright future ahead in Africa as the economies are growing at a rapid rate; especially the middle class with purchasing power appreciate high quality publishing and magazines.”

For more information, visit www.mpasa.org.za and click on the PICA 2013 banner. Alternatively, follow @mpasamags on Twitter.

Winners of the 2013 MPASA PICA Awards, once again with long-term partner Paarl Media as main sponsor, will be announced on Thursday, 14 November.