Boards

Boards was an international trade-publication brand serving the advertising community from its launch in August 1999 until it was shelved in May 2010. It operated as a magazine and, later, as a combined print-and-digital editorial platform under Brunico Communications Ltd., a Canadian publisher focused on professional media and events. The publication addressed the production side of advertising rather than functioning as a consumer-facing advertising title. Its subject matter spanned creative development, commercial production, music and sound, post-production, editing, animation, agency work, and the people and companies responsible for notable campaigns. The brand was launched by Tom Symes, who ran it through 2003. Jonathan Verk then became publisher and led Boards from 2003 to 2008. During Verk's tenure, the brand expanded beyond its core monthly magazine through events and specialist publishing initiatives, including Boards U, The Boards Creative Workshop, and a Post Production Resource Guide. These additions positioned Boards not only as a source of industry news and commentary but also as a professional network, educational platform, and reference resource for advertising-production practitioners. Each issue used a recurring editorial structure. Regular sections included “Word,” an editorial column; “Radar,” which focused on industry news; and “Ideas,” which offered commentary on advertising-related subjects. The magazine also carried interviews with industry figures and separate coverage areas for creative work, music and sound, post-production and editing, and animation. This organization reflected the increasingly specialized nature of commercial production, in which agencies, directors, production companies, post houses, editors, animators, composers, and other suppliers all contributed to a campaign. Boards also sought to strengthen its digital presence. Its online counterpart, Boards Online, initially had editorial responsibility distinct from the print magazine, but the two branches were eventually brought under a single editorial role. Beginning in May 2009, Boards Online published daily updates, including behind-the-scenes material, video links, commentary on award ceremonies, and discussion of particularly successful or striking advertising campaigns. The online service extended the brand's publishing rhythm beyond the monthly print cycle and allowed it to respond more quickly to industry news and campaign releases. Editorial responsibility over the brand's history was associated with Mark Smyka, Liz Saunderson, Teressa Iezzi, Sandy Hunter, and Rae Ann Fera. The magazine's efforts to build awareness also included the First Boards Awards, an annual program recognizing new advertising campaigns, as well as educational and networking events. These initiatives broadened the brand's role within the professional advertising ecosystem and created additional channels for engagement with emerging producers and established industry figures. Boards ceased regular publication after Brunico Communications undertook a corporate restructuring. The restructuring resulted in the magazine and its associated brand being shelved in May 2010. Accordingly, Boards is best understood as a defunct specialist media and events brand whose principal historical contribution was to document and connect the advertising-production community during the transition from a predominantly print trade press model toward more continuous online coverage.

Boards emerged in August 1999 as a specialist international trade publication for the advertising community. Its focus was the professional and production infrastructure behind advertising: creative development, commercial making, music and sound, post-production, editing, animation, and the agencies and individuals involved in those activities. The title was launched by Tom Symes, who managed the brand during its early years through 2003. The magazine used a recurring editorial framework intended to serve both general advertising readers and specialized production disciplines. “Word” functioned as an editorial section, “Radar” covered industry news, and “Ideas” provided commentary on advertising-related issues. Regular interviews and sector-specific reporting gave the publication a role between trade journalism, professional networking, and creative-industry documentation. Its coverage was oriented toward practitioners and suppliers rather than the mass consumer audience of the campaigns it discussed. Jonathan Verk became publisher in 2003 and remained in that role until 2008. During this period, Boards expanded its activities beyond the monthly magazine. The brand introduced Boards U, an educational event for junior producers; The Boards Creative Workshop, a networking-oriented gathering for industry participants; and a Post Production Resource Guide. These initiatives created additional professional and commercial products around the publication and reinforced its connection to advertising-production workers at different career stages. Editorial responsibility was initially divided between Mark Smyka, a former senior editor of Marketing, and Liz Saunderson. Over the following decade, editorial leadership was associated with Teressa Iezzi, Sandy Hunter, and Rae Ann Fera. Boards also developed an online counterpart, Boards Online. Although the print and online operations initially had separate editorial responsibility, their editing was eventually consolidated into one role, reflecting a more integrated publishing model. From May 2009, Boards Online began issuing daily updates. Its digital content included behind-the-scenes features, links to video, commentary on award ceremonies, and coverage of especially distinctive or successful advertising campaigns. This activity supplemented rather than simply reproduced the monthly magazine and gave the brand a faster publishing channel for an industry driven by campaign launches, award results, production news, and rapidly changing creative work. The brand also attempted to build visibility through the First Boards Awards, an annual awards event recognizing strong new advertising campaigns. Together with Boards U and the Creative Workshop, the awards program made Boards an organizer and convener as well as a publisher. These initiatives broadened the brand's relevance to producers, agencies, directors, post-production specialists, and other contributors to commercial work. Boards ended its publishing run when a corporate restructuring at Brunico Communications Ltd. led to the brand being shelved in May 2010. The closure ended the regular magazine and the associated brand operation. Historically, Boards represents a specialist advertising trade title that combined print journalism, online updates, professional events, educational programming, reference publishing, and awards coverage during a period when industry media was moving from monthly print schedules toward continuous digital publishing.

1. 2010Brand is shelved

   Brunico Communications' corporate restructuring leads to the magazine and associated online brand being shelved in May.

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2. 2009Boards Online moves to daily updates

   The online service begins publishing daily behind-the-scenes features, videos, award commentary, and campaign coverage in May.

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3. 2008End of Jonathan Verk's publisher tenure

   Verk's period as publisher concludes after a five-year run associated with brand expansion.

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4. 2003Jonathan Verk becomes publisher

   Jonathan Verk takes over publication leadership from founder Tom Symes.

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5. 2003Expansion into events and reference publishing

   During Verk's publishing tenure, Boards introduces professional initiatives including Boards U, The Boards Creative Workshop, and a Post Production Resource Guide.

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6. 1999Boards launches

   Boards begins publication in August as an international trade magazine serving advertising professionals.

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A specialist trade-media and professional-networking brand for the advertising-production community, combining editorial coverage with events, educational programming, reference publishing, and campaign recognition.

• Boards magazineTrade magazine1999

  The core monthly print publication covered advertising production and the broader professional community around commercial work. Its recurring sections included editorial opinion, industry news, advertising commentary, interviews, and specialist reporting on creative, music and sound, post-production, editing, and animation.

• Boards OnlineDigital trade publication

  The online counterpart to the magazine extended Boards beyond its monthly print schedule. From May 2009 it published daily material such as behind-the-scenes production stories, video links, award-ceremony commentary, and analysis or notice of notable advertising campaigns.

• Boards UEducational event

  Boards U was an educational initiative aimed at junior producers. It represented the brand's effort to support professional development and create a direct learning channel alongside its editorial coverage.

• The Boards Creative WorkshopNetworking event

  The Boards Creative Workshop brought advertising-industry figures together for professional exchange and networking. It extended the magazine's role from reporting on the community to helping convene it.

• Post Production Resource GuideIndustry reference guide

  This specialist reference publication focused on the post-production side of advertising and complemented Boards' reporting on editing, finishing, and related production services.

• First Boards AwardsAdvertising awards

  The First Boards Awards recognized noteworthy new advertising campaigns and helped the brand build visibility among agencies, production companies, creative professionals, and other contributors to commercial work.

• 2010Brunico restructures and shelves BoardsStrategy

  Brunico Communications Ltd. undertook a corporate restructuring affecting the publication operation.

  What changed. The company shelved Boards, ending the regular magazine and associated brand activity in May 2010.

  Aftermath. Boards became a defunct advertising trade-publication brand.

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• 2009Shift toward daily digital publishingStrategy

  The monthly print magazine could not provide the same publishing frequency as online media for campaign launches, award results, videos, and production news.

  What changed. Boards Online began publishing daily updates, including behind-the-scenes features, video links, award commentary, and coverage of notable campaigns.

  Aftermath. The initiative strengthened the brand's digital editorial presence, although the overall brand was later shelved during Brunico Communications' 2010 restructuring.

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• 2010Brunico restructuring shelves Boards

  A corporate restructuring at Canadian publisher Brunico Communications led to the brand being shelved in May 2010.

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• 2009Boards Online adds daily editorial updates

  The online branch expanded to daily updates covering behind-the-scenes production, videos, award ceremonies, and notable advertising campaigns.

  Product launch
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• 1999Boards launches as an advertising trade publication

  Boards began publication in August 1999 as an international magazine for the advertising community.

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1. Boards (magazine)