Contagious

Contagious is an advertising and marketing publication produced by Contagious Communications for an international professional audience. It was launched in 2004 by Paul Kemp-Robertson and Gee Thomson, both of whom had backgrounds in advertising journalism and creative-industry publishing. Kemp-Robertson had worked as director of creative resources at Leo Burnett Worldwide and had edited Shots magazine, while Thomson was an author and co-founder of Shots. Their aim was to create a specialist resource capable of examining how brands interact with consumers, how emerging technologies affect communications, and how the fragmentation of media changes the work of marketers and agencies. The core editorial product is a quarterly magazine. Contagious developed a distinctive editorial approach that combined commentary on the advertising industry with detailed examinations of creative campaigns. In its early format, each issue was accompanied by a DVD containing more than 100 examples of creative work. Campaigns were organized around a challenge, the solution adopted by the brand or agency, and the resulting impact, giving readers a practical framework for evaluating communications rather than treating advertising solely as cultural commentary. The audiovisual material was later transferred into a searchable online database available to subscribers. The publication operates as more than a print magazine. Its activities include online news coverage, a free weekly newsletter, subscriber research and intelligence, specialist reports, conferences, and contributions to industry events. This combination gives Contagious a position between trade journalism, professional education, trend analysis, and subscription-based marketing intelligence. Its subject matter covers creative communications, brand strategy, digital technology, media change, innovation, and the business implications of new consumer behaviors. Its readership includes advertisers and brand owners, multinational and local marketing organizations, creative directors, planners, chief executives, and new-business leaders at communications companies. The publication is therefore oriented toward decision-makers and practitioners who use examples of market activity to inform strategy, creative development, and organizational planning. Contagious also curates and contributes to conferences and industry events, extending its role from publishing into knowledge-sharing and professional networking. The brand has received recognition for its design, including awards for business-to-business magazine design and cover design in the mid-to-late 2000s. Public reference material identifies no listed-company structure, ticker, financial figures, or confirmed corporate parent. The available sources also do not specify a current headquarters, current senior leadership roster, or ownership arrangement beyond the association with Contagious Communications. Within the limits of the documented material, Contagious is best understood as an active specialist media and intelligence brand serving the global advertising and marketing sector.

Contagious was established in 2004 by Paul Kemp-Robertson and Gee Thomson. The founders brought experience from specialist advertising publishing and agency-side creative work: Kemp-Robertson had served as director of creative resources at Leo Burnett Worldwide and had edited Shots magazine, while Thomson was an author and co-founder of Shots. They created Contagious to address the relationship between brands and consumers, the effects of new technologies, and the increasingly fragmented structure of the media environment. The original proposition combined a quarterly magazine with an audiovisual archive. Early issues included a DVD featuring more than 100 examples of creative work. Rather than presenting campaigns only as showcases, Contagious described them through a challenge, solution, and results structure. This format made the publication useful to practitioners seeking to understand the strategic problem behind a campaign, the intervention made by the brand or agency, and the reported or observable outcome. The archive later moved online and became a searchable subscriber database, allowing the brand to extend its value beyond the periodic print issue. Over time, Contagious developed into a broader communications resource operated by Contagious Communications. Its activities came to include online news and a free weekly newsletter, as well as in-depth reports focused on important developments in advertising, marketing, technology, and media. It also curated and contributed to conferences and industry events. These extensions positioned the brand across several adjacent categories: advertising journalism, professional intelligence, research, education, and event programming. The publication's intended audience includes local and multinational advertisers, creative directors, strategic planners, chief executives, and new-business directors working in communications companies. Its editorial and research model is consequently directed toward professionals who need examples, analysis, and forward-looking interpretation for brand and communications decisions. The available reference material describes Contagious as serving the global marketing community but does not provide a confirmed headquarters, corporate ownership details, financial information, or a current list of executives. Contagious received design recognition during its early years. It won the award for Best Designed Business-to-Business Magazine in 2008 and received Best Designed Business-to-Business Front Cover awards in 2007 and 2005 at the Magazine Design and Journalism Awards. These distinctions reflected the publication's emphasis on editorial presentation as well as its specialist subject matter. No documented scandals, lawsuits, acquisitions, product recalls, or major leadership changes are identified in the supplied material.

1. 2008Business-to-business magazine design award

   Contagious is recognized as Best Designed Business-to-Business Magazine at the Magazine Design and Journalism Awards.

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2. 2007Second documented cover design award

   The publication receives another Best Designed Business-to-Business Front Cover award at the Magazine Design and Journalism Awards.

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3. 2005Business-to-business cover design award

   Contagious receives a Best Designed Business-to-Business Front Cover award at the Magazine Design and Journalism Awards.

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4. 2004Contagious is founded and launched

   Paul Kemp-Robertson and Gee Thomson launch Contagious as a specialist publication examining brands, consumers, technology, and the changing media landscape.

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A specialist global resource for advertising and marketing professionals, combining trade publishing, campaign intelligence, trend analysis, research reports, and industry events.

• Contagious magazineTrade magazine2004

  The quarterly flagship publication covers advertising, brand communications, technology, innovation, and changes in consumer and media behavior. Its editorial approach uses campaign examples and practical analysis to connect creative work with the business and strategic problems it addresses.

• Contagious subscriber databaseMarketing intelligence database

  The online subscriber resource evolved from the creative-work DVDs distributed with early magazine issues. It provides searchable access to campaign material and organizes examples for professional research and inspiration.

• Contagious weekly newsletterEmail publishing

  A free weekly newsletter distributes online news and updates related to advertising, marketing, communications, and associated industry developments.

• Contagious specialist reportsResearch and thought leadership

  Contagious publishes in-depth reports examining significant themes and trends affecting advertising and marketing. These reports extend the brand beyond periodical journalism into structured professional analysis.

• Contagious eventsIndustry events

  The brand curates and contributes to conferences and other industry events, using live programming to share campaign analysis, trend perspectives, and professional expertise with the communications community.

1. Contagious (magazine)
2. Contagious official website