SoPublishing has been shortlisted for the Small Publisher category in the finals of the AOP Awards 2026 – a benchmark for excellence in the UK’s digital publishing industry
Run by the Association of Online Publishers, the awards recognise innovation, audience engagement and commercial success across the media industry, with finalists spanning national media organisations, specialist publishers and high-growth independents.
Being named alongside the UK’s most ambitious digital publishers marks a significant milestone for SoPublishing, which continues to scale its Gloucestershire-rooted model through its flagship brand, SoGlos.
The Small Publisher category is particularly competitive, with SoPublishing shortlisted alongside solli: Transforming Pharma Media, DriveNation Media Ltd and Trending Now – a group representing some of the UK’s most innovative and fast-growing independent publishers. Finalists are recognised not just for audience growth, but for building distinctive brands with clear purpose and long-term potential.
It is not the first time SoPublishing has been recognised in the prestigious AOP Awards, with SoGlos highly commended as best online consumer brand at the AOP Awards in 2024, coming a ‘close second' to media giant The Telegraph Media Group and beating the other two category finalists, Good Food Magazine and Radio Times.
SoPublishing has been built on a clear editorial and commercial philosophy – celebrating place, championing local stories and creating a sustainable media model grounded in positivity and genuine community connection. Crucially, it proves this approach can work as a profitable, modern media business within a single defined region – pointing to a more optimistic, deeply embedded future for regional publishing.
Since its launch, SoPublishing has continually differentiated itself from traditional local media – investing in premium content, a positive editorial agenda and long-term partner relationships rather than high-volume, low-value output. That approach has underpinned consistent growth, both in audience reach and commercial performance.
With the AOP Awards shortlisting signalling that this strategy is gaining recognition at a national level.
It also reinforces the wider opportunity for independent publishers to build sustainable businesses outside of legacy media structures – particularly when they are embedded within and shaped by the communities they serve.
Michelle Fyrne, CEO of SoPublishing, said: ‘Reaching the finals of the AOP Awards is a real milestone for us. We’ve been building SoPublishing with a clear focus on quality, purpose and long-term sustainability, so to be recognised alongside some of the UK’s most respected digital publishers – particularly in the Small Publisher category – is incredibly meaningful.
'It reflects the strength of our team, the loyalty of our audience and the power of a model rooted in place but designed to scale. We’re proud to represent Gloucestershire on a national stage and excited about what comes next.’
Richard Reeves, Managing Director of AOP, said: 'Every year, the high standards of our award entries never fail to showcase the resilience and innovation digital publishers demonstrate on a daily basis... I can’t wait to give them their much-deserved moment in the spotlight.'
Winners of the AOP Awards 2026 are set to be announced at an awards ceremony in Old Billingsgate in London on Thursday 11 June 2026, bringing together leading voices from across the UK publishing industry.
For more information, visit ukaop.org.
