SoGlos is an online magazine for Gloucestershire covering Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Stroud and Tewkesbury – with an editorial remit focused on arts, entertainment and leisure.

SoGlos
EditorMichelle Fyrne
CategoriesArts, Entertainment, Leisure
PublisherSo Publishing Ltd
First issueJuly 2007
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Websitehttp://www.soglos.com

Overview and ownership edit

The online magazine is divided into dedicated sections including Gloucestershire food, Gloucestershire theatre, Gloucestershire comedy, Gloucestershire culture, Gloucestershire music and Gloucestershire hotels, for examples – each including editorial event previews, reviews and news, hot lists, plus a directory of Gloucestershire venues.

SoGlos is owned and run by independent Cheltenham-based publishing company So Publishing Ltd. While free for users to access, the online magazine generates revenue through the sale of display advertising and native advertising.

Background and development edit

SoGlos was officially launched in July 2007, as reported by publications and websites including The Guardian,[1] Press Gazette,[2] and Webuser[3] as one of the UK's first regional online magazines written by professional journalists.

In 2008 SoGlos launched a Google Maps-powered Gloucestershire Interactive Map – a mash-up using the map provider's API and SoGlos's own directory of venue listings to plot restaurants, attractions, hotels across the county. This was reported by publications and websites including The Guardian[4] and Google Maps Mania.[5]

In 2009 SoGlos launched a series of Web widgets allowing webmasters to embed a calendar of Gloucestershire events, directly fed from the online magazine's listings, onto their own website. This was reported by publications and websites including journalism.co.uk,[6] Press Gazette[7] and HoldtheFrontPage.co.uk.[8]

Readership and awards edit

SoGlos is reported[9] to have a monthly reach of 90,000+ individual readers, in addition to sending a weekly email newsletter to 28,000 subscribers.

In both 2010 and 2014, SoGlos won the title of 'Website of the Year' in the EDF Energy South West Media Awards.[10] In 2010, SoGlos also won the title of 'Best eBusiness' in the Cheltenham Borough Council-run Business Excellence Awards.[11]

SoGlos's YouTube channel[12] is one of the most popular in South West England, with total upload views exceeding 10 million – thanks in part to the popularity of videos of Gloucestershire's annual cheese rolling tradition.

References edit

  1. ^ "Article 'The future of regional newspaper journalism (maybe)'". Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Article 'Gloucestershire journalists launch local online ents magazine'". Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011. Archived 16 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Article 'Review of SoGlos.com'". Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Article 'Gloucestershire map is So enterprising'". Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Article 'Something for the weekend'". Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Article 'SoGlos tackles copyright infringements with new widgets'". Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Article 'Online widgets to boost Gloucestershire tourism'". Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  8. ^ "Article 'Online magazine bids to reach wider audience'". Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Website page 'SoGlos.com advertising'". Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  10. ^ "Blog post 'SoGlos.com scoops Website of the Year award'". Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011. Archived 19 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Blog post 'SoGlos.com wins a Business Excellence Award'". Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011. Archived 16 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "YouTube channel 'SoGlos YouTube Channel'". Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2016.

External links edit