Monocle (UK Magazine)

''Monocle'' is a global affairs and lifestyle magazine published by Winkreative Ltd. It also operates a 24-hour internet radio station, a retail business, and an associated website. The magazine was founded in London in 2007 by Tyler Brûlé, a Canadian entrepreneur and former founder of '' Wallpaper*'' magazine.

In 2014, Brûlé sold a minority stake in ''Monocle'' to Japanese publisher Nikkei Inc., valuing the company at approximately US$115 million. The size of the investment was not disclosed. In December of the same year, the magazine introduced ''The Forecast'', a seasonal publication. A travel-focused title, ''The Escapist'', followed in 2015.

Operations

Print and publishing

Magazine

Brûlé launched ''Monocle'' in February 2007 as a print magazine, financed by a group of private investors. It is published 10 times a year and is printed entirely in English. The publication has been described by journalists as a lifestyle magazine aimed at globally mobile professionals.

In 2010, the magazine introduced seasonal print newspapers: ''Monocle Mediterraneo'' during the summer, and ''Monocle Alpino'' in winter. Both were discontinued in 2014 and replaced by annual publications ''The Forecast'' and ''The Escapist''. As of that time, ''Monocle'' did not maintain official accounts on major social media platforms.

The magazine contains both traditional advertising and sponsored content, including in-house reports and surveys.

Books

In 2013, ''Monocle'' collaborated with the Berlin-based publisher Gestalten to release its first book, ''The Monocle Guide to Better Living''. Several other titles followed, including ''The Monocle Guide to Good Business'', ''The Monocle Guide to Cosy Homes'', ''How to Make a Nation: A Monocle Guide'', and ''The Monocle Guide to Drinking and Dining''. The magazine also co-publishes a series of travel guides covering various international cities.

Radio

Monocle Radio is an English-language internet radio station broadcasting from Midori House in London. Launched as Monocle 24 in October 2011, it features weekday news programmes and weekly shows covering business, culture, design, food, media, and urban affairs. The schedule includes both live and on-demand content, with much of its audience engagement occurring via downloads.

The station originated from ''The Monocle Weekly'', a podcast launched in December 2008 by Andrew Tuck and Robert Bound, which became a one-hour weekend radio programme. Early weekday shows included ''The Globalist'', ''The Briefing'', ''Midori House'', and ''The Monocle Daily''. Other themed segments have included ''Culture with Robert Bound'', ''Section D'', ''The Entrepreneurs'', and ''The Urbanist''. Programmes initially ran for 50 minutes, shortened to 30 minutes in 2015, when new shows such as ''The Big Interview'' and ''The Monocle Arts Review'' were introduced.

Programming changes over time included the addition of ''The Stack'' in 2012 and ''The Globalist Asia'' in 2013. The station also broadcasts content from international events. A monthly podcast, ''Konfekt Korner'', is produced in association with its sister publication ''Konfekt''.

Monocle 24's editorial approach has drawn comparisons to public broadcasters such as the BBC World Service, ABC (Australia), and CBC (Canada). Brûlé has described the station as reflecting a Commonwealth-style public service model. Content is presented by Monocle staff and contributing broadcasters from bureaux in New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Zürich.

Sponsorship has included support from UBS, Novartis, and Allianz, with past branded segments produced in partnership with firms such as BMW, Rolex, Chanel, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines. Monocle 24 has aired over 60 programmes since 2011, though early hourly newscasts, weather reports, and overnight bulletins from ABC Radio were phased out by 2015.

Monocle TV

In early 2011, six episodes of a Monocle television programme were broadcast internationally on Bloomberg.

Website

Monocle's website offers digital access to its magazine archive, with full content available to subscribers and a limited number of free articles per issue. It also hosts over 500 publicly accessible films, slideshows, and documentaries, which are additionally distributed via iTunes and YouTube.

Retail products, including in-house designs and selected collaborations, are available through the website and in Monocle retail locations worldwide. The website also streams Monocle 24, the company’s radio station, and provides access to its archive of speech-based programmes.

The site launched alongside the magazine in 2007 and underwent a redesign in November 2012. In 2013, it received several Lovie Awards, including Gold for Best Writing – Editorial, Silver for Lifestyle, and Bronze for Best Practices.

Retail and hospitality

Retail

Monocle opened its first retail store in London in November 2008, later expanding to cities including Hong Kong, Toronto, Tokyo, Singapore, New York, Culver City, and Meran. The stores sell Monocle-branded items and collaborative products, and the company also operates seasonal pop-up locations.

Café

In April 2013, Monocle opened a café on Chiltern Street in Marylebone, London. Additional cafés were later opened in Tokyo and in the Seefeld district of Zurich, sometimes integrated with retail spaces.

In 2015, the company launched Kioskafé, a newsstand and coffee bar near London Paddington station, modelled on European kiosks. It stocked a range of print publications but closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Projects

Monocle surveys

Monocle publishes an annual Quality of Life issue that ranks 25 cities worldwide based on perceived liveability metrics. In 2016, Tokyo topped the ranking.

Since 2010, the magazine has also compiled an annual Soft Power survey, assessing countries by their global influence through culture, diplomacy, and trade. In 2016, the United States led the ranking.

Conferences

In 2015, Monocle introduced the Quality of Life Conference, first held in Lisbon and later in Vienna in 2016. The event brings together speakers from fields including design, urbanism, and culture. The host city varies from year to year.

Reception

Accolades

In 2011, ''Monocle'' was named one of the top ten magazines of the year by ''AdAge'' as part of its "A List". Editor Tyler Brûlé received the title of Editor of the Year in the same feature. In 2015, the magazine received a D&AD Wood Pencil award for its annual publication, ''The Forecast''.

Criticisms

In 2018, former intern Amalia Illgner published an article in ''The Guardian'' describing her experience at Monocle's London office, where she reported being paid £30 per day. The matter was resolved following an employment tribunal, which resulted in Monocle admitting liability and reaching a settlement.

See also

* Luxury magazine
* ''Departures''
* ''Worth''
* '' Robb Report''
* High net worth individual

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monocle (Media Company)
Lifestyle magazines published in the United Kingdom
Design magazines
Cultural magazines published in the United Kingdom
Magazines established in 2007
News magazines published in the United Kingdom
Mass media companies of the United Kingdom
Magazines published in London
Podcasting companies