OT goes to Geldof

McMillan-Scott, part of Bob Geldof’s media empire, is the new publisher of the Association of Optometrists’ magazine Optometry Today.

The current publisher, Words and Images, will produce its last issue of OT on June 30, the first issue from the new publisher will appear on July 14.

Explaining the move the AOP’s chief executive Bob Hughes said: ‘We are looking forward to delivering an even better OT to our members and to optics as a whole. We have given McMillan-Scott a brief to bring innovation and a more contemporary and professional feel to the journal’s design and content.’ He said the change would see increased investment made in the title.

The latest annual report from the AOP shows that for the year 2005 the AOP paid £808,604 to Words & Images in connection with the production of OT, compared to £761,257 in 2004.

Advertisements appeared in this Monday’s Guardian for a new editor, assistant editor and two other production staff for a ‘thorough revamp’ of the magazine. To ensure a smooth transition, optical publishing consultant Shelagh Hardy has been appointed  as consultant editor.

The AOP’s annual report showed that for the year 2005 OT had a turnover of £1,114,895 a slight fall from £1,129, 670 in the year 2004.