Post Magazine is celebrating 180 years in business. The publication first came into being in 1840 and was the first magazine to be delivered by post – hence the name. It was introduced by John Hooper Hartnoll, then the editor of the Kentish Mercury.
Ever since the first publication of the magazine, its 21 known editors have charted the development of the insurance industry without a break, publishing approaching 9000 issues with many hundreds of supplements and special editions along the way.
Back in 1840, it was a bold move to create a magazine devoted to insurance that would be sent by an untried postal system. At that time, the magazine featured a blank page where head offices could add in their own company’s activities before sending copies of the magazine.
This gave the magazine a readership far beyond the 5000 copies printed each week.
After Hartnoll’s death, his wife took to managing the magazine although she passed on the day-to-day responsibility for editing the magazine to others.
Next, the magazine saw many changing hands, finally landing in the hands of Henry Hepple Thubrun, whose reign was to be the longest in the magazine’s history.
After the Second World War, Peter Gartland came into the picture and during his time the magazine saw significant changes in its style.
1995 again saw The Post Magazine on the move with the launch of the British Insurance Awards
Fast forward to 2011, Lynn Rouse, who joined the brand for a work experience placement and also worked as features editor and deputy editor, took on the editorship. Under her, the first weekly app to the market was launched.
Then in 2013, with Rouse joining international broker AJ Gallagher, the editorship changed to Stephanie Denton, who joined the brand in 2004 as a reporter and also held roles including senior reporter, supplements editor and special projects editor.
Under Denton, the Post saw the switch from publishing weekly to monthly, introducing the high-quality magazine we know today.
Across its 180 years, the Post has remained a supporter and constructive critic of the insurance sector. Although publishing across many mediums t continues to look for the story beneath the news and add value to its readers
