Wellbeing Magazine Celebrates 20 Years as Haywood Media Expands Its Wellness Publishing and Media Ecosystem

Haywood Media Ltd, the independent British publishing company behind Wellbeing Magazine, is celebrating 20 years in health and wellness publishing while expanding its portfolio of specialist media and technology platforms designed to support the evolving global wellness industry.

Founded in 2006 by Rachel Branson, Wellbeing Magazine began as a regional UK publication dedicated to helping readers make more informed decisions about their health, lifestyle and wellbeing. Two decades later, it has evolved into an international print and digital publication, while Haywood Media has developed a broader ecosystem connecting wellness professionals, founders, businesses, publishers and consumers.

The company’s expansion includes Wellbeing Circle, a publishing and thought-leadership community for wellness experts and brands; Storii.life, a founder storytelling and media distribution platform; and Roam, its dedicated wellness travel publication, which is preparing to introduce a new annual print magazine in 2027.

The anniversary comes at a pivotal moment for the media and wellness industries, as artificial intelligence changes how information is created, discovered and consumed, placing greater emphasis on trusted publishing brands, editorial transparency and authentic human expertise.

Twenty Years of Publishing in an Evolving Wellness Industry

Since Wellbeing Magazine launched in 2006, the wellness industry has undergone a significant transformation. What was once largely associated with alternative therapies, nutrition and lifestyle choices has expanded into a global sector encompassing preventative healthcare, longevity, mental wellbeing, fitness technology, personalised health, wellness hospitality and healthy ageing.

Throughout that evolution, Wellbeing Magazine has continued to explore the relationship between people, their health and the environments in which they live, work and travel.

In 2025, the publication renewed its commitment to high-quality print publishing, complementing its established digital presence with a more considered, tactile editorial experience.

“Twenty years ago, wellbeing was still a relatively niche conversation. Today, it influences almost every aspect of our lives, from how we eat and exercise to how we travel, work, design our homes and think about ageing,” said Rachel Branson, Founder of Haywood Media and Editor-in-Chief of Wellbeing Magazine.

“What has remained constant is the importance of sharing useful information, telling meaningful stories and connecting people with knowledge and experiences that can genuinely improve their lives. Technology has completely transformed publishing, but I believe the need for trusted, human-led editorial content has never been greater.”

Why Print Publishing IS Still Important in the Age of AI

While digital media offers extraordinary reach, emerging research highlights the continuing importance of established editorial brands and the role of print in building meaningful relationships with audiences.

According to September 2026 PAMCo audience figures reported by PPA Magnetic, UK magazine media reaches approximately 34 million adults each month across print and digital platforms. Of these, 15 million continue to read printed magazines, including 6.8 million who engage with magazine brands exclusively through print.

Earlier PPA Magnetic research also found that 90% of adults surveyed trusted what they read in their preferred magazine brands across print and digital formats.

Meanwhile, Ofcom’s September 2026 research found that 21% of UK adults had used AI tools to access news during the previous month, yet 56% said they were less trusting of AI-written news than news written by a person.

For Haywood Media, these findings reinforce the opportunity for established publishers to combine the scale and accessibility of digital media with the editorial accountability, permanence and reading experience of print.

“AI is changing the publishing industry at an extraordinary pace, and there are enormous opportunities in that,” Branson continued.

“But there is also a growing challenge for readers trying to understand where information comes from, who wrote it and whether the person behind it has genuine knowledge or experience. This is particularly important when publishing information about health and wellbeing.

“We believe the future belongs to publishers who can combine innovation with credibility. A beautifully produced magazine, written and edited by identifiable people, creates a different relationship with its reader. It gives stories space, encourages deeper engagement and offers brands an environment where quality matters more than simply generating another impression or click.”

Building a Connected Publishing Ecosystem for Wellness Brands and Experts

Alongside its editorial publications, Haywood Media is investing in platforms designed to address some of the challenges facing founders, practitioners, brands and public relations professionals seeking meaningful visibility in a crowded digital environment.

Wellbeing Circle — Supporting Expertise and Thought Leadership

WellbeingCircle.app provides a community and publishing pathway for wellness professionals, practitioners, entrepreneurs and brands looking to establish their authority through informed content and genuine expertise.

The platform supports contributors with editorial publishing opportunities, personal brand development and education around digital visibility, search optimisation and emerging answer-engine technologies.

Its focus is on helping knowledgeable individuals become recognised voices in their fields, rather than relying solely on conventional digital advertising or volume-driven content strategies.

Storii.life — Turning Founder Stories into Media Opportunities

Storii.life is Haywood Media’s founder-focused storytelling and media distribution platform, developed to help entrepreneurs, creators and business leaders communicate the people and purpose behind their brands.

Through guided interviews, editorial storytelling and a growing media marketplace, Storii helps founders develop their personal narratives into articles, biographies, press releases and other content that can be shared across relevant media channels.

The platform also aims to connect journalists, publishers, PR professionals and businesses, helping credible founders become more discoverable as expert sources and industry voices.

While originating within Haywood Media’s publishing ecosystem, Storii has been designed to serve founders and businesses across multiple industries, including wellness, technology, hospitality, travel and lifestyle.

Roam — The Next Chapter in Wellness Travel Publishing

Roam.uno represents the company’s continued expansion into the growing wellness travel industry.

Developed from Wellbeing Magazine’s established travel coverage, Roam explores wellness hotels, retreats, spas, destinations, nature-based experiences, active adventures and the evolving relationship between travel and personal wellbeing.

Following the redesign of its digital platform in 2026, Haywood Media is preparing to introduce a dedicated annual Roam print magazine in 2027, creating a premium editorial environment for wellness destinations, hospitality brands, tourism organisations and travellers seeking experiences that offer something beyond a conventional holiday.

The publication will combine destination storytelling, independent travel experiences, interviews and emerging wellness travel trends, reflecting increasing consumer interest in holidays that support physical health, mental wellbeing, recovery and personal connection.

A Different Approach to Wellness Media Partnerships

The development of these platforms signals a wider strategic direction for Haywood Media: moving beyond traditional advertising and standalone publication placements towards longer-term relationships built around expertise, storytelling, audience engagement and editorial relevance.

For wellness businesses, the connected portfolio provides opportunities to develop founder visibility, contribute professional knowledge, connect with specialist publications and reach relevant audiences through both print and digital media.

For the publishing industry, the company sees an opportunity to demonstrate that established editorial brands can remain commercially relevant by investing in distinctive content, transparent relationships and specialist communities, rather than competing purely on search traffic and content volume.

“We have spent 20 years building relationships with people and businesses who genuinely care about making a difference in the wellness industry,” said Branson.

“Our ambition now is to bring those relationships together through platforms that help experts share their knowledge, founders tell their stories, brands build meaningful connections and readers discover information they can trust.

“We are not looking to replace traditional publishing with technology. We are looking at how technology can make quality publishing more accessible, connected and sustainable for the next 20 years.”

Looking Ahead

As Wellbeing Magazine celebrates its 20th anniversary, Haywood Media’s strategy reflects a broader shift taking place across the wellness economy, where credibility, community and specialist knowledge are becoming increasingly valuable.

With continued investment in digital platforms, founder storytelling, expert-led publishing and the forthcoming Roam annual magazine, the company aims to build a publishing ecosystem that connects the human experience of wellness with new opportunities for industry collaboration.

For Haywood Media, the next chapter is not simply about reaching larger audiences, but about creating lasting value for the people, businesses and communities shaping the future of wellbeing.

Research Sources

• PPA Magnetic / PAMCo, September 2026 magazine media audience data: https://magnetic.media/news-views/news/magazine-media-reaches-34-million-uk-adults-every-month-new-pamco-data-reveals
• PPA Magnetic, 2024 magazine media audience and trust research: https://magnetic.media/news-views/news/39m-adults-read-magazine-content-online-and-in-print-every-month
• Ofcom, News Consumption in the UK 2026: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/media-use-and-attitudes/attitudes-to-news/one-in-five-brits-using-ai-to-keep-up-with-news