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A group of women who were laid off after the closure of Bauer Media New Zealand in the first closure have resurrected their careers.
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They’re releasing four new magazines by the end of the year, and the first to hit the shelves tomorrow. Source: 1 NEWS
Among Bauer’s 200 people was Sido Kitchin, former editor-in-chief of all the major women’s magazines, whose career spans 15 years.
“I got a phone call one day … and I was offered the opportunity to start four new magazines and the timing seemed so right that I couldn’t believe it at the time,” he told 1 NEWS.
That phone call was from someone with a passion for magazines, disheartened to see so many female voices ending up as part of Covid-19 job deaths.
Being named editor-in-chief of the magazine meant she was able to hire a group of her former colleagues, something Kitchin says she was very excited about.
“I must pick up the phone and ask many wonderfully talented young women to come on this adventure with me.
“But for me it is not just this amazing team that I have 20 women on staff here at the magazine, it is also the entire ecosystem that surrounds the magazines, the photographers, makeup artists, stylists and writers,” she told 1 NEWS.
One of her employees is Georgia Bews, who says working in the publishing world has been a lifesaver.
“It was quite a shock to be honest,” she says.
Four new magazines will be launched by the end of the year; Haven, Thrive, Scout and Woman, with the first to hit the shelves on Monday.
Kitchin says that after discovering that women made up 10,000 of the 11,000 jobs lost after Covid-19, she knew she wanted a new direction for the magazine.
“Women is a space where I want New Zealand women to be uplifted, celebrated. I think we are not looking for that kind of escapism right now.
“I strongly believe in this profound year of change where we are looking for connection, a sense of community, I think we are seeing this beautiful New Zealand country that we are so grateful to call home.”
AUT Senior Communications Professor Louise Matthews says women’s magazines play a vital role in society.
“Academic research has shown that this is a key role to play in alerting women to health concerns, health checks, and general well-being,” she told 1 NEWS.
Matthews says launching a new magazine is the easy part: The real test is gaining readers.
