Bauer has launched a monthly entertainment magazine for women.
The 68-page Lounge is aimed at women aged 35 to 45 and features a mix of puzzles, travel, nostalgia, celebrities and competitions.
The first issue promises “more prizes than any other women’s monthly”. It includes a retrospective look at children’s television series Grange Hill and an article on “celebs with no dress sense”.
Editor Kevin Whitlock told Press Gazette: “It is basically a women’s entertainment magazine. When I say entertainment, it is not talking about everyone in the entertainment world, but it’s something you can sit down with a have a bit of fun with.
“There is a lot of nostalgia, stuff like Grange Hill and Tiswas, which our readers would have grown up with.”
Whitlock hopes to make the magazine interactive with readers invited to take part in competitions and win big cash prizes in the first issue.
The title was given a typically lowkey launch by Bauer, despite boasting a print run of 350,000. It has a cover price of £1.60.
Lounge is run by a small editorial team, including former Blush freelance Amanda Prouten as art director, Cheryl Foreman (ex-Bauer) as puzzles editor, Laura Woodland (ex-Zest) as promotions editor and former Daily Mirror sub Craig Gaymer as sub-editor.
Whitlock has previously worked for Newstrade Publishing, reporting on the magazine industry from a trade perspective.
Prior to Lounge, he was involved in the launch of another title at Bauer, codenamed Project Fox. When it was put on hold, he was moved across and asked to edit Lounge.
“I don’t think there is any direct competition. All magazines are competing for time and money but hopefully Lounge will bring readers into the market or be an additional purchase,” he added.
By Ruth Addicott
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