Glossy magazine Cosmopolitan is to launch a free spin-off title later this year aimed at female university students.
The National Magazine Company, publisher of the monthly paid-for title, is planning to print 250,000 copies of Cosmo on Campus for distribution at 65 universities across the UK when the new term starts in October.
The publisher claims the launch is part of a long-term strategy which will see it produce a new issue of the spin-off each quarter in 2011.
Initially these magazines will be distributed through its ‘Brand Ambassador’universities, which include London Met, Leeds and Leeds Met, Manchester and Manchester Met and Edinburgh.
Natmag said the new title, which is aimed at 18-21 year-olds, will be a 56-page magazine printed on ‘improved newsprint’.
In addition, the magazine will be complemented by publication of a digital version by Cosmooncampus.co.uk, a new channel to be added to the existing Cosmopolitan.co.uk website.
Louise Court, editor of Cosmopolitan, said: “We wanted to produce a free tailored version of Cosmopolitan that talks directly to the student population and gives them all the honest and intimate advice they can get from the monthly magazine, but tailored specifically to their lifestyle as an introduction to the paid-for glossy.”
Cosmopolitan, which is the second biggest women’s lifestyle glossy behind Glamour, underwent a redesign last month overseen by new creative director Stuart Selner.
According to the latest figures available from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, Cosmopolitan sold an average of 430,353 copies each month in the second half of last year, down 4.5 per cent year on year. It sells for £3.40 an issue.
New circulation data for the first six months of 2010 will be made public by the ABC next week.
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