GWAS Media Satchel

Bits and (Anna Wintour) bobs from the glossy media beat*...

Image: SMH

- The Sydney Morning Herald has its first female editor in its 180-year history. Amanda Wilson takes the helm of the Fairfax newspaper, her role formalised now after acting in the role since October. ''We have always had brilliant women journalists at the Herald,'' said Wilson. ''One of the people who helped me here was Lis Sterel and in my opinion she should have been the first woman editor." She also added that one of the benefits of having more women in the media industry had been for men to consider how to balance work and family, while she sees her role as upholding the paper's commitment to "outstanding independent journalism" as the masthead looks at monetisation for online news.

"Wilson joins a handful of women including Ita Buttrose (The Daily Telegraph) and Michelle Grattan (The Canberra Times) who have edited major dailies and Gay Alcorn, the current editor of Fairfax's The Sunday Age," noted The Australian.

Of course, Ita is being brought to our TV screens soon via the ABC series Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo. To get a sneak preview of what will be covered in the show (weddings!), read Andrew Denton's excellent interview with Ita here and a retro review of Cleo here.

- The biggest goss on the Aussie glossy block is Grazia editor-in-chief and Harper's BAZAAR editorial director Alison Veness McGourty's departure from ACP Magazines. Frockwriter has a report. And so does The Daily Telegraph. "Managing editor Jane Davies is a very capable operator and the staff on Grazia are true professionals," said ACP managing director Phil Scott, dismissing rumours of the title's imminent demise. "The magazine enjoys my wholehearted backing and that of (PBL chief executive) David Gyngell."
 
The Courier-Mail reports the magazine's staff were moved to ACP's Goulburn Street offices before Christmas. McGourty follows Paula Joye (now of Life.Styled) out the door, while the Park Street camera crew have been making their way around the building.

AdNews today reported that the Foxtel show will be sponsored by Pandora jewelley. "The exclusive deal includes in-magazine activity, including a three-month advertorial component, across all five titles involved in the show - Cosmopolitan, Cleo, Madison, Shop Til You Drop and Dolly - as well as in-program brand alignment, opening and closing billboards and social networking activity.

"Park Street is an important vehicle for Pandora to demonstrate the brand values of handcrafted jewellery made from genuine materials," said the brand's head of marketing and communications Jeff Burnes. "Through our sponsorship, we will inspire women to style their own individual looks."

- Robyn Foyster, one-time editor of The Australian Women's Weekly, has rejoined ACP as Associate Publisher after working on the Seven Network's Sunrise morning program, where she was said to be in the running for the Executive Producer role vacated by the popular Adam Boland. "I am excited to work for ACP again under Phil Scott’s strong leadership," said Foyster in a statement. "I have ink in my blood and a passion for magazines and ACP has the best mastheads in the country."

- Emmanuelle Alt, 45 and a glossy veteran of 20 years replaced Carine Roitfeld as the editor of Vogue Paris, starting February 1. The always-reserved Karl Lagerfeld is underwhelmed.

- Anna Wintour is to receive a French Legion of Honour Award, reports UK Vogue.

- The Daily editor Brandusa Niro has bought the masthead from IMG. "As part of the sale, The Daily will retain its status as Magazine of Choice for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week; financial terms of the deal were not disclosed." (The Horses Mouth)

- Dennis Freedman, the former creative director of W, is now creative director of Barney's New York. (NY Times).

- Newsagency blogger Mark Fletcher has a few things to say about increasing cover prices to offset cover mount costs, as with February's marie claire Australia, and dealing with magazine bundle packs.


*Pales in comparison to the flood devastation, of course. Working out a strategy for helping in that regard as I negotiate some woolly weather and supply-demand grocery issues in Queensland myself.

Yours truly,
Girl With a Satchel