WRITERS’ NEWS
http://www.writers-online.co.uk MARCH 2020^105Platinum is a new magazine from
DC Thomson aimed at mature
women who want to leading
their best lives.
‘There was a gap in the market for a fabulous glossy monthly for
women of 55-plus,’ said editor Ali Kirker. ‘For those women who are
absolutely living life at full pace, still interested in fashion and beauty
and living life to the full.’
Platinum readers are a varied bunch but they are all aiming to
get the most out of life. ‘She might between 55 and 70,’ said Ali. ‘I
think that just shows how at one point you might have expected her
to be winding down, but that’s not the case any more. Our reader
is switched on and interested in current affairs and travel. They’re
stylish, a big part of their community, interested in food, drink
socialising – they’re having the time of their lives.’
Platinum is a monthly glossy. ‘This demographic are still big magazine
buyers,’ said Ali. ‘We’ve met a lot of women who’ve grown up with
magazines and see them as a treat. Sitting down with a coffee or a glass
of wine and having that time for themselves.’
The content is similar to most women’s magazines. ‘Health, fashion,
some celebrity content – there’s always a star interview,’ said Ali. ‘We’ve
got a great bunch of experts on board: finance, travel, health, fashion,
beauty, tech, gadgets. We cover a lot of food, travel, interiors.’
There’s a really big health focus. ‘It’s a big driver for this demographic.
We cover health in quite a positive way – it’s about how you manage
your issues so you can still keep living the life you want to lead. We’re
trying to help people live their lives as best they can. And we cover
fitness, from walking to high-impact training.’
Readers are as likely to be involved in careers as they are to be taking
life at their own pace. ‘Some of our target readership have stopped
working, some are still working, some are part time and some starting a
business – taking their hobbies and their passions and making a business
out of them. We cover careers and we cover voluntary work as well.’
Leisure interests are equally important to this demographic. ‘We cover
arts and culture, and what’s on. Staying in, going out. Home life, family
life, relationships – and relationships between family and friends.’
Articles are a broad mix of styles and lengths vary between 500 and
1,700 words. ‘Some of the pieces are quite in-depth. We’ve got lighter
pieces as well, opinion pieces, and some humorous pieces as well. A
really broad mix.’
Ali is happy to hear from writers with lively ideas that would
appeal to her readership. ‘Try to give us something we don’t know.
A new angle on a topic, facts or something that’s new. That’s more
likely to catch our attention.’ She’s also interested in hearing from
freelances with good access to celebrities – ‘we’re always interested in
an exclusive.’
As its title suggests, Platinum is a quality read. ‘We’re interested
in pitches from people who are writing great pieces, no matter
what their specialism. The quality of writing in Platinum is really
important – we want people to get to the end of it and say, that was
really good.’
Payment starts at around £175.
Details: email: [email protected]; website: http://www.platinum-
mag.co.ukAbsolutely fabulous
UK MAGAZINE MARKET
Tina JacksonMilly Johnson has been awarded the RNA’s 2020
Outstanding Achievement Award. The award honours a
writer who has made an outstanding contribution in the
field of romantic fiction.
RNA President Katie Fforde said: ‘Milly Johnson is
such a deserving recipient of this award. She is one of the
shining stars of our industry.’
Milly’s last novel, The Magnificent Mrs Mayhew, is a bestseller. Her seventeenth
novel, My One True North, will be published in March. She is one of the authors
selected for this year’s quick reads from The Reading Agency, and her novella The
Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe will be published in February.
Milly will be presented with her Outstanding Achievement Award on 2 March
at the Romantic Novel Awards.Milly’s outstanding
Milly Johnson has been awarded the RNA’s 2020
Outstanding Achievement Award. The award honours a
writer who has made an outstanding contribution in theshining stars of our industry.’‘There was a gap in the market for a fabulous glossy monthly forFOOD / REVIEWS / HEALTH / BEAUTY / FINANCE / HOMES&GARDENSMARCH 2020 • £4.50M A R C H 2 0 2 0 • £ 4. 5 0 live, look & feel fabulouslive, look & feel fabulousFIT FOR LIFE • SPRING HOME TRENDS • SUPERFOOD SKINCARE • LUXURY TRAVELBrave
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KNOWLEDGE IS POWERBREAST HEALTHbyUK Off-sale date - 26-02-2020AU $9.95, NZ $9.99UK £4.50March-20INSPIRATIONON EVERY PAGELIFEPlatinum
DC Thomson aimed at mature
women who want to leading
their best lives.
‘There was a gap in the market for a fabulous glossy‘There was a gap in the market for a fabulous glossy monthly for monthly forFIT FOR LIFE • SPRING HOME TRENDS • SUPERFOOD SKINCARE • LUXURY TRAVELCosta books
The winner of the Costa Book of the Year Award was
due to be announced on 28 January, after this issue
of WM went to press.
The category award winners, announced on BBC
Radio 4’s Front Row, are:- Costa First Novel Award: Sara Collins, The
Confessions of Frannie Langton - Costa Novel Award, Jonathan Coe, Middle England
- Costa Biography Award: Jack Fairweather, The
Volunteer: The True Story of the Resistance Hero Who
Infiltrated Auschwitz - Costa Poetry Award: Mary Jean Chan, Flèche
- Costa Children’s Book Award: Jasbinder Bilan,
Asha & The Spirit Bird
Each winning author receives £5,000. The overall
winner of the £30,000 2019 Costa Book of the Year
was due to be announced on 28 January.
Website: http://costabookawards.com
SET THE HISTORY WORLD ALIGHT
Cheltenham independent The History Press is to launch a new imprint in 2020, for
‘books that spark’.
Flint will publish titles on the environment, politics, society and culture, popular
science, self-help, psychology and nature, aiming to ‘spark action, debate, awareness
and conversation’.
The imprint will be headed by publishing director Laura Perehinec, and Joanna de
Vries, who will be rejoining the company to help build the list.
‘The current climate, both literally and societally, means that it’s a great time to be
publishing non-fiction with readers increasingly seeking credible, inspiring, informative
books,’ said Laura. ‘The list will very much be a smorgasbord and will give us the
chance to explore more diverse areas and flex our muscles creatively.’
Launch titles include The M-Word: Reclaiming the Menopause Conversation, edited by
Caroline Harris, and Dare to Be Great by campaigning lawyer Polly Higgins.
Website: http://www.thehistorypress.co.uk