Emap is set to launch First, its new women’s weekly on Wednesday 17 May.
The magazine, which went under the title of ‘Project Jackie’ has a launch budget of £12 million and will be led by managing director Louise Matthews and editor Julian Linley, former deputy editor of Heat.
Emap Entertainment – the company’s celebrity and women’s weekly arm – hopes to reach a circulation of between 150,000 and 200,000 within the magazine’s first year.
First, the company’s fifth new launch in five years, will be aimed at women in their early thirties and will attempt to fill a perceived news void in women’s publishing. Television has proved a major inspiration with daytime and reality TV’s nack of translating news and current affairs into a female friendly package, cited as influences.
Paul Keenan, chief executive of Emap Consumer Media, said: "Emap’s track record of launching brand new and bold magazines has transformed the newsstands in recent years and we now publish the UK’s most modern, relevant and exciting rosters of women’s weeklies in Heat, Closer and Grazia.
"Through innovation and invention we have engaged new readers and brought fresh audiences to advertisers. Our reputation and portfolio will be further enhanced by the arrival of First."
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