South African magazine publishers get bigger, bolder

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Tapping the Afrikaans glamour market

It is reportedly almost 10 years since rooi rose re-launched itself as the first monthly women's glossy in South Africa and the magazine is again innovating its design to maintain its position as South Africa's Best Women's Magazine (AdVantage AdMag Awards 2009).

The August issue, out on 5 July 2010, will be published in a larger format, updated design and will take this new look and feel to its website, www.rooirose.co.za. "With Margaret Gardiner, looking more stunning than ever on the cover and updated content, we believe that this latest innovation will help differentiate us once again in the crowded women's magazine market and serve to reinforce its unique brand positioning as the all-in-one Afrikaans women's glossy," says editor Martie Pansegrouw.

rooi rose also appointed Susra Morkel as fashion editor last month. Morkel has been working as fashion assistant for the title since 2006, and stepped in as acting fashion editor from the June issue, when then fashion editor, Giselle Hön, left to work as PR for Louis Vuitton. According to Pansegrouw, Morkely's vision and style is in line with the new look and format.

Popular sporting club gets collectors' mag

Boca Juniors, one of the top 10 biggest soccer clubs in the world, is home to famous Argentinean soccer legends like Batistuta, Riquelme, Tevez and Diego Maradona, current coach of the national team.

The publication of a quarterly magazine, by The President, will offer the club's 16 million local fans and its large fan bases in Japan and the US, an interactive format including posters, stickers, booklets and player cards.

"The Boca magazine will be the ultimate collector's item for fans," says Peet Pienaar, creative director and co-owner of The President. The first issue will be published in August and will retail at $25 (Argentinean pesos) per copy.

"We are looking forward to working with an international expert in creative publishing such as The President," adds Andrés Scornik, sports manager of Pro Enter, licensing agent for Boca Juniors.

The President, which has offices in Cape Town and Buenos Aires, will host the Toffie Pop Culture Festival in Buenos Aires 28-30 October 2010, as part of the city's International Design Festival. The festival was held earlier this year in Cape Town. Go to http://toffiepop.blogspot.com/ for more on the festival.