Sugar Magazine
Encyclopedia
Sugar was a British
magazine
for teenage girls published by Hachette Filipacchi. Its content focused on boys, fashion
, celebrities, real-life stories about teenagers and other similar matters. The editor, when it closed, was Annabel Brog. The brand lives on through the website Sugarscape, edited by Mango Saul.
that answers questions sent in by readers, typically dealing with relationships, body image
and health issues.
Sugar ran a nationwide model competition every year, giving one lucky teen the opportunity to win a modelling contract.
On the cover of the main magazine was a female celebrity. Also with the magazine, came a free LAD mag, which contained posters and gossips about lads.
In 2007, Sugar established a website; "Sugarscape", which contained celebrity gossip, exclusive competitions and was seen as a brand extension to the magazine.
. Like competing titles at the time, Sugar used explicit sexual editorial to attract readership. This was controversial and contributed to the establishment of the Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel
in 1996. Sales peaked in 1997, after which demand for teen mags generally, Sugar included, began to go into decline due to the rising influence of digital media
. In 2002, Attic Futura was bought by Hachette.
Sugar finally lost its number one market lead position in 2006.
In January 2011, Hachette announced its intention to close Sugar magazine in March 2011 as part of a proposed sale of the group's magazine titles to Hearst Corporation
, due to the decline of subscribers over the previous five years from 250,099 to 113,320 according to ABC. The website, however, will be retained.
that she had helped launch in Australia with the founder of Attic Futura, Steve Bush. Former Features Editor and assistant editor, Marina Gask, took over as editor in November 1996. Sarah Pyper succeeded her following Gask's departure in 1998. Pyper left in August 1999 and was replaced by Jennifer Stringer who had formerly worked on BBC
spin-off magazines from TV shows Live & Kicking
and Top of the Pops
.
Following marriage, Jennifer Cawthron, left in 2001 and went on to edit Sneak magazine
. Claire Irvin was appointed editor in 2003 having been acting editor since Cawthron's departure. Whilst at Sugar Irvin was involved in bringing the teenage Peaches Geldof
onto the journalist team within Hachette that led to Peaches' regular column in sister title Elle Girl
. With Irvin's departure in late 2003, Nick Chalmers was appointed acting editor until
appointment of former deputy editor of Bliss
, Annabel Brog, in 2004.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
for teenage girls published by Hachette Filipacchi. Its content focused on boys, fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
, celebrities, real-life stories about teenagers and other similar matters. The editor, when it closed, was Annabel Brog. The brand lives on through the website Sugarscape, edited by Mango Saul.
Content
Sugar dealt with the concerns of teenage girls. The magazine featured an advice columnAdvice column
An advice column is a column in a magazine or newspaper written by an advice columnist . The image presented was originally of an older woman providing comforting advice and maternal wisdom, hence the name "aunt"...
that answers questions sent in by readers, typically dealing with relationships, body image
Body image
Body image refers to a person's perception of the aesthetics and sexual attractiveness of their own body. The phrase body image was first coined by the Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst Paul Schilder in his masterpiece The Image and Appearance of the Human Body...
and health issues.
Sugar ran a nationwide model competition every year, giving one lucky teen the opportunity to win a modelling contract.
On the cover of the main magazine was a female celebrity. Also with the magazine, came a free LAD mag, which contained posters and gossips about lads.
In 2007, Sugar established a website; "Sugarscape", which contained celebrity gossip, exclusive competitions and was seen as a brand extension to the magazine.
History
Sugar magazine was launched in October 1994, published by Attic Futura. The first edition, November 1994, was an immediate success, reaching a circulation of 205,000 exceeding its initial circulation target by 55,000. It soon overtook its main rival, Just SeventeenJust Seventeen
Just Seventeen, often referred to as J-17, was a weekly magazine aimed at teenage girls, published by Emap from October 1983 to April 2004. It quickly became the market leading teen magazine until the launch of Sugar in 1994, after which sales began to fall...
. Like competing titles at the time, Sugar used explicit sexual editorial to attract readership. This was controversial and contributed to the establishment of the Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel
Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel
The Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel is a British magazine industry self-regulatory body that creates guidelines related to magazines where more than 25 per cent of the readership aged under 16. The panel's guidelies state "readers will always be encouraged to take a responsible attitude to...
in 1996. Sales peaked in 1997, after which demand for teen mags generally, Sugar included, began to go into decline due to the rising influence of digital media
Digital media
Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital form. It can refer to the technical aspect of storage and transmission Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital (as opposed to analog) form. It can refer to the technical aspect of...
. In 2002, Attic Futura was bought by Hachette.
Sugar finally lost its number one market lead position in 2006.
In January 2011, Hachette announced its intention to close Sugar magazine in March 2011 as part of a proposed sale of the group's magazine titles to Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
, due to the decline of subscribers over the previous five years from 250,099 to 113,320 according to ABC. The website, however, will be retained.
Editors
The title has had several editors over the years. Founder editor was Kathryn Brown who established the magazine based on the success of GirlfriendGirlfriend Magazine
Girlfriend magazine is an Australian teen girls magazine. It targets readers aged 12–17 years old with a mix of entertainment, fashion, beauty, advice and lifestyle articles....
that she had helped launch in Australia with the founder of Attic Futura, Steve Bush. Former Features Editor and assistant editor, Marina Gask, took over as editor in November 1996. Sarah Pyper succeeded her following Gask's departure in 1998. Pyper left in August 1999 and was replaced by Jennifer Stringer who had formerly worked on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
spin-off magazines from TV shows Live & Kicking
Live & Kicking
Live & Kicking was a BBC Saturday morning children's magazine programme, running from 1993 to 2001. The fourth in a succession of Saturday morning shows, it was the replacement for Going Live!, and took many of its features from it, such as phone-ins, games, comedy, competitions and the showing of...
and Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
.
Following marriage, Jennifer Cawthron, left in 2001 and went on to edit Sneak magazine
Sneak magazine
Sneak magazine was a British weekly magazine for young women. It focused on celebrity gossip, real life stories and high street fashion and beauty. The magazine was owned by Emap, one of the biggest publishers of magazines in the UK....
. Claire Irvin was appointed editor in 2003 having been acting editor since Cawthron's departure. Whilst at Sugar Irvin was involved in bringing the teenage Peaches Geldof
Peaches Geldof
Peaches Honeyblossom Geldof is a British journalist, television presenter and model.-Background:Geldof was born in London in 1989, the second daughter of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates. She is the granddaughter of Hughie Green. Her sisters are Fifi Trixibelle Geldof and Pixie Geldof...
onto the journalist team within Hachette that led to Peaches' regular column in sister title Elle Girl
Elle Girl
Elle Girl was the largest older-teen fashion and beauty magazine brand in the world with 12 editions and supplements worldwide. Launched in August 2001, it was the younger sibling to Elle magazine, and similarly focused on beauty, health, entertainment and looked at daring fashion—its slogan: "Dare...
. With Irvin's departure in late 2003, Nick Chalmers was appointed acting editor until
appointment of former deputy editor of Bliss
Bliss (magazine)
Bliss is a monthly British magazine aimed at teenage girls which currently retails at £2.75 and often comes with a gift such as make-up or a bag...
, Annabel Brog, in 2004.