Norwood named as Cosmo editor
The National Magazine Company has ignored the fears of a number of advertisers and its American owners by appointing Mandi Norwood as editor of Cosmopolitan.
Norwood’s appointment is known to have caused concern among a number of fashion houses because they are worried by the sexually explicit nat ure of her present magazine,
Company.
NatMags sources claim Norwood was to have replaced Marcelle d’Argy Smith at the beginning of this year until the February issue of Company was pulled from the shelves by WH Smith and John Menzies.
The issue carried a feature on home-made porn movies, which the retail chains deemed offensive.
NatMags claimed at the time that the photographs used in the article were chosen while Norwood was on holiday. However, NatMags’ owner Hearst Corporation is understood to have thought the incident made Norwood unsuitable for the Cosmo editorship.
Cosmo publisher Simon Kippin says no advertisers have registered concern about Norwood. The way the magazine covers sex in the future will be different from the way Company approaches it, he says.
“Cosmo’s sexual content must reflect the needs of Cosmo readers,” says Norwood. “I will be retaining key Cosmo elements, including sex. To not include it would be denying a vital part of life. After all, sex is a touchstone for our emotions and self-esteem.”
– The National Magazine Company is to publish its first contract magazine after signing a deal with Tesco. A Christmas magazine will be distributed to 3.7 million Tesco Clubcard members. NatMags will handle ad sales for the glossy title.
