Teenage magazines, a responsible medium
23 Nov 2006
Teenage magazines are the most responsible medium teenagers can access, according to Celia Duncan, editor of Cosmo Girl, addressing delegates at the Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel (TMAP) annual forum.
Duncan told delegates that the teenage magazine sector was “the most regulated” in the marketplace and that editors followed the TMAP guidelines “incredibly closely.” Despite this the Cosmogirl editor cricised the “hysteria and paranoia to protect teenagers all the time.” Duncan pointed to food advertising guidelines threatening advertising revenues and periodic critical headlines in newspapers as two examples of how the sector was unfairly undermined .
Speaking at the event on Monday 20 November, Duncan was joined on an editors panel also comprising: Alison Begbie, acting editor of Bliss magazine, Diane Leeming, features director, Sugar, Leslie Sinoway, editor of Mizz magazine and Rosalie Snaith, editor of It's HOT!
The panel discussed the impact of technology on teenage magazine brands, how magazines can help combat social problems for young people including bullying and underage drinking and the important role they play promoting sexual health awareness. According to TMAP chair Fleur Fisher: “We (teenage magazines) are recognised by Government as being experts at communicating with people, not talking at them.”
Teenagers from Thomas Tallis school took part in a discussion on making online safer for younger people. According to Fisher the key was finding a balance between their rights to access information with staying safe in ‘the internet age’. She described parents in today's age as "technology migrants" compared to their "technology native" children.
Details from Charlie Phillips at PPA on .
