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Jo brings glamour to the region

THE journalist who launched a revolution in women’s magazine publishing is to share the secrets of her success – and courage – with North East entrepreneurs.

Jo Elvin will bring a spot of GLAMOUR to the Entrepreneurs’ Forum’s annual business conference next month and give a fascinating insight into the ever-hungry British magazine market.

She learned her craft as a junior writer on the Australian teenage bible Dolly and had a brief stint as a publicist for the TV show Neighbours before coming to the UK in 1992.

She secured a job as deputy editor on TV HITS magazine before moving on to become launch editor of Sugar, the UK’s first glossy magazine for teenagers, which ultimately revolutionised the way all teen magazines in the UK are produced.

In 1997 she launched the young women’s title B and two years later was appointed editor of New Woman.

In March 2001 Jo launched GLAMOUR, which sent shockwaves through the women’s magazine industry and spawned copies of its revolutionary format in several other markets, including the broadsheet press.

Within a week of hitting the shelves, GLAMOUR needed to print an extra 50,000 copies to meet demand and its debut ABC figure was over 451,000.

Nine years on, it is well established as the market leader, fighting off ever-increasing competition and dethroning Cosmopolitan, which had enjoyed a 30 year reign as the first choice women’s glossy.

In her 14 years working in British magazines, Jo has won a fistful of awards for

GLAMOUR and other titles, including the coveted BSME award for Editors’ Editor of the Year.

She has enjoyed many colourful experiences along the way from flying in an RAF jet and interviewing Tony Blair to being pursued by the paparazzi in Los Angeles with Hollywood actress Teri Hatcher.

A regular contributor on GMTV, she has appeared in television shows including The Apprentice You’re Fired and Gok Wan’s Miss Naked Beauty.

* Bookings are being taken now for the Entrepreneurs’ Forum conference – entitled SEVEN – which is being held at the Hilton Hotel, Gateshead, on May 20. Delegates can register on-line via www.entrepreneursforum.net or via the conference telephone hotline 0870 850 2233.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .