Bauer Media closes Cosmopolitan Australia
Bauer Media has announced it will be closing Cosmopolitan Australia.
It comes weeks after Bauer Media would not respond to questions about why Cosmopolitan Bride’s quarterly print edition was missing from newsstands.
Cosmo’s previous editor Keshni Kemp jumped ship to Pacific Magazines in March. The publisher’s digital managing editor of features, Lorna Gray, was announced as Kemp’s replacement in July.
Mumbrella had asked Bauer Media about the future of Cosmo several times over the last six months, but the closure was always denied
In a statement this morning, Bauer Media ANZ CEO Paul Dykzeul said: “Today, Bauer Media announced the closure of the Cosmopolitan brand in Australia, with the December issue being the last. It has not been an easy decision to make, however, the commercial viability of the magazine in Australia is no longer sustainable.
“Magazine closures are never easy, desirable or done without careful consideration for all of those involved. We have to ensure that we are continually reshaping and defining the business so that our readers of today, and those of tomorrow, remain engaged with the content we publish and the platforms upon which we deliver.
“We are incredibly proud of the brand and the people who have been involved and represented over the last 45 years. It has helped to launch the careers of media personalities, supported great brands and causes, and inspired millions of young women across the country.
“We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the brand and its legacy over the years.”
Earlier this year, Bauer Media restructured its digital team, and ‘centralised’ other magazine titles, including Woman’s Day, OK Magazine and NW. Eleven jobs were axed as part of the process.
Recent months has seen Bauer Media invest in some of its titles. Bauer Media extended its TV Week brand to include a monthly features edition, and did the same for Take 5.
It also launched a new Women’s Weekly Food website and influencer network, and acquired Inside Out, Country Style and HomeLife from News Corp. In June, Bauer Media also consolidated its automotive content onto one website, WhichCar Network.
The last quarterly print title axed by Bauer Media was Men’s Style.
What an total disaster! My advice to the rest of the team left at Bauer… RUN FAST!
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Men always make the best decisions. Or was it a woman trotting around the halls of Bauer in her activewear?
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Won’t be the last of the closures that’s for sure… Watch and weep…
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I feel a lot of sympathy for Cosmo’s last ever team. This would be a rough and sleepless time, no matter what.
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I worked on Cosmopolitan for a number of years and absolutely loved it. I worked under some brilliant editors, including Bronwyn McCahon and Jessica Parry, who taught me so much about the instincts needed in publishing (as well as many more tangible skills!). For Hearst, the company that owns Cosmopolitan internationally, Cosmopolitan is the jewel in the crown. Sadly that’s not the case for Bauer, and so for many years they’ve under-resourced and under-funded it. The team there are to be commended for producing a quality product with very little money, time or attention from the company.
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It really is a sinking ship….
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Very sad. Im not surprised though. The quality of this magazine has gone downhill since the turn of the century. Since Bauer has taken over they have been destroying the magazine medium. Instead of putting effort into making them better, they have been sitting on their hands and letting them suffer. Pitiful really.
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[insert meme with dog sitting at a table drinking tea surrounded by flames]
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….But where will I get advice now on how to please my boyfriend? 🙁
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Bauer ruins everything… next to go will be the home titles they stole from news corp..
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Probably just weren’t cosmopolitan enough.
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I wonder how much of a play Hearst had as well. Everything had to be approved first. It’s sad as it is one title that could merge with digital really well.
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Devastated with this news. I’ve been reading and collecting Cosmo forever. Bronwyn McCahon I think was Aussie Cosmo’s last great editor and it seems since Bauer took over, the eventual slide into oblivion has taken place. Even basic things like promote the current issue on their website and social media hasn’t happened – “What’s in this month’s issue”. The current generation just doesn’t get how great it is to sit down on the couch with one’s fav magazine and a cup of coffee to relax – they’ve all got their heads buried in their digital devices. Cosmo has been a one stop shop for advice on everything, with lots of “spicy” stuff thrown in for good measure. This is terribly sad and will take some time to digest. I feel so sad for current and future generations of young women who will never understand what it is to be a Cosmo Girl.
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I know, I know, it is just terrible.
At least on the other Cosmo article today in Mumbrella they gave a veiled hint with a picture of the December 2018 edition of Cosmo that may just help – have a look at the article on the right-hand side.
https://mumbrella.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Cosmo-Dec-issue.jpg
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Here she is again…. will you ever get over your sacking Zara?
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*chuckles*
Tonight will be interesting!
– xoxo Cosmo Girl
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