Mag war hits new heights: Weekly's top two poached

Sido Kitchin. Photo / Supplied

The women's magazine war intensified yesterday as the Woman's Weekly lost its editor and deputy editor to its main rival, setting off a new battle for the hearts and minds of readers and celebrity contacts.

Weekly editor Sido Kitchin will move into the top chair at Woman's Day and Weekly deputy editor Fiona Fraser is also moving to ACP to work across women's titles.

Weekly publisher Sarah Sandley said in a memo to her New Zealand Magazines staff yesterday: "As you would understand in this competitive environment we have required both to leave their positions immediately."

She called Weekly staff to the barricades.

"It is a time for all of us to close ranks and protect the content and the contacts that make us successful."

ACP's audacious poaching mission comes as the two women's magazines battle it out in a highly competitive market - they both have around 800,000 readers, although the Weekly is expected to post strong growth this week to maintain its leading position.

Kitchin, who started in 2006, has a reputation for maintaining key celebrity contacts and avoiding using intrusive, local paparazzi-style photography. Among her scoops this year has been the engagement of radio stars Mike Hosking and Kate Hawkesby.

ACP Magazines NZ chief executive Paul Dykzeul played down the potential impact for Kitchin bringing in celebrity contacts, saying both magazines had access to the same people.

"Obviously, we think Sido and Fiona are very good otherwise we would not have brought them over," he said. Kitchin replaces Woman's Day editor Sarah Henry, who will take maternity leave soon.

Henry will eventually return to ACP for a commercial role.

Former Woman's Weekly editor Nicky Pellegrino will take Kitchin's vacated role until a fulltime replacement is found.

Woman's Weekly owner APN News and Media recently took over the licensing of Pacific Magazines titles including New Zealand's third-placed women's title New Idea.

Ms Sandley has said Woman's Weekly and New Idea will continue to compete vigorously.