Kim Wilson announced as the new editor-in-chief of The Australian Women’s Weekly magazine

FORMER New Idea editor-in-chief Kim Wilson has been given the nod to take over The Australian Women’s Weekly.

Editor of New Idea magazine Kim Wilson at her new office in Redfern, Sydney.

• Magazine rivals fight for The Australian Womens Weekly editor role
• Cleo closes after 44 years
• Ita Buttrose: ‘Cleo taught me to be bold’

PUBLISHING company Bauer Media yesterday confirmed Confidential’s exclusive tip on the appointment of Kim Wilson, the former editor-in-chief of New Idea, to the role of editor-in-chief of a revamped The Australian Women’s Weekly.

Wilson moves to the role from NewsLifeMedia where she has been editor-in-chief of Kidspot.com.au for the past six months.

Wilson’s main competitor for the role was Woman’s Day editor Fiona Connolly, left.

“I am excited to announce that Kim Wilson has been appointed editor-in-chief of The Australian Women’s Weekly,” The Australian Women’s Weekly publisher Matt Dominello said.

“Kim is an award winning editor with over 15 years’ experience launching and driving some of the biggest local and international women’s media brands across both print and digital. Kim will lead the talented and experienced editorial team on The Weekly into an exciting new era.”

The outgoing Australian Women's Weekly editor-in-chief Helen McCabe left last month after her contract was not renewed.

Wilson added: “I’m honoured and excited to be stepping into the shoes of so many great editors before me. I can’t wait to join such a well-respected team, roll up my sleeves and deliver great stories for our readers. The Australian Women’s Weekly holds a special place in the hearts of Australian women, I hope to do them proud.”

OTHER NEWS: CITY TO BADGERYS CREEK IN 34 MINUTES

Before joining NewsLifeMedia Wilson was the former editor-in-chief of Pacific Magazines’ New Idea for five years. She also launched the Australian edition of OK! Magazine in 2004, moving to women’s titles via an unconventional path, through travel magazines as editor of EMAP’s Outdoor title.

Publishing sources have told Confidential Bauer executives informed candidates for the Australian Women’s Weekly job they were eager to “turn back the clock” on the magazine and focus once again on its heartland readership — mums.

Womans Day editor Amy Sinclair.

In doing so, Bauer bosses hope to recapture some of the market that has been abandoning the title since 2009.

The magazine recorded an average 416,117 monthly sales in the last reported Audited Media Association of Australia report of 2015, down from 493,055 when outgoing editor-in-chief Helen McCabe replaced Robyn Foyster (whose circulation figures bucked a declining trend and lifted from 491,000 to 493,055 in her last six months in the job).

New figures due out on Friday and are expected to show the Weekly took a huge tumble in the year to date and is now just clearing 400,000 mark.

Wilson is expected to start in four months. Deputy editor Juliet Rieden will serve as acting editor-in-chief in the interim.

Former editor Foyster said Wilson will be “brilliant” in the role: “She has a great grasp of heartland Australia, which is what the Weekly is.”