Magazine rivals fight for The Australian Women’s Weekly editor-in-chief role

BAUER Media ­executives are ­expected to reveal the newly ­appointed editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly today, with insiders stating it has ­become a race ­between two ­entrenched competitors.

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BAUER Media ­executives are ­expected to reveal the newly ­appointed editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly today, with insiders stating it has ­become a race ­between two ­entrenched competitors.

Just as Woman’s Day has been engrossed in a battle to the ­bitter end with New Idea in the weekly women’s magazine ­market for decades, so too have two editors of those ­titles — Woman’s Day’s Fiona Connolly and former New Idea editor-in-chief Kim Wilson — the women who have emerged as top contenders for the Weekly role.

Today, it was Wilson who was tipped to nudge Connolly out the race to replace departed editor-in-chief Helen McCabe, who left in January after her contract lapsed last year and was not renewed.

Helen McCabe, the former editor-in-chief of The Australian Women's Weekly.

Bauer’s newly appointed media spokesman was unable to confirm Wilson’s appointment last night. Wilson did not return Confidential’s call.

Michelle Bridges on the cover of The Australian Women's Weekly with her new son this year. Picture: AWW

The popular editor has been editing Kidspot.com.au for NewsLifeMedia since August after taking maternity leave from New Idea in 2014 and being replaced at Pacific Magazines by the woman who filled her shoes during her maternity leave, former magazine editor turned Mornings TV show producer Louisa Hatfield.

Magazine sources yesterday said Wilson left New Idea ­happily after five years in a role that saw her engaged in a ­regular pitched battle with her deputy, magazine editor Amy Sinclair.

She was well liked by Pacific’s former chief executive Nick Chan.

Chan’s promotion within Seven West from its publishing division to its television division ­coincided with Wilson’s plans to start a family.

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Publishing sources say following Chan’s departure, publisher Fiona Legdinwas behind Hatfield’s appointment.

Wilson was launch editor for OK! Magazine in this country in 2004 and was on board when the title was folded into the Bauer stable (then ACP) stable in 2007, when that company ­acquired 50 per cent of the title.

She left her role suddenly in 2009 during a cost-cutting phase at the publishing house.

Connolly has emerged as one of the most successful ­women’s magazine editors at Bauer and is currently ­responsible for Woman’s Day and Yours.