MARK FRITH EDITOR HEAT MAGAZINE
April 2005.
Heat is a massive success - and it's predictably led to dozens of copycat magazines. Does that make you feel proud or annoyed?
Both, strangely. You have to be flattered by them but also part of you thinks 'get your own life'. It must be tough for a lot of the people who work on these mags having it on their CV.
Which cover stars sell the most copies?
Depends. It'a all about getting the right star and story for that week - and making sure everyone else doesn't have anything as good!
Who is on your current interview wishlist?
Posh. Kerry Katona. Robbie. Coleen. Zoe Ball - always a great interview - was on there but we've just done her last week.
Describe the atmosphere in the heat office?
Loud music, loud people but also when push comes to shove the loud tap of keyboards (thankfully)
I've done all kinds of work experience (including a month at heat) - and I now write for a couple of magazines freelancing. How do I take the jump from low-paid freelancing, to freelancing - or working for - a top magazine like heat?
Most freelancers at celeb/entertainment mags have been staff members before. To be a successful freelancer in this market you need to have good contacts, know how the industry works and have experience and the best way to get all of that is to have had a period as a member of staff. To get that kind of job you need to be a huge fan of the mag, the subject, know who the readers are, what they want to read and have a never-say-sie attitude. Persistance pays…
What other magazines do you read/admire?
Word, Entertainment Weekly
Is heat for females or is it ok for males to read it as well? It seems to be aiming more at females these days.
94% of our buyers are women. But I have a sneaking feeling a lot of our readers are male
You get to appear on all kinds of TV shows - from BBLB etc to the top 100.... list shows. What's the best one to guest on?
BBLB! By a mile. Great team, great presenter, great subject matter too… it really isn't like working! But I enjoy doing most TV shows and it's great publicity for the magazine to have us all on these shows.
You briefly presented Liquid News - how was that?
Tough. Good experience but I never really enjoyed it. I'd rather watch/listen to the BBC than work for them.
Heat radio is an all music station on emap digital radio - would you like to see that grow to have presenters etc?
It will happen one day but no immediate plans
Finally, how would you like to see heat grow?
Upwards! Cheesy but true. I just hope the new readers in the market choose us - and so they should, we're the best!
