BBC News Magazine Could Launch This Autumn

The hotly anticipated weekly current affairs magazine from BBC Magazines, Newsbrief, is set to launch this autumn.

According to reports, it will launch with a subscription drive targeting women and international readers.

The magazine’s creators have been working closely with BBC News and have conducted extensive consumer research, finding that it appeals greatly to 30+ mothers.

The magazine, which according to the BBC press office has not yet been fully approved, is understood to be under the same editorial control as BBC News.

BBC Magazines managing director Peter Phippen is believed to have been keen to launch a news-based magazine since the mid-1990s. The BBC developed a similar project a couple of years ago, which BBC world affairs correspondent David Loyn is understood to have worked on for at least a year. However, the plan was dropped.

Newsbrief is likely to take an analytical approach to current affairs, drawing on high-profile names at the corporation such as John Simpson.

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