Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk
A celebrity chef and a national treasure broadcaster are set to feature in the debut issue of a new magazine for teenagers which aims to tackle screen culture.
Magazine editor Caroline Matthews has been working with Newlands Girls’ School to produce the first issue of the Screen Free Teen Magazine, due out in December.
As part of the issue, students at the school have been honing their journalistic skills by interviewing celebrity chef Tom Kerridge, actor and comedian Sir Stephen Fry and Maidenhead MP Josh Reynolds.
Caroline, a Maidenhead resident, first came up with the idea for the magazine following the start of the initiative which has seen several schools, including Newlands, ban smartphones in their schools.
“It was really off the back of the smartphone free
movement,” she said.
“In today’s day and age, teenagers don’t have the magazines that, for example, I had in the 90s, and my feeling is that they’re missing out.
“So, in a way, this project is to put right that wrong, giving them the tangible reader experience that a magazine gives.
“But in the case of this particular magazine, it’s also giving the students of Newlands School an opportunity to take on journalist roles.”
Having initially approached Newlands with the idea last year, the project has been progressing.
A panel of writers has been created, with students writing articles, carrying out interviews and taking part in photoshoots.
“All of these features are all coming together, and ultimately we’re going to publish the magazine in December,” Caroline added.
Students across year groups seven to 13 are involved with the magazine.
The magazine itself is aimed at 12 to 18-year-olds and will focus on themes such as entertainment, lifestyle, health, wellbeing, relationships and screen culture.
“One of the articles is going to be about somebody that has given up their smartphone and the benefits that they’ve found from doing that,” Caroline said.
The free magazine will be given out to all students and there will be a section in the back for parents.
Caroline added: “I’m hoping that once it’s published and I can show it to other schools and say, look, this has been really great.
“It’s engaged the students. It’s given them motivation to get off their phones.
“It’s given them some really meaningful work experience. Would you like to take it on?
“And I’m hoping that other schools will actually take it on as well as a project to really get students on board with this screen free movement.”
The project is being funded by sponsors who have placed an advertisement in the magazine.
Caroline said more sponsors to fund the print costs, and the promotion of the magazine are needed.
Anyone interested in sponsoring or appearing in the magazine can get in touch with Caroline via the contact page on health-magazine.co.uk/screenfreeteen
Newlands headteacher Jo Capon, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Caroline on the upcoming Screen Free Teen magazine.
“This is a project that reflects values we feel passionately about at Newlands, and one that provides our girls with an incredible opportunity to develop their voices, creativity, and confidence.
“The magazine will be distributed to the local community in December, and we are thrilled to be leading on a project that encourages meaningful conversation around an issue that is very close to our hearts.
“We are immensely proud of the enthusiasm, professionalism and ambition our girls have brought to this exciting initiative.”
