When it comes to magazines, Jacqui Loates-Haver certainly knows a thing or two. Having previously worked on titles such as CLEO and New Idea magazines, her knowledge of the print and digital world stems back to the 90s. Taking over as Head of Lifestyle at Canvas magazine last October, Haver has hit the ground running to enhance its weekly offering - even introducing a new beauty page for readers. We caught up with her to see how the role is going and what we can expect from the magazine’s new beauty offering.
What originally appealed to you about the position at Canvas?
Canvas is such an intelligent, interesting publication and we’re lucky enough to attract some of the best journalists in New Zealand to write for us, who wouldn’t want to be part of that?
What is your previous experience in the industry?
I’ve worked in media for pretty much all of my career – both magazines and broadcasting. I’ve been editor of New Idea and Girlfriend magazines and features and beauty editor for CLEO. I also did a long stint in television as a publicity/PR manager and I’ve worked in the UK for a PR and marketing agency.
What can we expect from the new beauty component in Canvas?
The Canvas audience is a 50/50 split between male and female readers, so the content needs to appeal to both. We do lots of ‘how to’ articles, plus feature new products and some not-so-new ones that are tried and tested by the Canvas team (they’re a hard bunch to please!). We also feature a celebrity each week who will talk about their top tip, best beauty or grooming advice they’ve been given, or their favourite product. But I’m always mindful of who our audience are, they’re not necessarily interested in every new make-up trend going, so I always tailor the content with that in mind.
Do you personally have a strong interest in the beauty arena?
I love all things beauty and I’m a bit of a magpie when it comes to beautiful fragrance bottles and elaborate make-up compacts. I have very sensitive skin, so I’m always interested in advancements in skincare technology and particularly the use of botanical ingredients in cosmetics. I’m also really proud of the way some of the New Zealand skincare and cosmetic brands are creating some world-class products.
