Under the editorship of Khwezi seventeen South Africa saw exciting growth and changes…this is the highlights package…
Awards
2010
WINNER: AdMag Award Best International Title: seventeen
SILVER: AdMag Award in the Youth Culture Category: seventeen
GOLD: AdMag Award Innovative Digital Publishing Category:
2009
WINNER: PICA Best Consumer Title International General Interest: seventeen
HIGHLY COMMENDED: PICA Consumer Publishing Excellence Online Solution: seventeen.co.za
HIGHLY COMMENDED: PICA Consumer Publishing Excellence Supplements: Deluxe in seventeen
2008
HIGHLY COMMENDED: PICA Best Consumer Title International General Interest: seventeen
Initiatives
17 Academy
In 2009 seventeen launched an innovative holiday internship programme, where a team of 12 readers is selected to guest-edit an issue of the magazine as part of the 17 Academy. This project was spearheaded by Khwezi to get girls real world career experience while connecting with readers in an interactive way.
17 Academy gives readers a chance to co-edit an issue of seventeen working alongside editors in the fashion; features; and marketing departments, gaining invaluable job skills. This also allows seventeen a first-hand opportunity to interact with and learn more about its core target market.
Read about it straight from the girls on http://17intern.blogspot.com/
Camp 17
In 2010 seventeen launched Camp seventeen: the ULTIMATE SEVENTEEN EXPERIENCE
The 6 day camp was conceptualized by Khwezi and seventeen’s marketing team as a fun learning and growth experience…the camp was sponsored by Lentheric Hoity Toity in association with Code Teen
Top Teen Achiever Awards
Launched in 2005 as a drive to highlight and reward the incredible accomplishments and contributions of the country’s teen girls, the competition has been hailed as one of the best youth initiatives of its time that focuses on great role models whilst encouraging teen girls to look at success as more than just being top of your class, or how much money you earn. Read more here
Editorial work
Along with making sure each issue went to print, Khwezi also wrote and edited features, cover stories and some heart-warming editors letters…here are some (click on hyperlink to read feature)
Khwezi also headed up some innovative brand extensions and editorial initiatives including:
seventeen dance
The first 17 Dance supplement, bagged as part of the July/August 2011 issue. It featured 50 pages of dance-specific articles including features to find the perfect dress, hairdo, make-up looks and more for the Matric dance.
Seventeen Cover Look
seventeen launched the Cover Look competition in 2009 where one lucky girl could win the chance to be on the cover of their favourite magazine. In year 1 the prize sponsor was Maybelline cosmetics, and the prize package included a R100 000 modelling contract in 2010.
Reader Panels
seventeen launched it’s first reader panels with the style counsel in 2008 where readers are selected to be an expert advisory to the editorial team, giving advice to their fellow readers and keeping the editorial team on the pulse of the latest youth trends…style counsel has grown into a yearly Super Stylist contest where retailer Edgars gives away a seat on the counsel for a styling reader. Seventeen also launched the Varsity 5 in 2010 and Beauty Smarties in 2011.
