There are many magazines on the market which cater to young girls, says Girlworks publisher Janet Kim. She started Girlworks, a saddle-stiched, UV-coated book because she saw a need for publications that aim to build intellectualism and positive body image for girls age 11 to 15. “My experience as a publisher has been in law and product development but you can tell when there is a gaping hole in the marketplace and a need for something there,” she says.

The December 64-page launch issue included only not-for-profit advertising, says Kim, because the magazine was too new to be audited. “Moving forward we would like to have about 10 to 15 percent of the book as advertising, which is smaller than most magazines,” she says. “We are conscious of consumer protection with this age group and want to be careful of who we allow to advertise in the magazine.”

Girlworks will be printed bimonthly by Manitoba-based Friesens and had a launch issue controlled circulation of 15,000. “The magazine has been sent out to every public library in Canada and to many of the school boards across the country,” says Kim. Subscriptions are $30 per year for a hardcopy or $20 for digital editions.

Kim hopes to build the magazine through finding a distributor and possibly expanding into international markets. “The response to the book has been great,” she says. “Educators like it. There is a lot of fluff out there, entertainment media. There isn’t a lot of media for girls to raise awareness and learn. It’s a very different type of magazine.”