Delhi Press to roll out IT magazine for women

Delhi Press is all set to come out with an information technology magazine for women. The English version of the magazine, called Live IT, is being dubbed as the first ever IT magazine targeted specifically at women. The magazine is expected to hit the stands in October.

Talking to afaqs!, Anant Nath, director, Delhi Press Patra Prakashan, says, “A cursory look and it appears that by and large, most of the IT titles available in the market today cater to men. So, we thought of a magazine that would specifically cater to the day to day needs of young women readers and answer their queries about computers and the digital world.”

Nath points out that Live IT will serve as a step by step guide for women readers, whether students, working professional or housewives. There will be interesting content on diverse topics, including learning new software, operating a digital camera, planning a holiday and preparing a budget.

The core target group of the magazine comprises women in the age-group of 18-30 years, but Nath doesn’t rule out the possibility of Live IT being picked up by an older woman or, for that matter, even a man.

He says, “The idea is to keep things simple. The look of an average IT magazine tends to appeal only to hardcore IT enthusiasts, not to general readers, who might want to know more about the new technology and developments happening around them in the digital space. To make it more appealing in look and feel, Live IT has an embodied style and the design elements of a lifestyle magazine.”

Live IT will have an initial print run of 35,000 copies. It will have an average 112 pages of content per monthly issue. It is to be priced at Rs 50. Nath reveals that every month, the magazine will carry a 32 page supplement in the form of a tutorial on a computer related subject. The first issue carries a step by step guide to learning and using Excel.

Readers will also be offered a supporting audiovisual CD for the new software or application featured in the supplement. The module and applications for these CDs are being prepared by the Brazilian Digerati, which is engaged in publishing products for IT, technology and electronic entertainment.

Delhi Press has a content syndication arrangement with Digerati. For years, the Brazilian publisher has been providing Delhi Press with educational and game CDs, which are distributed free with the children's magazine, Champak.

Nath sounds confident that Live IT will do well in SEC A and SEC B towns and cities. Delhi Press will use its well established and vast distribution network to make the magazine available to the TG. Word about the magazine will be spread by putting up hoardings in major cities such as Mumbai and Delhi.