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Top editor delivers magazine masterclass

Students at the University of Kent's Centre for Journalism had a taste of the high-powered world of celebrity magazines when they met the editor of the American edition of OK!

Sarah Ivens, a Kent graduate, made a flying visit from her offices in New York to the Medway campus on Friday, 7 November. Ms Ivens's masterclass saw her recalling some of the key moments in her career - such as launching OK! in the United States while still in her 20s - and handing out tips and advice about how to handle the pressures of working on a best-selling weekly magazine.

The University's eager young reporters were also able to fire questions at Ms Ivens about how to work their way up in the fiercely competitive magazine industry.

'My advice to students is, of course, to work and study hard, but I also stressed to them how important it is to enjoy the whole experience,' she said. 'Being a journalist is one of the best jobs you could ever have. It's vital to appreciate how lucky you are and how many other people want your job.

'I'll always be grateful to the people who took a chance on me and helped me in the early days of my career, and so I'm keen to help students who are just starting out now.

'I really loved my time at Kent - they were among the best days of my life', she added. 'I was thrilled to hear about the Journalism degree - it looks outstanding.'

Ms Ivens graduated from Kent in 1996 with a degree in Politics and Economics. After spells at Tatler and Marie Claire magazines, she became a feature writer for the Daily Mail before returning to magazines as Features Director with Woman's Journal, rising to the position of Associate Editor. She also worked for the Mirror Group and had a second spell at the Daily Mail, as Assistant Editor of Femail, before becoming Deputy Editor of OK! in London, subsequently launching the U.S. edition of OK! in 2005.

Ms Ivens is also the author of seven best-selling books, including A Modern Girl's Guide to Etiquette and A Modern Girl's Guide to Getting Hitched. She says her future ambitions include writing more books and helping to launch new international versions of OK! in an editor-at-large capacity.

First-year Journalism student Kelsey Williams said the talk was inspiring. 'I didn't really have an idol in the world of journalism before, but I have found one in Sarah,' she said. 'Her amazing story shows what can be achieved with hard work. We could all relate to Sarah as she told us she started out on the bottom rung of the career ladder. Considering she now runs a magazine read by a million people every week, I found her incredibly down-to-earth and easy to talk to.'

Tim Luckhurst, the University's Professor of Journalism, said Ms Ivens was a role model for many of his students. 'As a Kent graduate who has reached the top of the profession, she sets a great example,' he said. 'Journalism offers tremendous opportunities to people with the talent and application to make the grade. It's not easy, but the rewards are real.

'Sarah's job in New York shows what is possible. She is an inspiration to those journalism students who have the determination and spark to follow in her footsteps.'

Contact: N.J.Ellwood@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 4:55pm 10 November 2008