“Linda has asked to retire,” said Minette Ferreira, head of Media24 Weekly Magazines. “We are lucky to have an excellent successor standing in the wings. Charlene Rolls will take over as editor from 1 April and we are grateful that Linda has given us a good few months to prepare for the handover.”
Pietersen was part of the launch team of YOU when it started in 1987. And, bar a few stints trying her hand at other industries, she realised that her first and only love was YOU magazine. “It’s been an amazing ride. Although print media is under enormous pressure it has been incredibly satisfying editing the biggest English magazine in South Africa,” Pietersen says.
“It’s been an amazing ride. Although print media is under enormous pressure it has been incredibly satisfying editing the biggest English magazine in South Africa,” Pietersen says.
Pietersen plans on travelling extensively with her husband and enjoying the benefits of looking at the industry from the outside. “I can’t wait to read YOU magazine as a real reader and will watch with delight what the next generation does with this beloved title,” she adds.
“We’re all very sad to see Linda go,” Ferreira says. “She has been such a wonderful editor to work with. Her ability to lighten stressful moments is unparalleled – it’s a rare talent and will be sorely missed. It has been a privilege to work with her.”
Charlene Rolls (32) is a highly experienced senior journalist. She holds a BA in media studies from UCT and a BPhil in journalism from Stellenbosch University. In her 10 years at Media24, she has proven her mettle as a rising star having started as a junior journalist at Fairlady and later taking the reins as deputy and then editor at NewsNow. She is entrenched in the weekly magazine division and has played a pivotal role in the evolution of YOU magazine’s digital future.
“This is an enormous challenge and I am deeply grateful at the confidence the company has in my abilities to take over as editor of this iconic title. I am very excited about the future of print and the digital platforms of YOU magazine,” says Rolls.