Zoo Weekly

Zoo is a defunct British (and formerly an Australian and South African) lads' magazine published weekly by Bauer Media Group in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 29 January 2004, and for a time was the UK's only men's weekly after the similar and rival magazine Nuts closed in April 2014.[2]

This article is about the men's magazine. For the German magazine, see Zoo Magazine.

Zoo Weekly
EditorDamien McSorley
CategoriesMen's magazines
FrequencyWeekly
Circulation29,976 (ABC Jan - Jun 2014)[1]
Print and digital editions.
First issue2004 (UK)
2006 (Australia, South Africa)
Final issue2008 (South Africa)
2015 (Australia)
2015 (UK)
CompanyBauer Media Group
CountryUnited Kingdom
Australia
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.zootoday.com

On 17 November 2015, Zoo announced on its website that it would be suspending publication.[3]

Zoo consisted of a mix of comedy news, sports commentary, photos of glamour models, jokes (of the pub joke style), an entertainments guide (covering TV, cinema, video/computer games and music), fashion/grooming and comical/rude pictures sent in by readers.

International editions

UK

Zoo was a weekly news magazine aimed at the male market. It was launched on 29 January 2004,[4] as the second weekly men's magazine in the UK (the first being the similar and rival magazine; Nuts). The magazine was published by German company Bauer Media Group.

The Zoo website is a continuation of the magazine's content that also includes original articles, videos and photo galleries. Readers are also invited to create a profile and post pictures via the "Zoo Bloggers" section.

Withdrawal from Co-op supermarket

On 8 August 2013, a spokesman for Bauer Media announced that it would not be placing Zoo in 'modesty bags'.[5] The announcement came after the UK's Co-op supermarkets asked for publishers of 'lads mags' to mask their explicit front covers or face being taken off the shelves. The Co-op said that it was responding to consumer concern.[6] As a result of Bauer Media's decision, the Co-op ceased to stock Zoo in its stores.[7]

Suspended publication

On 17 November 2015, Zoo announced that it would be suspending publication alongside that of fellow men's magazine FHM.[8][9]

Australia

An Australian edition of Zoo was introduced on 27 February 2006 with a special promotional issue that was free of charge. The first official issue came out a week later on 20 February 2006. It featured Krystal Forscutt and David Boon as columnists, and much the same features as its British counterpart, except the sport commentary was mainly about rugby league and Australian rules football.

Spokesperson/models used regularly in Zoo Weekly included Brooke Evers, former Big Brother Australia contestants Krystal Forscutt, Emma Cornell and Susannah Murray.[10] Resident sex and relationship advice columnists for 2009–2010 were "The Threesome" of Monica Lee Paige, Bonnie Edwards and Ardina Voogt. From 2012 the sex and relationship advice column was presented by regular cover model, Ashlee Adams.[11]

In May 2006, the Australian model Lara Bingle took legal action against EMAP Australia, the publisher of Zoo Weekly, claiming defamation by the magazine when it allegedly published photographs of the model without her permission in the 27 March 2006 issue.[12]

On 16 September 2007, it was reported that the professional golfer Nikki Garrett had instructed her lawyers to begin an action against Zoo Weekly in the Australian Federal Court. The matter related to the 29 January 2007, edition of Zoo Weekly in which a photo of Garrett—taken for a charity fund-raiser—was reproduced in the magazine accompanied by an allegedly salacious caption.[13]

On 17 September 2015 Bauer Media issued a press release confirming the closure of the Australian weekly edition. The closure of Zoo Weekly magazine encompassed all platforms: print, website and social media assets and took effect from Monday 12 October 2015.[14][15]

South Africa

Following the successes of Zoo Weekly in the United Kingdom and Australia, the South African edition launched on 6 October 2006 under a joint venture between UK publisher EMAP Consumer Media and South African media giant Media24. The magazine was published in both English, as Zoo Weekly, and Afrikaans, as Zoo Weekliks. The edition was discontinued by February 2008.[16]

See also

References
  1. "Zoo ABC Circulation certificate" (PDF). ABC. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  2. "Nuts magazine to close". The Guardian.
  3. "Zoo Magazine to suspend publication - announcement". Zoo. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015.
  4. Di Hand; Steve Middleditch (10 July 2014). Design for Media: A Handbook for Students and Professionals in Journalism, PR, and Advertising. Routledge. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-317-86402-8. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  5. Smith, Chloe (8 August 2013). "Nuts and Zoo reject Co-op's ultimatum". Media Week. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  6. Sillito, David (reporter). BBC 6 o'clock news "Co-op supermarket to stop selling Nuts magazine". BBC (Television news broadcast). London. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  7. Deans, Jason (31 March 2014). "Nuts magazine to close". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  8. "Zoo Magazine to suspend publication - announcement". Zoo. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015.
  9. "Announcement: FHM To Suspend Publication". FHM. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  10. BB girl runs off with housemate - The Daily Telegraph, 19 July 2007
  11. http://zooweekly.com.au/sexy-stuff/sex-tips/ashs-sex-blog-lap-dances.htm%5B%5D
  12. "Bingle exposed in men's mag photo legal row". news.com.au. 30 March 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  13. Caroline Marcus (16 September 2007). "Golf star sues over 'lustful' claim". The Age. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  14. Jones, Steve. "Bauer Media to shut Zoo Weekly". Mumbrella. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  15. "Zoo Weekly to publish its last issue in October". ABC News. 20 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 December 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  16. "Another Media24 title closes". MarketingWeb. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
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