Our vision
Associated Magazines aims to be the leading content creator and community hub for high-income groups in South Africa through the innovative use of print, digital and social platforms.
About us
Associated Magazines publishes South Africa’s most-loved consumer magazine brands and over the last 27 years demonstrated that magazines are more than just the paper they are printed on, but the coming together of like-minded individuals. Today the company boasts a community of readers of well over 1.7 million people who engage with the trendsetting content via the magazines, websites, mobile offerings and events.
The company’s strong ties with Hearst Corporation go as far back as 1983 when Cosmopolitan was launched in South Africa under the leadership of Jane Raphaely. In 2002 this relationship was strengthened when the company secured the rights to publish the first international edition of O, The Oprah Magazine. Since then Associated Magazines extended its international and local ties to include a partnership agreement with Marie Claire Group to publish Marie Claire. In 2011 Good Housekeeping and Afrikaans version, Goeie Huishouding, were added to the stable.
JANE RAPHAELY
Chairman of Associated Magazines and Editor-in-Chief of O, the Oprah Magazine
Jane Raphaely is renowned for her courage in tackling touchy issues, her kindness, support and chicken soup for staff who are ill or in trouble, the many editors who have come from her stable and the contribution her magazines have made to South African culture.
For 19 years Fair Lady magazine, under her leadership, dominated the market, pioneering the promotion of black models and writers, publishing Zindzi Mandela’s poems to her father in prison, advocating sex education for children and always championing women and their causes.
In 1984 Jane left Fair Lady and went on to launch, edit and publish the South African edition of Cosmopolitan. This was followed by the acquisition and revamp of Femina magazine in 1988, and the launch of the Cosmopolitan Fashion Directory, Brides and Homes, House and Leisure and Baby & Me. In 2002 Jane was successful in bringing O, The Oprah Magazine to South Africa. In 2003 Associated Magazines acquired the license to publish Marie Claire from the Marie Claire Group.
Jane's passion for quality journalism, her concern for the development of female potential, her ability to find and train talent, and her enthusiasm for causes have created magazines which South African women have followed faithfully.
Management team
Julia Raphaely
Managing director
Julia Raphaely is a shareholder in Associated Magazines and Managing Director of the group. Since joining Associated Magazines full time in August 1993, Julia has played a significant role in establishing the company as one of the largest independent publishers of glossy women’s magazines in South Africa. Julia joined Associated Magazines as Public Relations (PR) and Corporate Development Manager and through the years entrenched herself as one of the leading women in the publishing sector, building the Associated Magazines stable into the powerhouse it is today. Julia gained her experience by holding a variety of positions at Associated Magazines, including stints as Associate Publisher of Associated Magazines, Publisher of O, The Oprah Magazine (South Africa) and Managing Editor of Femina.
As Managing Director of the company she is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction and creating a vision for the group; improving business results and overseeing the group’s day-to-day operations.
Julia completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cape Town in 1987, after which she studied at the AAA School of Advertising (graduating with honours from the latter). She also completed a Masters degree in Interactive Telecommunication at the University of New York in 1993.
