Jenny Lynch Archives - The Knightly Views with Gavin Ellis

To mark the death of Queen Elizabeth, this week’s commentary is handed over to one of New Zealand’s most knowledgeable Royal watchers, former New Zealand Woman’s Weekly editor, Jenny Lynch.

She was always good copy, specially for women’s magazines.

During my time at the NZ Woman’s Weekly ( 1976-1994) I often wondered what we would have done without the Queen and her troublesome family

Outsiders often sneered at the magazine’s so-called love affair with the royals.

But long-time editor Jean Wishart knew a thing or two. So did I when I took over the editor’s chair in 1987.

A good royal story guaranteed good sales.

And when the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited New Zealand we could count on very good sales. Continue reading “The Queen was always good copy” →

This presentation was delivered at the Auckland City Art Gallery on 12 May 2021 by my wife, Jenny Lynch, as a tribute to her mentor – fellow New Zealand Woman’s Weekly editor Jean Wishart

She was a publishing icon. An editor whose magazine became the top selling women’s publication per head of population in the world.

She was also an astute businesswoman. She became the first woman in the country to sit on the board of a listed company– NZ News. And the first woman in its 124-year history to be elected to the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.

Above all she was someone who became a valued friend — I use that word advisably — to thousands upon thousands of New Zealand magazine readers during much of the latter part of last century.

I’m talking about Miss Jean Wishart, New Zealand Woman’s Weekly editor from 1952 to 1985.

Continue reading “THE WEEKLY, THE ROYALS, AND THE WOMAN WHO MADE IT ALL HAPPEN” →