Zooming beyond the ride

New magazine aims for automotive reading niche

Chad Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Garth Walker, chairman of Creative Media and Events, which is the parent company of Wealth Magazine, recently launched Auto Zoom. Now a quarterly, and soon to become a bimonthly publication, Walker says it will take readers on a journey into the inner workings of the automotive industry.

According to Walker, who is managing editor, the magazine will not focus solely on the various vehicles available, but will also feature persons who work in the industry. These include mechanics and electricians, among others, who contribute to the sector.

"For example, how many times do we see a mechanic getting featured? Or how many times do we see an electrician getting featured?" Walker asked.

automotive specialists

"The reality of the situation is that these are the people behind the scenes who keep us driving, so we're going to bring some of these people to light. We're going to look at all the by-products that make up the automobiles," he continued.

Walker further pointed out that although the magazine features automobiles, much to the delight of car fanatics, there will be another component that focuses on transportation such as motorbikes and boats.

"When we say 'auto', we want to pretty much focus on everything that has an engine. So we're going to step above just automobiles," Walker said.

Still, the car will be the publication's staple. "We're really going to give a wide array of information as we continue to roll out this brand, so that we have a wide variety. We'll be 70 per cent dominated by cars," added Walker.

Walker said Auto Zoom will fit quite well into the Jamaican market, especially among female audiences, as his product continues to educate, enquire and empower. "As the Wealth brand, we educate, enquire and we empower, so what we find is that we want to continue to have content geared towards women. Women need a lot more guidance when buying automobiles. Sometimes, a woman is misinformed when she goes to buy a vehicle, so what we want to do is keep them informed," Walker explained.

He acknowledged that Auto Zoom is much bigger and better supported than the first issue of the Wealth Magazine.