From Precious | Updated March, 2012
ABOUT PRECIOUS
By Foluke Akinlose
Precious is an online magazine, network and resource for women of colour. We launched in 1999 and were the first publication of its kind to launch in the UK. Our aim is to be the premier destination for women of colour on the web.
I'd dreamt of launching a magazine for women of colour since I was a kid. When I was younger there were no British magazines that featured girls that looked like me, I'd spend my pocket money on American imports and they were great, but I really wanted to read about the Black British experience.
When I grew older and started working in the media as a journalist I quickly realised how expensive setting up a print magazine was. I just didn't have those kinds of funds so I decided to put the magazine idea at the back of my mind for a while.
In 1996 I began working in the Online department of ITN. Because of the nature of my job I spent a lot of time researching online. I came across so many online publications aimed at African-American women but there was nothing for those based in the UK. I soon realised that the web gave me a way of publishing and this was a way for me to launch the magazine that I had always dreamed of doing. So I followed my dream.
When I was thinking about a name, I wanted something that summed up how I felt about the women I knew and what I wanted the magazine to be the women who read it. Precious seemed so apt.
Our aim is to profile and celebrate the professional and entrepreneurial achievements of women of colour in the UK. We host a number of events throughout the year and we host an annual awards event that celebrates businesswomen. Our readership is global; our core audience is Black and Asian women aged between 18 and 45. We also work with a range of corporate partners on various projects be it recruitment, events or helping them to showcase their products to our diverse audience.
Positive people doing their own thing inspire us. There is so much talent out there, we want to play our part in exposing it and we hope that people see Precious as a vehicle to global success.
If you want to talk to Precious contact me, the Founder, Foluke Akinlose: foluke@preciousonline.co.uk
Or you can drop us a line via our Facebook Group here.
Or drop by our myspace page here.
Meet the PRECIOUS team:
Foluke Akinlose, Managing Editor and Founder
"Foluke has been a writer and journalist for more than fifteen years beginning her career by setting up and launching her schools first ever magazine. Since then Foluke has edited and contributed to a wide number of traditional and new media publications. Her passions are many and include her family, football, the 'written word' the world wide web and red, red wine..
Foluke came up with the idea of Precious in 1994: "As a net user I found there were few sites that were relevant to women full stop - let alone women like me. Further on down the line, those sites aimed at women were well designed but just didn't relate to women like me."
Foluke has found launching and growing Precious magazine a real test of her skills and determination."I'm really proud of how much Precious has grown over the years and how we have evolved into a network because that's what our readers wanted. I love how much our audience continue to take a great interest in how Precious develops. If they love or hate something they have no qualms in letting us know. I think that is fantastic!"
PJ Cobham, Arts Editor
Born to Barbadian parents, P J a Social Science Graduate (B A Hons) from London, is co-founder, artistic director and playwright-in-residence for True Colours Theatre Company. Having trained at The Central School of Speech and Drama, P J is an accomplished playwright, theatre director, choreographer and producer.
Her work has been produced by Tricycle Theatre, Oval House Theatre and Yaa Theatre, including the acclaimed Even A Miracle Needs Wings To Fly. After winning several writing bursaries including the BAFTA Focus On Talent Screenwriting bursary, P J's future ambitions include a West-End debut, writing for television, building on her performance and educational links with Nordic Black Theatre, in Oslo Norway, and writing her first novel. Until that happens you will find P J tutoring (educational & fitness) or using her culinary skills as a qualified chef.
Fritha Sutherland, Business and Lifestyle Writer
Fritha has always had a passion for writing and has 10 years journalism experience. On graduating with a BA (Honours) in Film and Media Studies from Stirling University in 1995, she moved to London and has spent the last 8 years as an Editor at media companies such as the FT and Trans World International (TWI). As well as writing business and lifestyle content she has worked in New Media, TV and Radio.
Fritha was born in Manchester but grew up in Scotland with her adoptive parents. Of Jamaican/Ugandan heritage she also acknowledges her cultural roots north of the border. She cooks a mean Jerk Scottish Salmon, swears by a hot toddy (whiskey, hot water, lemon and honey) to fight off a cold, loves veggie haggis and can dance the Highland fling to Beanie Man!
Having spent some of her early years on the remote island of Orkney, she jokes that this and her Scorpio stubbornness has been good grounding for the often tough profession she has chosen! Away from work, Fritha enjoys cooking, singing, creative writing, swimming, music, film and reading. Fritha has won several journalism prizes and awards. Most recently she was short-listed for the '2004 Business Journalist of the Year Awards' - the World Leadership Forum's global awards for business and financial journalism.
Rasheed Ogunlaru
Rasheed is the resident business coach for Precious. Rasheed is a UK-based life coach, business coach, motivational speaker and author. Check out Rasheed's regular slot here.