Pink hits 50, fresher than ever

The term "latchkey kids" may date back to the 1800s when children, who were responsible for their own care, wore their house key on a string around their necks. But the situation still exists today, with an increasing number of both parents working, and more children returning to an empty home.

Pink, which is distributed with The Times tomorrow, looks into the local phenomenon, focusing on the psychological and emotional impact on these kids. It gets the facts from a 12-year-old girl, who has had to learn to juggle between housework and homework...

"There is no doubt that children, who are left on their own, or with their siblings at home for a number of hours before an adult returns, face greater temptations and dangers around the house, are required to take on more responsible tasks and are expected to be more self-disciplined. It should not come as a surprise that not all children rise to this tall order," the experts say, offering the tips to go with handling the situation.

Pink hits its 50th edition tomorrow, and to celebrate this milestone, some of its avid readers, including Education Minister Dolores Cristina, Martin Scicluna, who wears several high-profile hats and is currently director general of The Today Public Policy Institute, and pop star Ira Losca take the time to explain why they have established a regular date with the magazine.

Their contributions prove that Malta's leading women's magazine also attracts the lads in equal measure and anyone from every walk of life looks forward to picking up a copy.

Still on the subject of 50th anniversaries, Pink dedicates a feature to others hitting half a century, questioning whether this age marks the end of something... or just the beginning.

Over the years, and in a relatively short time, Pink has also established itself as Malta's foremost fashion magazine, with photo shoots that have set trends and are growing across more of its glossy pages. In tomorrow's edition, fashion also comes in the form of glitzy feature on Topshop's in-house style advisors for retail therapy in full regalia, while more glamour comes through in an interview with pretty-boy actor Chace Crawford, the shining star of the TV series Gossip Girl, to spread some juicy rumours from behind the scenes.

Pink is a monthly magazine, whose executive editors are The Times journalists Fiona Galea Debono and Ariadne Massa.

It is published by Allied Newspapers Ltd, printed by Progress Press Ltd, produced by MediaMaker Ltd and designed by Helen Cassar Torreggiani and Joseph Schembri.