Kent investors are being invited to help the magazine voice of teenagers go multi-media.

So! Magazine, founded three years ago in east Kent by journalist Madeleine White, has already expanded from the county into the north of England and is about to launch a West Country edition. More than 55,000 copies are now distributed through schools and shops.

The publishing phenomenon was given national publicity in an article about the gap in mainstream news coverage for teenagers. One expert told The Guardian’s media section that the BBC was not catering for viewers and listeners over the age of 12 and up to about 15. Research showed that this age group was "crying out" for specialist news programming.

First News, a national newspaper for 10 - 15 year olds, has just unveiled plans for a web-based television service for the age group.

Now Ms White, based in Marlowe Innovation Centre, Ramsgate, believes the time is ripe to expand the So! - which stands for So Outspoken - brand into television and overseas, starting with a German edition.

She says that 78 per cent of coverage about young people is negative which is why they had turned away from national newspapers. However, local papers were more positive.

She said she was looking for investors to inject around £60,000 into the venture. "I’m building a solid business case to look at major investment and making So! Magazine into a phenomenon that doesn’t just deal with magazines but also looks at broadcasting, be it television or web. There is real opportunity here."

Several firms were already supporters but she was looking for more to take So! to the next level.

She added: "I invite businesses who believe in young people to join me and turn this into a truly international phenomenon.

"My roots are in Kent and I would love to work with a local investor rather than someone who doesn’t know the place where So! started and the history behind it. It would be wonderful if Kent could be the hotbed of building this media bridge for young people.

"The strength of So! magazine is based on the very fact that young people have huge amounts to say about who they want to be and where they want to go."