Contact: Christine French Clark, Editor in Chief
Highlights for Children, Inc.
(570) 253-1080
HONESDALE, PA Twenty-three editors and art directors met for two September days at Boyds Mills, Pennsylvania, in what is believed to be the largest-ever gathering designed for children's magazine editors.
Mary Dalheim, editorial director of the National Wildlife Federation's Children's Magazines, looks over some of the magazines shared by other participants in the gathering designed for children’s magazine editors at Boyds Mills, Pennsylvania.
The editors, representing publishers that distribute 42 different children's magazines, came from across the United States and Canada.
"We were a diverse group, coming from children's magazines big and small, new and well-established--some general interest and some narrowly focused," Highlights Editor in Chief Christine French Clark said. "But the desire to offer kids enriching, high-quality editorial content unified us, and the opportunity to discuss some of our common challenges was both stimulating and inspiring."
"Children's magazine editors seldom have a chance to leave their busy offices and interact with other leading editors in the field," National Wildlife Federation Children's Magazines Editorial Director Mary Dalheim said. "This rare opportunity to share industry concerns and explore ideas for raising the quality of children's magazines was long overdue--and extremely worthwhile. I returned to my office with fresh ideas and a renewed commitment to providing children with the very best in magazine reading."
Featured speakers were highly regarded magazine and journalism experts Samir Husni and Peter Jacobi.
Featured speakers were highly regarded magazine and journalism experts Peter Jacobi, foreground, and Samir Husni.
Husni, aka "Mr. Magazine™," spoke about the ongoing relevance of magazines--even in this age of "isolated connectivity" where much of our communications happen in the digital environment. Chair of the journalism department at the University of Mississippi, Husni is the author of several books, including the annual Samir's Guide to New Magazines, now in its twenty-second year. He is also president and CEO of Magazine Consulting & Research.
Jacobi urged the editors to set the quality bar high and reminded them of their responsibility as editors to create clear, concise, and compelling copy--without losing the author's voice. Jacobi is a professor emeritus at Indiana University's School of Journalism and a former professor and associate dean of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He is the author of two journalism guidebooks and is an editorial consultant.
In addition, Mark Baldwin, education director of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, New York, conducted a guided nature walk to demonstrate some techniques for talking to children about the natural world.
Magazines represented at the two-day conference included American Girl, National Geographic Kids, National Geographic Little Kids, Ranger Rick, Your Big Backyard, Wild Animal Baby, Highlights, Highlights HighFive, Hopscotch for Girls, Boys' Quest, Fun for Kidz, Cobblestone, FACES, Calliope, Odyssey, Footsteps, Dig, AppleSeeds, Iguana, Jack and Jill, Moo-Cow Fan Club, New Moon, Chirp, chickaDEE, OWL, Pockets, Disney Princess, Disney and Me, SHINE brightly, and Skipping Stones.
The event was held at the home of Highlights Cofounders Garry Cleveland Myers, Ph.D., and Caroline Clark Myers near Honesdale, Pennsylvania. It was underwritten by the Highlights Foundation, a nonprofit arm of Highlights for Children, Inc. The foundation is dedicated to supporting children's writers and illustrators and improving the overall quality of children's literature.
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