#ed2010

What is your industry pet peeve? This is more than a pet peeve but: It’s that so many magazine interns aren’t paid. And worse, they often have to pay to work for free; when college credit is required they may have to pay hundreds, even thousands of dollars to receive those credits. This really limits internships to be for only those who can afford to buy them—and live in NYC on top of it. 

Do you have a work confession? I don’t answer the phone. I’m afraid of it. I don’t like the unexpected! 

What is a must-have on the job? For me, it’s all about working for sane people. I’ve worked for crazy people and I’ve worked for sane people. I prefer sane people! Now I’m working for and with people who are not only sane, but talented, lovely and respectful. It’s hard to ever leave that kind of work environment. 

What is your favorite perk? I’ve gotten spoiled by the beauty closet and in-house beauty sales in this industry. I don’t think I’ve paid full price for shampoo since 1996. The free samples we get from food companies aren’t bad either. Just today we got in a box full of watermelon ice pops and I’m eating one now while answering these questions!

Ed2010 is the destination for people starting out in the industry. What inspired you to start it? When I moved here from Indiana I didn’t know anyone outside of my best friend who I dragged along with me. Yet everyone kept telling me that to get a job in the magazine industry you had to “know people”. So I created my own group of people to know—entirely made up of fellow interns and their friends and their friends. It was just a bunch of folks having cheap beers in a bar in the village. And now it’s this huge organization. I honestly never thought it’d come to this. But it feels good to have helped so many young people break into this industry over the years. I just met with a college senior at my alma mater, Indiana University today and she reminded me of myself so many years ago. So much hope and excitement for being in magazines. It reminds me what a great job I have and why I should be grateful to do what I love. 

You have a pretty packed schedule. How do you keep it together?  Ah, there is no real secret. I will say I’m a pretty organized person so as long as it’s on my to do list or my calendar, I can figure it out. I’m also not a procrastinator. I was the annoying kid who turned in the report a week early. I did it because I couldn’t stand anything hanging over my head. I’m still like this now although I have to say it does drive my husband crazy! 

What are some of your favorite published pieces? I’m reading the novel the Goldfinch now and am loving it. I rarely read novels so this is a treat. I read so much every day  magazines, online, newspapersthat it’s hard to pick out just one thing. But last year’s New York Times series about the homeless girl: “Invisible Child" really touched me. And it was an amazing piece of journalism. 

What is some advice you have for others trying to break into the industry? Get as much experience as possible. Write as much as you can. And find a mentor who can help you along the way. A professor. An editor. Even someone just a year or two above you. Everyone needs a little help from someone else. And then after you get your first real job, be sure to return the favor and help someone else out. At Ed, we call this career karma. What you give, will come back to you tenfold. I know it has for me.

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