Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Magazine Editing But Were Afraid To Ask

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Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Magazine Editing But Were Afraid To Ask

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Latest Activity: Jul 25, 2017

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Magazine Editing But Were Afraid To Ask

"Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made," is a quip commonly attributed to Otto von Bismarck, the famous Prussian statesman. To that statement I would like to add “...and magazine editing...” - only without first hand experience, how would I know?

Well, I am about to find out. I’ve just been issued an invitation to take a look at the inner workings of one of the craft field's major publications, the multiple awards-winning American Craft Magazine. And I will let you all come along for an up-close-and-personal inspection of their sausage-making process because that's the kind of person I am. You're welcome.

So if this sounds like fun, and if you have questions you always wanted to know about the magazine but were afraid to ask, then join this fun crafthaus discussion group. I will attempt to get us all up to speed about the headbutting involved in getting the magazine to print.


What else? Monica Moses, the magazine's editor in chief, promised me good eats, and because I respond well to being fed I look really forward to that part of the deal! Will post pictures of the spread, because I know you’ll all want to know.

Will there be actual sausage involved? A girl can hope.


Join the discussion group. Ask questions and follow along on the trip.

It'll be fun.

Head image left: Otto von Bismarck, courtesy Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1990-023-06A

Head image right: Cover, American Craft Magazine, April/May 2017

Discussion Forum

6 - Designing American Craft Magazine at Hopkins/Baumann

Started by Brigitte Martin. Last reply by Brigitte Martin Apr 26, 2017. 2 Replies

Did you enjoy the video of the Hopkins/Baumann combined work-living space in Minneapolis? Isn't it amazing? Told you!Mary Baumann and Will Hopkins collect beautiful ceramics, brushes, and b/w photography (you've seen those in the video), but they also have another fun and surprising collection, one that I absolutely love: TOYS! This image shows just a small part of the collection. They have toys tucked away in surprising places all throughout their apartment. You can find them in various nooks and crannies, sometimes almost camouflaged in the brickwork, and sometimes high up on a wall, almost out of sight. As I was walking around their place I stumbled on groupings of toys by accident. Great sense of humor. You know how I like that.One last image I want to share with you…Continue

Tags: hopkins, baumann, designers, design, close

5 - VIDEO HEADS-UP: What's next in the ongoing American Craft Magazine series?

Started by Brigitte Martin. Last reply by Brigitte Martin Apr 24, 2017. 2 Replies

What's next in the ongoing American Craft Magazine series? Here's your Monday morning heads-up complete with music. Because that's how we roll."Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Magazine Editing But Were Afraid To Ask" - If you are into nerdy, detail-oriented stuff and always wanted to know what it feels like being an English major on a mission, then this quick RECAP post of what I learned so far is for you: http://crafthaus.ning.com/group/magazine-editing/forum/topics/4-a-full-day-editing-and-closing-american-craft-magazineContinue

Tags: close, hopkins, baumann, designers, editing

4 - A Full Day Editing and Closing American Craft Magazine

Started by Brigitte Martin. Last reply by Jessica Todd May 11, 2017. 8 Replies

It's 8am, I am on my second cup of coffee and ready to start my day in Minneapolis. I have a full day ahead of me at the office of Hopkins/Baumann, an editorial design firm in charge of designing American Craft Magazine. Four editors and three designers will gather to work on the magazine today, this is their second day of editing out of a total of three full days.Unless I have to drive long distances, whenever I travel I have begun to rely on Uber for transportation. I often luck out majorly with my drivers, people from all over the planet seem to be driving Uber cars these days. Their stories are often fascinating and the array of cars I have sat in is astonishing. Today is no exception: This is my ride. WIN!Here…Continue

Tags: close, hopkins, baumann, designers, editing

3 - Video Interview with Monica Moses, editor in chief, American Craft Magazine

Started by Brigitte Martin. Last reply by Brigitte Martin Apr 24, 2017. 4 Replies

Interview with Monica Moses, editor in chief of American Craft Magazine. "Who is your audience? How do you determine content? What stories are you interested in? What's up with new technologies and craft?"-- Got you some answers!PS: There really was coffee in those mugs, I swear.Next post:4 - A Full Day Editing and Closing American Craft MagazineIf you are into nerdy, detailed work, this one's for you!Continue

Tags: interview

2 - A Day of Travel

Started by Brigitte Martin. Last reply by Harriete E Berman Apr 20, 2017. 1 Reply

And so my day begins. Time to get up for my assignment. Traveling to Minneapolis for a few days. One always forgets how time-consuming travel is. All that planning and thinking, and then the day itself spent away from my desk...Chicago traffic. Never fun. Only good thing is my trusted driver, Ibrahim. A Coptic Christian from Egypt, he has amazing stories to tell. First met him a few years ago as an Uber driver and he's been driving me ever since. Always shows up 15 minutes BEFORE his appointment. Never late, not even at 4am. Love it.Is there anything more depressing and woefully non-designed than an airport waiting area? At least I am not flying United today. Small…Continue

Tags: council, minneapolis, craft, american, acc

1 - This is what I think is going to happen...

Started by Brigitte Martin. Last reply by Brigitte Martin Apr 17, 2017. 4 Replies

This is what I think is going to happen:Magazine editors and designers are going to gather at a secret location somewhere in Minneapolis, MN. With computers on every surface and the latest issue of Merriam-Webster at hand, they will duke it out over commas vs. semicolons and what the correct answer is to who said what, when, where, and why. What photos to use for the article and where to place them on the page? Which image tells the story best?

Well, apparently, my assumptions are not too far off. I asked Monica Moses, editor in chief of the magazine, and she explained things to me this way: “I guess I just think the process is very nerdy. Most people probably don't realize how much effort it takes to prevent mistakes and assure clarity in a publication. Sometimes we talk about very, very minute things. ("Do you think that angel dancing on the head of a pin is 5'2" or 5'3"?…Continue

Tags: anticipation, editing, magazine, crafthaus

Comment Wall

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Comment by Jessica Todd on May 1, 2017 at 8:19am
Harriete, I just saw this and thought I'd respond since I've really enjoyed discussing things with you in the past - of course, all of this comes from my "civilian" opinion, and not the editor you were directing it to, but she responds in her video interview with Brigitte. As someone who works in traditional materials/processes as well as new technologies, I first want to say that digital fabrication requires training, skill, and trial and error just like hand fabrication. To do it well, you invest the same kind of work to develop skills, push the boundaries of possibilities, and craft a "voice" as a maker. Just as with handwork, when it isn't pushed very far it can be "blah," as you mention. But I feel the same way when I walk through a jewelry gallery and see chunky silver rings with cabochons - I respect the fact that people are making work, but, I've seen it a million times. It's not terribly exciting, to me. To others, could be quite exciting. So, I think there is a spectrum of "blah" to "wow!" and where the work lies will always be a matter of opinion and perspective. However, unlike hand fabrication, digital fabrication is quite new and so in its infancy it has yet to be pushed to its limits, which, to me, presents exciting potential.

I also want to say that often it is assumed digital fabrication and hand fabrication are two separate practices, but many artists incorporate the two, visibly or invisibly, in some very exciting ways and with plenty of merit. Methods of mass production like molding and casting (which many jewelers outsource), or hiring someone to saw out a design you created, have been around and accepted for a long time, but I feel as though they don't have any more or less merit than 3D scanning an object to print in wax and cast, or getting something laser cut instead of a studio assistant doing it by hand. The difference is often that it is more affordable for the maker and requiring less equipment in one's own space, but I don't think that makes it "cheap" - I think that is more a question of taste (of both the maker and viewer). Anyway, like I said, just some things I have been thinking about in my own humble, un-titled opinion!
Comment by Harriete E Berman on April 17, 2017 at 9:27am

Brigitte, If it doesn't fit the moment, there is no requirement to ask...just thought that I would throw out a question.  

Comment by Brigitte Martin on April 17, 2017 at 9:18am

Harriete - I will ask the editor in chief and get back to you with a response!

Comment by Harriete E Berman on April 16, 2017 at 3:00pm

O.K. Tough question:
How does American Craft define it's audience?

It used to be that "Craft" was all about making it by hand with great skill. The tour-de-force of craft skills. 

Seems to me that this has evolved radically in recent years.

How much prejudice is there against the  "found object" or found materials. Though this has existed in the art realm for 60 years....is there still some resistance as defining this as "craft."

Also, is there any "craft" resistance to modern technologies such as laser cutting or 3-d printing?

Is there a problem with the laser cutting or 3-d printing as looking like the technology rather than the artist's brain/hand connection?.
For further explanation: A few years ago, I went on a gallery walk, and every gallery had laser cutting....and after a while, you just walked into the gallery and said to yourself, "more laser cutting" and moved on. It was a really boring crutch to expedient cost effective, (lower price) art making.

 

Harriete

Comment by Brigitte Martin on April 13, 2017 at 3:33pm

Harriete, I wanted to announce that next week, but I might as well do it now: I will be going live on fb Thursday morning at 11am CTR and Thursday afternoon at 3 CTR. That way people from both coasts can tune in conveniently. Looking forward to your question!

Comment by Harriete E Berman on April 13, 2017 at 1:51pm

Are we listening live?

What time?

I have a question.

 

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