I'm sure most of you know by now, but I was recently hired full-time as the Assistant Editor at American Craft magazine, the official publication of the American Craft Council. This is a different magazine than American Woodworker; American Craft focuses on Craft as a whole, whereas American Woodworker is wood-based craft. Confusing, right?
The American Craft Council moved their headquarters to Minneapolis about six months ago from New York. As a result, the magazine got a brand-new staff, including yours truly.
The job involves a lot of administrative tasks (sending out contracts, managing contacts, collecting images), but I also get to do my fair share of writing and editing. And, the magazine is very dedicated to expanding their online presence and exploring other media opportunities, including audio and video. I'm working on a podcast right now, and helping them get up to speed on basic video production. All in all, it's a very exciting time to be part of the magazine.
The American Craft Council also puts on a handful of craft shows. The first one of the year was in Baltimore this past weekend. And there's another one coming up in April in St. Paul. If you like crafty things as much as I think you do, perhaps you should consider going. In addition to getting the print magazine every two months, American Craft Council members get into the shows for free. That's right, you get six issues of a high-quality magazine with great pictures and excellent writing, and you get access to some of the biggest Craft shows in the country. How's that for a pitch?
The other really cool thing about this job is that the American Craft Council is a non-profit organization. That means my parent company isn't a profit-driven media conglomerate. I don't want to say we're immune from the job insecurity that most journalists face, but we're definitely insulated. First and foremost, the quality of the magazine takes precedence over increasing profits. With that said, the magazine is thriving right now, due to a reinvigorated staff and new dialogue about the future of craft.
All of the new articles will be available on the website, but if you're one of those people who loves holding a high-quality print publication in their hands, you might want to think about becoming a member.
And, if any of you crafty people have any hot tips or interesting things you've noticed about any crafts, be sure to drop me line.
