Heart & Soul Magazine
One BET Plaza, 1900 W. Place, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20018-1211
Do you have a story idea that will resonate with African Americans? If so, make Heart & Soul your pitching priority. This bi-monthly magazine, published by Black Entertainment Television, has a circulation of 300,000 and targets a health-conscious, primarily female audience ages 18 to 55. Its health coverage urges readers to make a "mind-body" connection with features that provide holistic advice and tips for living healthy through fitness, nutrition and overall wellness.
You've got a better shot at grabbing ink in this pub if you provide up-front facts and figures on health issues that affect the African-American community rather than general health trends, says Barbranda Lumpkins Walls, Heart & Soul's managing editor. Hot areas of interest for editors are healthy success stories, alternative treatments for common ailments and the latest research on health conditions that affect African Americans most.
Recent articles include:
- A Clue to AIDS in African Americans
- Fitness the Holistic Way
- Natural Healing: Remedies for Summer Ailments
Topics: Topics that are immediately on the editors' radar screen include sickle cell, AIDS/HIV, lupus, obesity and diabetes.
Heart & Soul devotes several areas of the magazine to health coverage through regular departments and features. Ideal departments to pitch are:
- Livin' Healthy;
- Straight Talk;
- Natural Healing:
- Male Call; and
- Family Health.
Editors/Lead Time: PR Pitches: Marilyn Malloy, senior editor Kendra Lee, consulting editor; email: [email protected]
Allow six months lead time for features and four months for briefs and news.
Methods: The best method is email, any time of the week.
Comments: Now is a great time to pitch Heart & Soul editors on story ideas that deal with:
- premenstrual syndrome (PMS),
- headaches;
- insomnia; and
- pregnancy advice.
The magazine always is looking for health experts and women's health products and services.
Market research and survey findings should always address trends in the African-American community.