135 West 50th Street
New York, NY 10020
Working Mother Magazine recently cleaned house with its recent acquisition of Lisa Benenson, who joined as editor-in-chief from Good Housekeeping. Benenson, who has hired a
handful of new editors, is giving the 20-year-old magazine a makeover that will involve more comprehensive health coverage. Publishers also are gearing up to give the magazine a
Web presence this fall (http://www.workingmother.com) which will derive about 30% of its content from the magazine.
The magazine, with a circ of approximately 2.5 million, will continue its focus on career, parenting and lifestyle issues. But steer clear of pitching this pub fairy-tale,
perfect-family stories. Editors look for ways they can provide readers practical advice on achieving balance professionally and personally.
The readers crave quality time with their children but they don't regret working, says Benenson, who points out that 75% of women with children under 18 are members of the work
force and 50% of professional women are responsible for at least half of their families' income. To this end, realistic, yet positive stories on maintaining a healthy attitude
while wearing both these hats are given top priority.
Health Coverage
Working Mother covers a broad range of parenting, health, safety, beauty, technology and professional development issues.
A new section, "The Mommy Network," replaces the "Parenting" section in the June issue. This section highlights a wide range of support resources available to professional
moms.
Editors/Lead Time
Contact all editors through the main phone number or mailing address above. Here's a rundown of recent hires:
Executive Editor: Sharlen Breakey
Managing Editor: Jo Ann Liguori
Associate Editor, Health: Keith Mulvill
Web Editorial Director: Bernadette Gray
Methods
Snail mail is best. Although email pitches may be hip, they're likely to go unnoticed by these editors who prefer "to get something on paper."
It's also a good idea to send artwork with your press releases.
Comments
Story ideas that are actionable have the best shot of being picked up. For example, the May issue includes kid-friendly veggie recipes and projects designed to keep kids
entertained while mom's away on business.
The health issues that are most relevant to readers are stress pre-vention, maintaining a healthy diet and prevention and wellness updates.