B.E.’s Alfred Edmond named to Folio’s 40 most influential magazine executives

(April 15, 2007) The current issue of Folio Magazine names Black Enterprise Editor-in-Chief Alfred A. Edmond Jr. to the Folio 40: The most influential people in the magazine industry. The trade publication cited Edmond for aggressively moving Black Enterprise into a true multiplatform brand, engaging readers in print, radio, television, events and online.

Alfred Edmond Jr. celebrated his 20th anniversary last month at Black Enterprise, a 37-year old business news source for African Americans. As most editors struggle with moving their magazine into a multi-platform brand, Edmond has already figured out the right formula for the magazine. “If I have a unique value I bring to the table, it’s the ability to find the right people to fit into this kind of program,” says Edmond. “I pride myself on being the general manager that somehow gets the best free agents. Not only getting them but getting them to play well together.”

Edmond has grown accustomed to thinking beyond ink on paper—a talent he says has been easy to do since he was never formally trained as a journalist anyway. “I never had to think of myself as a print guy. It’s very easy for me to think of our magazine in terms of television, radio, Web site and events.”

The magazine accounts for 60 percent of the revenues of parent firm, Earl G. Graves Publishing Co., but the other platforms are catching up. The group has added a second television program, its syndicated radio show is in its second year and broadcasts in 30 markets, there are three events and the Web site attracts 450,000 unique visitors every month. Overall, the brand reaches four million customers.

The multiplatform strategy is tied to the realization that the magazine needs to target younger readers. “We need to take this message to people in their twenties, but they’re not ready to run out and get a business magazine, so we have to go to them,” Edmond says.

Edmond joined Black Enterprise in 1987 as an associate editor and advanced to business editor later that year.  In 1990, he was promoted to senior editor/administration, then to managing editor in 1992.  He was made executive editor in 1995 and assumed his current role in January 2000.

Before joining B.E., Edmond served as the senior editor of MBM/Modern Black Men Magazine (1986) and as an associate editor for the Daily Challenge (1985).  He was also the managing editor of Big Red News (1983-1985, now the New York Beacon), a weekly, black newspaper in Brooklyn, New York.
 

Go to Target Market News homepage

 

 13th Edition Now Available 
New Buying Power report shows more spending by black consumers on 'necessities'

Thanks to economic gains in the past two years, black households across the U.S., especially middle-class families, are increasing their purchases of lifestyle and leisure items.

According to the newest edition of “The Buying Power of Black America,” there are indications that black households are feeling more confident about making purchases that...
Story continued...
________________________

The African-American
Book Publishing Authority

Now in its eighth year of publication, Black Issues Book Review is the only nationally distributed magazine devoted exclusively to covering the latest news and reviews on black books. BIBR also provides up-to-date news on forthcoming author signings, book fairs and book clubs.
Want this issue? Get it with your new subscription.
Click Here

A TARGET MARKET NEWS PUBLICATION
_________________________



Click here to read more

________________________

  SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 


The trade publication for
in-depth coverage of Black
Consumer Marketing
and Media news