About ASME

—Ted Patrick, editor of Holiday, announcing the formation of ASME on September 17, 1963

The American Society of Magazine Editors is the principal organization for the editorial and creative leaders of magazines and websites published in the United States. Founded in 1963, ASME strives to defend the First Amendment, support the development of journalism and promote the editorial integrity of print and digital publications. ASME sponsors the National Magazine Awards in association with the Columbia Journalism School, conducts training programs for reporters and editors and publishes the ASME Guidelines for Editors and Publishers, which articulate basic principles for the conduct of magazine journalists.

ASME defines a magazine as a print or digital publication issued or updated regularly in a consistent format, shaped by a distinctive editorial perspective and trusted by readers to provide timely information relevant to their interests. Magazines are usually characterized by the use of print or digital technologies to create a visually rich, immersive experience. Magazine storytelling in print and online, including podcasts and videos, is characterized by extensive reporting, informed analysis, stylish writing, a distinctive point of view and the use of graphics to enrich the experience of the reader.

All consumer and business magazines and websites edited and published in the United States are invited to enter the National Magazine Awards. Other creators and publishers of magazine-like content, including newspapers, newsletters and audio and video production companies, as well as websites associated with radio and television stations and networks, are also eligible to enter the National Magazine Awards, and their editorial and creative leaders are welcome to apply for membership in ASME.

ASME also sponsors the ASME Awards for Design, Photography and Illustration and the ASME NEXT Awards for Journalists Under 30.

MEMBERSHIP

Editorial and creative leaders employed by magazines and websites published in the United States are invited to join ASME. Journalists working outside the United States are also eligible for membership, subject to the approval of the ASME Board of Directors. The five categories of ASME membership are Chief Editor Member, Senior Editor Member, Associate Member, ASME NEXT Member and Corporate Member.

Chief Editor Members are editors in chief of magazines and editorial websites or editorial directors of publishing companies or divisions. Senior Editor Members are senior- and executive-level editors, art directors and photo editors as well as editorial and visual consultants. Associate Members are retired or currently unemployed editorial leaders as well as journalism educators and freelance writers and editors.

Associate Members are also current or former judges of the National Magazine Awards, ASME Awards for Design, Photography and Illustration and ASME NEXT Awards, who are entitled to join ASME as honorary members for a period of 12 months after their initial service as judges. Associate Members are nonvoting members of ASME.

ASME NEXT Members are early-career journalists who are members of ASME by virtue of their membership in ASME NEXT. ASME NEXT Members are nonvoting members of ASME.

Corporate Members are media organizations that wish to engage with other ASME members and sponsor ASME programs, including the National Magazine Awards and ASME Editorial Conference. Corporate Members are nonvoting members of ASME.

For more information about ASME membership, see Membership Categories. For member benefits, see The Value of Membership.

Applications for membership in any category of membership are subject to the approval of the ASME Board of Directors. ASME currently has 400 members, representing nearly 300 media organizations and educational institutions.

GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

ASME is governed by a 16-member board of directors. Members of the ASME Board of Directors are elected to two-year terms and may be re-elected to a second two-year term. Officers of the Society are elected to one-year terms and may be re-elected to a second one-year term. The immediate past president of ASME serves on the Board of Directors ex officio. Elections for officers and members of the board are conducted every year in June.

Candidates for election to the Board of Directors are selected by the ASME Nominating Committee. Members of the Nominating Committee are appointed annually in January by the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee is chaired by the immediate past president of the Society and includes two members of the Board of Directors, two at-large members of ASME and the current president of the Society, ex officio. The Nominating Committee meets initially in March or April. Nominations for election to the Board of Directors may be submitted to the executive director of ASME, acting as secretary of the Society, beginning in January.

The current members of the ASME Board of Directors are:

Alison Overholt Founder, Good People LLC, and Professor, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism | President
Nikhil Swaminathan Chief Executive Officer, Grist | Vice President
Julia Turner Cofounder and Editor in Chief, L.A. Material | Treasurer
Stephanie Mehta Chief Executive Officer and Chief Content Officer, Inc. and Fast Company | Secretary
Rick Berke Cofounder and Executive Editor, STAT
Jessica Cruel Editor in Chief, Allure
Richard Dorment Editorial Director, Men’s Health and Women’s Health
Katie Drummond Global Editorial Director, WIRED
Sid Evans Editor in Chief, Southern Living
Jeffrey Goldberg Editor in Chief, The Atlantic
Nathan Lump Editor in Chief, National Geographic
Ross McCammon Editor in Chief, Texas Monthly
Nikki Ogunnaike Editor in Chief, Marie Claire
Swati Sharma Editor in Chief, Vox
Ivylise Simones Creative Director, Slate
Amanda Kludt Senior Editor, Newsroom Projects and Initiatives, The New York Times | Immediate Past President

The executive director of ASME is Sidney Holt. The director of operations is Nina Fortuna. The executive director may be reached at [email protected] or 212. 872.3723. The director of operations may be reached at [email protected] or 212.872.3737. Questions for the board may be directed to the executive director.

ASME PROGRAMS

ASME was founded to provide opportunities for editorial and creative leaders to meet; to foster talent; and to establish and administer the National Magazine Awards. ASME now serves the interests of its members and supports the development of print and digital journalism by sponsoring the following programs:

The most prestigious awards for magazines and websites published in the United States, the National Magazine Awards honor print and digital publications for editorial and visual excellence as demonstrated by the superior execution of editorial objectives, innovative techniques, noteworthy enterprise and imaginative design. Originally limited to print magazines, the awards now recognize magazine storytelling published in any medium, including newspapers and newsletters.

The National Magazine Awards are sponsored by the American Society of Magazine Editors in association with the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and are administered by ASME. Look was the recipient of the first National Magazine Award in 1966. The first award for digital journalism was presented to Money in 1997.

The call for entries is published annually in late September. The finalists for the National Magazine Awards are announced in March; the awards are presented in May at the ASME Editorial Conference. Each winner receives a copper “Ellie,” modeled on the symbol of the awards, Alexander Calderʼs 1942 stabile “Elephant Walking.” The purchase of “Elephant Walking” by ASME in 1970 was initiated by William B. Arthur, the editor of Look, who was then president of ASME, and underwritten by Cowles Publishing Company, Time Inc., Newsweek and McGraw-Hill Publishing Company.

As many as 250 magazines and websites enter the National Magazine Awards every year, submitting 1,000-plus entries. The awards are currently presented in 22 categories, ranging from Reporting and Newsletters to Narrative and News and Entertainment podcasts and videos. The awards are judged in mid-January by more than 300 writers, editors, art directors, photo editors and educators.

For more information about the National Magazine Awards, see the “About” page at nationalmagazineawards.org or email [email protected].

The ASME Awards for Design, Photography and Illustration recognize the unique importance of the graphic arts to the practice of magazine journalism by honoring individual examples of visual excellence. Established in 2019, the awards are sponsored and administered by ASME. Finalists receive certificates of recognition. Winners receive awards displaying reproductions of their work. The awards are judged and presented with the National Magazine Awards.

For more information about the ASME Awards for Design, Photography and Illustration, see the “About” page at asmeawards.org or email [email protected].

The ASME NEXT Awards for Journalists Under 30 were founded in 2015 to support the development of print and digital media. The awards honor outstanding achievement by early-career journalists. Five award winners are chosen each year. The winners are honored at the annual presentation the National Magazine Awards, and each receives a medal depicting “Elephant Walking.”

For more information, visit asmenextawards.org or email [email protected].

The Magazine Editors’ Hall of Fame and the Creative Excellence Award honor editors, writers and creatives for their career achievements and their contributions to print and digital journalism. Honorees are chosen by the ASME Board of Directors. The awards are presented at the annual presentation of the National Magazine Awards. The most recent recipient of the Hall of Fame Award was David Granger in 2020; the most recent recipient of the Creative Excellence Award was James Nachtwey in 2015.

ASME programs also include:

The ASME Guidelines for Editors and Publishers codify basic principles for the conduct of magazine journalists. First published in 1982, the ASME Guidelines summarize industry practices intended to protect the editorial integrity of magazines and websites as well as federal regulations relevant to magazines and websites. ASME staff members frequently advise ASME members and their colleagues on the implementation of the guidelines.

The ASME Editorial Conference is conducted annually in May in conjunction with the presentation of the National Magazine Awards. The conference provides an opportunity for ASME members to connect with their colleagues while leading journalists explore top-of-mind subjects in panel discussions and breakout sessions. For more information about the ASME Editorial Conference, email [email protected].

ASME Educational and Training Programs include regularly scheduled seminars and multi-day workshops on editorial skills and practices. Programs include monthly editorial workshops and frequent “Art of Editing” sessions for early-career journalists as well as the semiannual ASME Legal Briefing for Editors.

ASME NEXT is the leading organization for early-career journalists. Members are full-time or freelance employees of magazines and websites affiliated with ASME. ASME NEXT sponsors educational training programs for early-career journalists, including monthly editorial workshops. ASME NEXT is governed by its own board of directors.

Sponsored by ASME NEXT, the Senior Mentor Program matches ASME NEXT members with mentors at leading magazines and websites.

ASME NEXT Intern Events is a series of in-person and virtual lunch meetings and training sessions for summer interns working for magazines and websites edited by ASME members. Students at ASME-affiliated colleges or universities are also eligible to join. The program is free to undergraduate or graduate students or postgraduate fellows. For more information about ASME NEXT Intern Events, email [email protected].

The ASME Job Board is a jobs-listing service hosted on the ASME website. There is no charge to ASME members to post on the ASME Job Board.

Member Services
Email Nina Fortuna at [email protected] or call 212.872.3737

ASME Guidelines for Editors and Publishers
Email Sid Holt at [email protected] or call 212.872.3723

MORE ABOUT ASME

ASME is an independent 501(c)(6). To maintain its independence, ASME relies on its members for full support while keeping the costs of operation and membership low.

Stay in touch with ASME by visiting the ASME website (asme.media), following ASME on Instagram (@asme1963) or joining the members-only ASME LinkedIn Group.

Visit nationalmagazineawards.org for information about the National Magazine Awards. For the ASME Awards for Design, Photography and Information, go to asmeawards.org. Visit asmenextawards.org to submit nominations for the ASME NEXT Awards for Journalists Under 30.

For more information about ASME membership, email [email protected] or call 212.872.3737. Join today.