Alone at the Helm

How to manage a magazine when you have to go it alone

When managing a magazine, you have to wear more than one hat. You're the editor, content creator, fact-checker, producer and extinguisher of any fires that come up. This afternoon, Kirsten Ferguson of American Farmland from, James Lewis of Forest History Society, Kelly Sexton of Paralyzed Veterans of America and Chris Soto of Saving Land explained how they manage a magazine on their own. Here's a quick run-down of what they had to say:

• If your writing staff has trouble meeting deadlines, spur them along by taking away writing assignments from them, as harsh as that sounds. If you don't get an article in time to print the magazine, give your designers more room to design other stories. They'll usually be thrilled with the extra space to work with.
• Plan ahead as much as possible. Have freelancers and writers work months ahead to ensure you'll get your copy on time. If they can't meet those deadlines, don't hire them again.
• Help the design process by asking freelancers for photography that goes with their story. Also, check public domain sites like the National Archives and the Library of Congress to save money on images.
• Be loyal to your printing vendor, but if a new printer offers you a deal, don't be afraid to negotiate your price.
• Be flexible. Give yourself plenty of room in your deadlines so you'll have time to take care of any emergencies that come up --and they will come up.