The American Society of Magazine Editors is an industry trade group for magazine journalists and editors of magazines published in the United States. ASME includes the editorial leaders of most major consumer magazine in print and digital extensions. The group advocates on behalf of member organizations with respect toFirst Amendment issues and serves as a networking hub for editors and other industry employees.
History
The ASME started as an outgrowth of the editorial committee of the Magazine Publishers of America in 1963. The initial goal of the organization was to defend the First Amendment, protect editorial independence and support the development of journalism.
ASME programs
ASME has sponsored the National Magazine Awards since 1966, along with the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. The Ellie Awards honor print and digital magazines that consistently demonstrate superior execution of editorial objectives, innovative techniques, noteworthy journalistic enterprise, and imaginative art direction. In 1966, Look received the first award. Money received the first award for digital journalism in 1997. Magazine Editors’ Hall of Fame and Creative Excellence Awards honor editors, writers, and artists for career-long contributions to magazine journalism. Honorees are chosen by the ASME board of directors. The ASME Best Cover Contest honors the most successful magazine covers of the year. The contest is two-fold: the ASME Best Cover Awards and the ASME Readers’ Choice Awards. Each cover entered in the Best Cover Contest is eligible to win both a Best Cover Award and a Readers’ Choice Award. ASME hosts the annual American Magazine Media Conference, every year in February, a meeting for magazine media leaders. It is sponsored by the Association of Magazine Media in association with ASME. The conference addresses issues of concern to editors and publishers of print and digital publications. Founded in 1967, the Magazine Internship Program places college juniors in internships at top consumer magazines for 10 weeks every summer. More than 250 alumni of this program now work in magazine media and include the editors in chief of major titles.
Membership
To be eligible for membership into ASME, you must be employed by a print or digital magazine edited and distributed in the United States, this includes: senior editors, art directors and photography editors. There are also four categories of membership: Chief Editor, Editor, Retired Editor and ASME NEXT. Chief Editors, Editors and Retired Editors are entitled to all the privileges of ASME membership. ASME NEXT members are not eligible to vote in ASME elections.
Administration
ASME is regulated by a 16-member board of directors, which serve 2-year terms. Directors may be selected for a second 2-year term upon election. Board elections are usually held during the first Wednesday in May at the ASME Annual Meeting. Currently, the chief executive of ASME is Sid Holt. The director is Nina Fortuna.
