Five Questions With Lauren Kay
But first, Farewell Al Jaffee - Issue #90
Yeah, I admit it. I was one of those kids. Every time my Dad brought home a new Mad Magazine from the warehouse (He was General Manager of a magazine and book wholesaler), I’d race to beat my brother and sister to it. As the youngest, I usually lost the race. “Spy Vs. Spy”, the “Fold Ins”, I knew all the words to the all the made up songs. Yeah, I was one of them. Fortunately for me, our Junior High lockers were way too small to stuff anyone into.
I saw the very sad news today that Mad Magazine artist, Al Jaffee passed away at 102. I confess that it has been a very long time since I even thought of Mad Magazine or any of its content. But it was a big part of my early magazine journey and, no doubt, had some impact on the things I find amusing.
My siblings and me were big fans of the “Fold Ins” that Jaffee created and I recall loving his “Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions”. Mad was clearly a product of its time and I often wonder if there is room for this sort of satire in the AI driven age.
Five Questions with Lauren Kay of The Knot
It’s the second Tuesday of the month, so let’s go and meet someone you should know.
Lauren Kay is the Executive Editor of The Knot. She currently oversees content across both the print magazine and the digital content of the company with a focus on the brand. What are the latest trends in bridal registries or decor, Lauren will find them out and share them in the magazine. You’ll also find her on The Today Show, Good Morning America and in publications like The New York Times and Forbes Magazine.
I’ve worked for The Knot Magazine for many years and find myself continually enthralled and invested in the world of weddings. Not too long ago I also had the occasion to test out the magazine’s resources when my family found itself hosting a wedding. They passed with flying colors.
This month, we ask Lauren “Five Questions” about her life in magazine media and where she thinks our business is going.
Here are the five questions and answers from our conversation:
#1 How did you get into the magazine media world? Did you have any specific training that prepared you for your first job in the industry?
I worked on my high school yearbook and fell in love with creating content and telling stories. I applied to colleges with journalism schools and landed at Syracuse University (Go Orange!). I started as a Broadcast Journalism major but quickly pivoted to magazines and have never looked back. I know I’m biased, but the S.I. Newhouse School really prepared me for a career in journalism, including connecting me with so many talented alumnus working in the field.
#2 What are some of the trends you’re seeing develop in the industry this year. What sort of challenges do you think we’ll encounter over the next few years?
A.I. is new but I think it has legs and will play an interesting role in journalism in the years ahead—it will bring opportunities and challenges. I’m less sure about the metaverse. Most publishers have diversified revenue streams and are dabbling in or doubling down on video and audio (podcasts). Lastly, reader loyalty is huge for our industry. Subscription models (The Knot just launched one!) and robust email campaigns are all levers to deeply engage.
#3 Do you think that print magazines will have much of a future over the next decade? Will there be print magazines twenty years from now?
A.I. is new but I think it has legs and will play an interesting role in journalism in the years ahead—it will bring opportunities and challenges. I’m less sure about the metaverse. Most publishers have diversified revenue streams and are dabbling in or doubling down on video and audio (podcasts). Lastly, reader loyalty is huge for our industry. Subscription models (The Knot just launched one!) and robust email campaigns are all levers to deeply engage.
#4 If you hadn’t had a career in magazines, what would you have wanted to do?
I’ve always loved writing and storytelling so perhaps an author? Someday I’d love to pen a work of fiction. I did debate a law career (my Dad was a lawyer) and I’m fascinated by psychology.
#5 Did you have a mentor when you started out in the business? What was a good piece of advice that they gave you?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have a couple of mentors over the years, not all in publishing. I remember one shared Winston Churchill’s quote “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” I feel like it resonates for anyone working in this field. There are so many ups and downs, especially in print. The courage to continue (and the love of the story) is what counts.
Editor’s Note: The Knot World Wide is currently a client.
Your Moment of Magazine Zen (Guess Which Title Edition)
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If you’ve got a question or comment, please drop me a line. You can always reach me at joe.berger@newsstandpros.com.
Want to find me on the social sites?
My Instagram link is here.
I’m now hanging out at Post.News and you can find me here on this new app.
I do occasionally put on a suit and tie and comb my hair. Here’s my LinkedInprofile if you want to see me looking all professional.
Yep, I’m still on Twitter. You can find me here, but I’m not spending much time there.
That’s all I’ve got for you this week. I hope you enjoyed meeting a new person and learning about their magazine media journey.
Hey, head down to the break room! I hear someone brought in cronuts!
