Newswise — "Honey Magazine was hugely important to me as a reader when it first debuted on newsstands in 1999, and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of its resurrection as a new media entity for the twenty-first century," says Shanel Odum, newly named Editor-In-Chief. "At a time when ethnic artists did not have magazine cover opportunities in the likes of Vogue or Glamour, during its successful six-year newsstand run, Honey was the first publication to feature on its cover celebrities such as Beyoncé, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Lil' Kim, LL Cool J, and Aaliyah."
Now, Honey aims to be a first-in-class destination website for multicultural urban women, a place where users can talk to friends, find a job or internship, and engage with the latest gossip and other entertainment, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content.
"The generation that we're focusing on is mobile: they're moving, they're busy, they're working, they're studying, they're traveling," Ms. Odum says, explaining why the relaunch of Honey as a website makes perfect sense for its targeted demo. "They receive information is on their Blackberrys, their iPhones, their laptops, and we're changing with our audience. It wouldn't serve our audience well to just give them a monthly magazine and have them go to other sources for daily entertainment and information and news. It makes sense for us to follow our reader online, give them a constant fresh stream of content, and participate in the conversation that's going on there."
While Women's History Month is a time to celebrate and reflect upon the achievements and accomplishments of women, for the media, it is a time to contemplate the changing tastes and desires of this vital demographic.
"Honey is a brand with significant cultural importance, one with a strong connection to an empowered audience," says Ms. Odum. "Given the changes occurring in the print media landscape, and the new way readers are growing accustomed to consuming content, it makes sense for us to reintroduce the title and build a community with audiences in this fashion."
For those covering this news, Sahara Media, Inc. makes available Honey Magazine Editor-in-Chief Shanel Odum, to discuss a variety of topics including:
* What does Women's History Month mean to you? To Honey Magazine readers?* What is Honey Magazine's legacy as it relates to Women's History Month?* When Honey Magazine debuted in 1999, it was the first major newsstand magazine that featured multicultural celebrities on its cover. Over the past ten years how has the wider culture changed to embrace urban culture?* Why does the relaunch of the Honey Magazine brand make sense, specifically now, and specifically retooling the brand in this manner?* There has been a good deal of talk in media circles recently about the death of print. What is your sense of the changing landscape of print media and publishing and how does that relate to certain decisions concerning the rebirth of Honey Magazine?
Expert Biography - Shanel Odum, Editor-In-Chief, Honey MagazinePrior to joining Sahara, from 2005 through 2008, Ms. Odum held various positions at VIBE Magazine, a leading urban culture publication with more than eight million readers around the world. During her time at VIBE, Ms. Odum served as Associate Editor and Associate Music Editor, penning cover stories on artists including Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, and Ciara. Ms. Odum also served as a contributing writer of entertainment features, reviews, and interviews for the magazine. From 2006, Ms. Odum was Entertainment and Online Editor of VIBE Vixen Magazine, a female-oriented multimedia offshoot of VIBE focusing on fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment. Prior to her years with VIBE, Ms. Odum's served as Contributing Editor for Upscale Magazine, contributing writer for Fierce Magazine, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and a staff reporter for The Philadelphia Tribune and Pride of Syracuse.
About Sahara Media, Inc.Located in New York City, Sahara Media, Inc. purchased Honey Magazine from Vanguard Media in 2005 after six successful years of newsstand growth amongst the 18-34 female multi-cultural market.
To date, Honey is the largest selling magazine in the 18-34 African American female demographic, having reached a readership of 1.5 million through Honey's loyal consumer base, brand awareness, foundation of advertisers, and proven editorial formula.
Honey was the first magazine to feature the largest array of multi-cultural cover models from Beyonce, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Lauren Hill, Gabrielle Union, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lil' Kim, Boris Kodjoe and LL Cool J to Lisa Left Eye Lopez and Aaliyah.
Sahara Media, Inc.'s mission is to be a leader in supporting multi-cultural based platforms which feature diverse lifestyle resources and career opportunities for the growing market. Honeymag.com is a member of several professional organizations, including NABFEME (National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment), WEEN (Women Entertainment Empowerment Network) and NAMIC (National Association of Minorities in Communications). For more information, visit www.honeymag.com.
RSS