ModMag New York 2019
Our 2019 ModMag programme is confirmed! ModMagNYC will take place on Wednesday 29 May 2019 at Parsons School of Design, and later in the year we’re back at Conway Hall for ModMagLDN.
We’ve programmed a series of talks from some of the most innovative and exciting figures in contemporary magazine publishing, from founders of emerging independent publications to senior figures at established magazines. All will provide their own unique insight into today’s magazines and the challenges they face.
We will focus on what the term ‘Magazine’ means today as publishers spread their brands across multiple channels. The first speakers on the line-up are revealed below.
Alongside ModMagNYC, the magCulture Shop will be returning to New York for MagMagMag, another pop-up magazine shop collaboration with our friends at Vitsoe, highlighting their new shop on West Eighth Street.
To mark the end of our New York visit, a closing event with panel disucssion and drinks will take place at A/D/O in Brooklyn on 1 June. Full details here.
ModMagNYC takes place in collaboration with Parsons School of Design and AIGA NY.
Running order, Wednesday 29 May
10am — Introduction
10.30am — Douglas McGray, California Sunday & Pop-Up Magazine
11am — Veronica Ditting, The Gentlewoman
11.30AM B R E A K
11.45am Nathalie Kirsheh, Glamour
12.15pm ‘94 <8,000 One-Offs>’ Eye magazine documentary
12.30pm Uncovered: Ian Birch, Perrin Drumm & Jeremy Leslie talk covers
1PM L U N C H + Breakout session, Cath Caldwell
2pm Indie mag session: Lindsay, Put A Egg On It & Good Trouble
2.50pm Jody Quon, New York magazine
3.30PM B R E A K
3.45pm Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, gal-dem
4.15pm Nicholas Blechman, The New Yorker
5PM D R I N K S
Speaker details
Jody Quon
Director of photography, New York magazine (US)
Jody has been responsible for some of the most notable editorial photography projects in recent years, pushing forward photo-led stories such as the ‘Cosby: The Women’ front cover. She’ll be talking about that project and others as she explains the importance of the image in contemporary magazines.
Beth Wilkinson
Founder, Lindsay (Australia)
Beth will introduce her biannual magazine about culture and place.
Ralph McGinnis
Co-publisher, Co-editor, Art director, Put A Egg On It (US)
Raised in downtown New Orleans, Ralph now lives and works in Brooklyn as an art director, designer, drawer and writer. He’ll be sharing his little green ‘Tasty zine.’
Liv Siddall
Writer, editor and magCulture podcast co-host will return as MC.
Liv works in London as a writer and editor for various magazines and websites, including Riposte.
Douglas McGray
Co-founder and editor, Pop-Up Magazine and The California Sunday Magazine (US)
Douglas will be sharing the development of two of the most innovative projects currently being published. Pop-Up Magazine is a dramatic, live magazine show, and as well as winning multiple editorial and design awards, California Sunday has its own, unique, distribution system.
Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff
Head of editorial, gal-dem (UK)
Charlie will present gal-dem, a project born from frustration at the lack of diversity in media. The website and magazine has established itself as a vital voice for women and non-binary people of colour.
Nicholas Blechman
Creative director, The New Yorker (US)
Nicholas will be presenting his ongoing work to adapt one of the most iconic print magazines for today’s digital channels.
Perrin Drumm & Ian Birch
The founder of Eye on Design Perrin Drumm (US) in conversation with Ian Birch (UK), the author of the book ‘Iconic Magazine Covers’.
Ian’s book shares favourite front covers from the last 50 years; Perrin’s magazine has won awards for its front covers. They’ll share favourite covers and discuss their changing role with Jeremy Leslie.
Veronica Ditting
Creative director, The Gentlewoman (UK)
Veronica’s art direction and design has been central to establishing The Gentlewoman as a groundbreaking and influential voice in women’s publishing.
Rod Stanley
Editor, Good Trouble (US)
Ex-editor of Dazed, Rod will present his self-published call for political action.
Nathalie Kirsheh
Creative director, Glamour (US)
What happens when a publisher announces a major magazine will cease print and be digital-only? Nathalie, current President of SPD, will describe the reinvention of Glamour.
Plus the NYC première of ‘94 <8000 One-Offs>’
Adrian Harrison’s documentary tells the story behind the making of the cover of Eye magazine’s 94th edition. Interviews with typographers, coders, printers as well as Eye editor John L Walters and art director Simon Esterson explain this unique front cover project and its 8,000 variations.
ModMag FAQs
What is ModMag?
The Modern Magazine, now known as ModMag, has been held annually in London since 2013, starting life as a celebration/launch of Jeremy Leslie’s book ‘The Modern Magazine’. We have now organised six London editions and one New York edition.
What is it about?
The day presents the most innovative and interesting creative work in magazine publishing, with editors and art directors uniting to share their thoughts and ideas. We don't duck the big issues facing print publishing, but neither do we fall for the easy, negative narratives surrounding the industry. ModMag is a celebration and reminder of the power of magazine creativity – if you know the MagCulture Journal you’ll have a sense of the scope and focus of ModMag.
Is there a theme to the day?
In addition to the overall celebration of magazine craft noted above, the second ModMagNYC will focus on what the term 'Magazine' means today as publishers spread their brands across multiple channels.
Who is ModMag for?
The day is aimed at publishing professionals, design and journalism students and graduates, and anyone with a creative curiousity. The ability to develop an editorial voice is in everyone’s hands today via digital channels. Hear from leading editorial practitioners how they are handling this responsibility.
Why London and New York?
London and New York are the two big beasts of English-language publishing. In London, we have always featured speakers from New York alongside European participants. We now mirror that in New York, with local speakers taking the stage alongside international guests.
Who organises ModMag?
ModMag is produced by magCulture, led by founder Jeremy Leslie and producer Stephanie Hartman. Read the magCulture Journal for a sense of what/who we are. For ModMagNYC we are proud to be collaborating with the teams at Parsons School of Design and AIGA NY.
You can find out more about ModMag here.
With thanks to our partners:
Thanks also to our media partners:
