What does it take to win a Maggie? How do other publications choose and prepare?  WPA asked our Web Editor, Deborah Cooper, to interview the 2006 & 2007 Maggie winners and find out what steps they take, and how it feels to be a Maggie winner! We invite you to visit monthly and read through each new profile, and we hope you will join next year’s Maggie competition. Remember: You can’t win if you don’t enter!

Karen Foley, Publisher, Imbibe Magazine.

WPA: Which Maggie Award did your publication receive?

Best Special Interest Magazine, Consumer

WPA: What was your involvement in the winning publication?

I oversee editorial and art direction of the magazine, so I'm very involved
in all aspects of magazine production.

WPA: How far in advance do you generally begin the preparation for Maggie entries?

This was our first time entering. We prepared our entries about a week in advance.

WPA: How do you decide which categories to enter and who is involved in making those decisions?

We matched our strongest art and editorial with the most applicable categories.

WPA: Do you set aside a budget each year for entering the Maggies?

We probably will in the future.

WPA: Do you set aside a budget to attend the Maggie Banquet?

No.

WPA: If you have attended the Maggies please describe your experience briefly.

It was nice to see so many types of magazines in one place, and to be able to network with other media professionals. It was also interesting to see magazines get recognized for excellence across so many categories.

WPA: How significant is winning a Maggie to you personally, your staff and the publication overall?

It means a lot, particularly as a new title, because it helps to validate all of the hard work of our staff and contributors. It's always gratifying to be recognized by peers and to feel that your work is understood and appreciated by others in the media.