Lori Blachford, associate professor of journalism and Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter Chair of Magazine Journalism at Drake University, has been chosen as a judge for the American Society of Magazine Editors’ (ASME) National Magazine Awards.
This is the second year Blachford has been invited to join more than 300 judges in selecting the best examples of magazine journalism for the year. The field of judges is comprised mostly of magazine editors and art directors with a few journalism educators in the mix.
“It’s really an honor to be invited to the judging,” Blachford says. “The ASME awards are the gold standard in magazine journalism. I bring the winning entries to class regularly to inspire my students.”
Blachford spent more than half her 20-year journalism career working for magazine publisher Meredith Corporation, so she has seen the awards process from the other side.
“When I was at Country Home magazine, we entered the contest every year,” she said. “It’s definitely more fun to be judging than nervously awaiting results.”
The awards were established in 1966. In 2013, nearly 260 publications entered, submitting a total of 1,636 entries. This year’s judging takes place in New York City March 12-13.
About Blachford
Blachford started her journalism career as a copy editor at the Des Moines Register and then moved into magazine journalism at Meredith Corporation. In 2002, she made the switch to freelance journalism, specializing in magazine start-ups and redesigns. At Drake, Blachford teaches courses including News and Reporting Principles, Magazine Writing, Magazine Publishing, Media Responsibility Over Time, and the magazine capstone course for seniors.
About ASME
ASME is the principal organization for magazine journalists in the United States. Members include the editorial leaders of most major consumer and business magazines published in print and online. Founded in 1963, ASME works to defend the First Amendment, protect editorial independence, and support the development of journalism.