Ed’s always happy to see talented Whippersnappers recognized for their hard work, so he was particularly excited when the American Society of Magazine Editors (better known as ASME) announced its first ever ASME Next Awards for Journalists Under 30. Nominations were open to any young journalist working in print or digital media including editors, writers, photographers, producers, and designers. The judging panel looked through portfolios of each nominee’s work to evaluate their accomplishments and potential to significantly contribute to magazine media.
The five winners were announced on February 2 at the American Magazine Media Conference in New York City. They were:
Bobby Doherty, Staff Photographer, New York
Andrew Gold, Photography Director, Vogue.com
Anna Peele, Associate Editor, Esquire
Sarah Yager, Managing Editor, The Atlantic
Lindsay Zoladz, Pop Music Critic, New York
Originally, ASME had planned to choose four winners, but there were so many impressive entries, they chose an extra. “ASME knows that there a lot of terrific young talent in our business, and we wanted to recognize that talent,” Sid Holt, Chief Executive of ASME, told Ed. “The judges thought that these five people deserved recognition and that it would be unfair to take somebody off the list simply because ASME thought four was a nice number.”
Holt added, “Whether it’s a cover photo of a bewigged Donald Trump or an annotated profile of Judd Apatow, the accomplishments of these five young journalists speak for themselves. Their commitment to careers in magazine media promises a bright future for our industry. Or as one of the judges said to me, we can all look forward to working for these people some day.”
Ed was lucky enough to speak with two of these rising stars about what this award means to them.
Anna Peele, Associate Editor, Esquire
“Being lumped in with the kind of people who won this award by the kind of people who lumped me in with them is wild (and, obviously, wildly flattering). But to get the ASME Next award this year, right after the news that David Granger is stepping down as editor of Esquire, is the most meaningful part. Because that means that magazine publishing values the ideals and standards that I learned from David and want to uphold for the rest of my career. I literally have the coolest job in the world. I get paid to collaborate with the smartest people I know to make a magazine I’ve been reading since I was twelve. I still can’t believe they let me do this.”
Lindsay Zoladz, Pop Music Critic, New York
“Receiving this award means that my work is connecting with people, which is every writer’s dream. And I also hope it sends a strong signal that the magazine industry is not dying, as we so often hear, but instead flourishing with new and promising talent. I’m honored to stand beside the other journalists who won, and who prove this to be true!”
Ed also reached out to Sarah, Bobby, and Andrew, but they either declined to be interviewed or never got back to us in time for his deadline. Ed’s a little crushed, but don’t worry—he’ll live to report another day.
Heather Taylor is a freelance writer who has covered events for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, MTV, L’Oreal Paris, and more. A graduate from Cal Lutheran University, she loves discussing brand mascots, TV shows, and the shifting times of pop culture and advertising. Tweet her @howveryheather.
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