The Talent Fairy powered by Ed2010

Recruiting agency specializing in editorial, content marketing, and brand publishing

by

 

Talent Fairy New Hire!

 

Congratulations to Mindy Walker, who just started her role as Deputy Editor at The Week Junior, a new newsweekly for kids ages 8 to 14. Mindy is a veteran magazine editor, holding senior roles at SELF, American Baby, and Parents. Before TWJ, she led content strategy for Cheree Berry Paper and the Bright parenting app. She will work as #2 to Andrea Barbalich, the EIC of TWJ, as she and their team launch their first issue this spring. “I’m both thrilled and grateful to welcome Mindy to our editorial team,” says Barbalich. “Her incredible experience, broad range of skills, and genuine passion for our mission are exactly what we need to make this magazine superb and successful.” Fun fact: Barbalich and Walker worked together at Child back in the early 2000s!

I actually have known Mindy for more than 20 years myself — we worked together at Parents where I witnessed first-hand what a sharp editor and creative person she is. It was such a thrill to be able to match her in this role knowing her so well and all she had to offer The Week Junior. We caught up quickly about the new gig and why it’s the right move right now.

Talent Fairy: What was it about this job at The Week Junior that was so appealing to you? 

Mindy Walker: Wow, where to start! There was so much that appealed to me about this job! I’ve spent the last several years working in the parenting space, creating content that helps moms and dads do everything from choose a baby name to manage the mental load. In a way, this new magazine will also support parents because it’ll help them encourage their kids to read and form opinions. I’m also super psyched to create news content, a departure from my service content experience. Now when a story breaks, I’ll need to immediately think, “How can we cover what just happened for our young readers?”
Talent Fairy: Why go back to print?
Mindy Walker: I grew up dreaming of making magazines and I moved to New York City from a small town in Missouri waaayyyy back in 1997 to reach that dream. The high I get from holding something in my hands that began as a bunch of story ideas still feels magical. But I also realize that the traditional ad-driven revenue model for print isn’t the success it used to be. What differentiates this magazine is that it’s a subscription-based revenue model. In that respect, it’s not that different from paying to subscribe to an app, which does feel like the future to me. If we keep our subscribers happy, the product will succeed.
Talent Fairy: Why is this the right move for you now?
Mindy Walker: I listened to my gut! Pro/con lists can’t hold a candle to tuning into what your body is trying to tell you. The idea of this job made me feel inspired and creative, not stressed or downtrodden. I wasn’t always good at listening to my gut, though ! It took me a long time to throw out the pro/cons lists, but now I’m a firm believer!
Chandra Turner is founder and CEO of Ed2010 and Talent Fairy. She is a talent recruiter specializing in the content and media space. She also offers personalized career coaching for media professionals at all stages of their career. 

Hire the Talent Fairy! 

Enhance your storytelling experience and create a deeper connection with your consumer. The Talent Fairy matches brands with highly specialized, editorially minded content creators to move your business forward. Learn more about the Talent Fairy and our other talent acquisition services.

Category: Tag: , ,

About Chandra Turner