The Tennessee Magazine hosts redesign workshop for section editors
After more than a decade with the same look, The Tennessee Magazine team has chosen to do a redesign of the publication. Almost a year’s worth of thought, planning and effort has led to an incredible design that co-ops and readers are sure to love with the help of Delevante Creative. Before the redesign debuts next month though, the magazine team hosted a redesign workshop for local section editors.
“It is an exciting time in the history of The Tennessee Magazine as we implement this redesign, and our co-op section editors play integral roles in this process,” Chris Kirk, editor of The Tennessee Magazine, says. “We were glad to welcome them to our office to hear their feedback and offer training for effectively using their magazine pages to interact with their consumer-owners.”
Representatives from 15 co-ops gathered at the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s Conference Center Wednesday, Jan. 15, and Thursday, Jan. 16, for the workshop. The section editors learned why the magazine matters by looking at the latest numbers from the 2024 Readership Study. Then the editors experienced a behind the scenes look at the process that went into redesigning the magazine. After lunch, a panel was held with Mike Delevante and Donna Abernathy to learn best practices on how to make the most out of local sections through design and writing. The day concluded with a presentation about resources available and a roundtable where co-ops were able to share ideas and issues.
“It was so nice getting to see everyone and being able to connect with old friends and make new ones. The workshop was such a fun time, especially the round-table style sessions with TECA’s team, Donna Abernathy, and Mike Delevante and his team,” Memori DePriest, marketing coordinator at Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative, says. “I’m so excited for the new changes with the magazine and getting to dive into our own pages.”
Thursday’s schedule included a session with Abernathy on how to write for clarity and purpose. The workshop wrapped up with the Delevante Creative team walking section editors through how to use the new design tools in their pages.
The newly designed The Tennessee Magazine will be in mailboxes the first of March.