Most Admired Magazines: Entrepreneur, Budget Travel, UNCG Alumni Magazine

Most Admired: Entrepreneur, Budget Travel, UNCG Alumni Magazine

In choosing which business, consumer and custom magazines I most admire, it was as easy as checking the stack on my nightstand. I chose my grad school alumni magazine because I’ve always admired what it pulls off with fewer resources than bigger, flashier magazines. Plus its mission is similar to the type of magazine I edit here at Pace. The other two magazines were chosen because they always continue to surprise me with content that makes their topics—business and travel—seem less distant and much more approachable than other titles with more name recognition.

Business: Entrepreneur

Business mags usually put me to sleep, but I’ve been hooked on Entrepreneur ever since a friend passed along an issue. It isn’t stuffy or complicated—it’s like business for the rest of us. The magazine stays true to its name and concentrates on the small-business owner, featuring all manner of tips and tricks for running your business, as well as success stories to keep you motivated. It’s those stories I enjoy reading most. There’s the 8-year-old kid who’s already designed two game apps (Puckz and Goalz) for the iPhone, the guys behind Spirit Hoods—famously worn by one of the Kardashian sisters—and the two young women who created Hives for Lives, a nonprofit that sells honey to benefit cancer research. It’s inspiring to see these individuals taking creative risks, and it makes me wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that?” And the content frequently drives me to the Web to learn more.

There’s plenty of content to satisfy business geeks, too, from the usual laptop and smart phone reviews to detailed listings of franchise opportunities and comparisons of retail sites. Entrepreneur is so good at what it does, I even read these sections without dozing off. The magazine’s fonts and colorful, uncomplicated design make it easy to admire. And that first article that got me hooked? It discussed how to do outsourcing right, including practical advice on how to be one of those successful freelancers that companies hire again and again. Now there’s some business advice that just might come in handy one day.

Consumer: Budget Travel

For years, I read all the fancy travel mags (which shall remain nameless to protect the guilty), but I quickly realized that those extravagant, perfectly planned and expertly executed journeys were simply out of my reach. Fortunately, there’s Budget Travel to keep the flame of wanderlust burning—and affordable. It promises “vacations for real people,” and it delivers. Each issue features a wide assortment of tips from readers about what’s worked for them as they travel. For example, a recent issue highlighted three ordinary “suitcase strategists” showing their own tried-and-true methods for packing. A staple in each issue is the section featuring price deals on airfares and hotels. While I haven’t yet used the info found here, I know exactly where I’ll go for help when I do plan that big trip. And the most up-to-date steals are found on the magazine’s website.

True to its mission to be democratic rather than aristocratic, writers share the good about travel and the bad, which other magazines often gloss over. My favorite section is “True Stories,” full of readers’ often-hilarious adventures navigating the world. It seems someone is always bitten by a monkey, served a questionable meal or unexpectedly unclothed. And I thought my vacations were unpredictable. Budget Travel still covers the world’s great destinations along with all the resources you need for getting there (new travel apps and how to take better smartphone pics), but the content is approachable and, for me, it puts the fun back into travel again.

Custom: UNCG Alumni Magazine

Some college alumni mags merely list donors, marriages, births and deaths—sometimes interesting but hardly inspiring. But the magazine for UNC-Greensboro alumni does its job so well that I actually wish I were back in grad school again. I think the magazine’s design is a major factor, since even the most mundane facets of campus life are rendered in such an appealing manner. Dedicating a new statue in front of the library? The magazine runs an eye-catching photo essay, tracing the statue from conception and creation to its installation. Wow—I think I just learned something! That statue is no longer just a glorified pigeon perch. This example is just one way that the magazine combines talent and good planning with a real desire to illustrate why UNCG is a great place to learn.

Each issue, I usually do learn something new about my alma mater, something that I never would’ve learned otherwise. For example, I didn’t know UNCG has a honey bee research station. And since most of my classes were held off-campus or online, I didn’t attend sporting events. However, should the urge ever hit me, that article on how to properly apply body paint would help me cheer the Spartans toward certain victory. The magazine also includes original fiction and artwork from students and faculty, profiles on accomplished coaches, and short Q&As with new or visiting professors. The articles are compelling, and the design makes everything so easy to read. Each issue is peppered with interesting factoids, photography and Web links, again taking the hidden, the overlooked or the unusual and bringing them to light. Since I work on a donor magazine myself here at Pace, it’s the ideal place to go for new ideas and inspiration. Maybe that degree was worth it after all. 

Posted By: Wes Isley