The wisdom and experience of 11 Christian publishing professionals form the basis of a 212-252 page Introduction to Magazine Publishing book released late last year in English and French editions. 

The practical how-to book, divided into separate sections on magazine business, editing, and design, brings together the fundamental principles key to successful magazine publishing.  

The book is edited by Sharon Mumper, president of Magazine Training International (MTI), and is published by MTI, a mission organization that has provided magazine publishing resources and training worldwide for more than 30 years.  

The book was initially published as a textbook for MTI’s Introduction to Magazine Publishing course offered for the first time last fall in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.  

“Although we published the book for the course last year, we also had in mind those who may not be able to take such a course, but who are hoping to launch a magazine or improve an existing one,” said Mumper.  

Because the book is organized in separate, but related, sections on magazine business, editing, and design, it may be used as a resource for solving specific problems, or it may be read from cover to cover for a full understanding of the entire publishing process. 

Although most information in the book is geared to print publishing, each of the three sections contains principles applicable to a digital magazine. 

Topics include the sound business principles needed to establish a magazine on a solid foundation, how to craft articles that touch the hearts and lives of readers, and mastery of design principles to create an attractive magazine that draws and engages readers. 

A 14-page glossary provides definitions of more than 200 technical words used in magazine publishing. 

The book is available in French and English editions at https://magazinetraining.com/resource-store/.

by Jennifer Howard, communications director