his issue is dedicated to the winners of our 2012 All-Star Awards, but they’re not the only ones with a reason to celebrate. Late last year, EXHIBITOR was named the Minnesota Magazine and Publishing Association’s 2011 Magazine of the Year. In addition to winning the year’s top honor, EXHIBITOR received a dozen individual awards, recognizing the magazine’s editorial, design, and online excellence.
The words on the trophy say “Magazine of the Year,” but the award itself has less to do with what we’ve accomplished over the last 12 months than what we’ve accomplished during the past three decades. As some of you may already know, 2012 marks EXHIBITOR magazine’s 30th anniversary, so this honor is really a reflection of the blood, sweat, and tears of every writer, editor, designer, salesperson, circulation coordinator, webmaster, and member of the EXHIBITOR family over the years who helped to make this magazine what it is today.
Every day for 30 years, they had a decision to make — whether to give 50 percent, 80 percent, or 100 percent. More often than not, they’ve chosen to give 100 percent or more, and not because that’s what is expected in our office, but because they take immense pride in their work. They know that good is good, but great is so much better. And they understand how the perfect headline, an excellently crafted caption, or the perfect crop on a photo all coalesce and make the difference between good and great — and help to elevate EXHIBITOR beyond what is traditionally expected of a business-to-business trade magazine.
But we didn’t win Magazine of the Year (or survive three decades in the fiercely competitive magazine industry) by resting on our laurels. So after many meetings, dozens of hours spent brainstorming, days poring over data from our 2011 Reader Survey, and countless conference calls with Editorial Advisory Board members and other subscribers and stakeholders, we present a new-and-improved EXHIBITOR magazine.
This issue marks the debut of several new elements designed to better serve you. First off, the newly revised table of contents now houses our “Join the Conversation” sidebar, featuring
various topics being discussed on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Check out each month’s questions, connect with us on the social-media platforms of your choice, and weigh in with your response. Who knows? You might end up in the magazine.
Next, our “Online Extras” page offers up a sampling of the exclusive online content we produce each month, from blogs to videos to online learning opportunities. Meanwhile, our new “Need to Know” department will keep you up to date on the industry with newsy nuggets ranging from research findings to regulations and restrictions you need to be aware of in order to successfully do your job.
Toward the back of the magazine, you’ll find the first of two new semi-regular elements: “Ten by 10” is a quick and easily digestible collection of 10 tips and quips from industry experts on that month’s featured topic (in this case, social media). Next month, you’ll be introduced to Conventional Wisdom, a department that includes information on the country’s various convention centers along with their unique features, restrictions, and policies on everything from lighting and fire regulations to ceiling height and exhibit-hall obstructions.
If you like our editorial additions, let us know. If not, tell me what you would rather see in the magazine. EXHIBITOR has been successful for many reasons, but one of the main ones is that we never forget who reads our magazine. So keep us up to date on your wants and needs, and we’ll keep giving you a magazine that reflects those desires — and wins a boatload of awards to boot. e
his issue is dedicated to the winners of our 2012 All-Star Awards, but they’re not the only ones with a reason to celebrate. Late last year, EXHIBITOR was named the Minnesota Magazine and Publishing Association’s 2011 Magazine of the Year. In addition to winning the year’s top honor, EXHIBITOR received a dozen individual awards, recognizing the magazine’s editorial, design, and online excellence. 
