Michelle Obama adds new title: magazine editor

Image
AP Washington
Last Updated : Jun 11 2015 | 5:22 PM IST
She's a wife, mother and lawyer, an advocate for children and military families and first lady of the United States. Now Michelle Obama has added a new gig: magazine editor.
The first lady is the "guest editor" of the July-August issue of More, which bills itself as the magazine for "women of style and substance." It was a first for both the White House and the magazine industry, said Lesley Jane Seymour, More's editor-in-chief.
"There's never been a first lady who's ever guest-edited a magazine and certainly not a sitting first lady," Seymour told The Associated Press. She said the edition focuses on her "point of view on the world and it's from her eyes."
"Guest editor" wasn't just a fancy title. The first lady had to pitch story ideas and write and approve copy for the 148-page issue, Seymour said.
She "was reading every page and asking for changes up until the last minute," Seymour said. "She had to approve absolutely everything. She had to suggest various things, too."
The theme of the issue is having "More Impact."
Michelle said she welcomed the opportunity to share some of her White House experiences.
"What I want readers to understand is that impact comes in all forms, shapes and sizes. And hopefully through this issue, what people will see is that you can have impact as a military mom changing careers, or you can be a young person starting a business or you can be the first lady and start a whole initiative," she said in a statement.
The issue highlights the first lady's four priorities: helping children live healthier lives, supporting military families, encouraging young people to pursue education past high school and helping girls around the world attend and stay in school.
It also includes pieces on her long-serving chief of staff and senior adviser, two women who have influenced the first lady's work.
The first lady's byline appears on a reflective piece about the reaction after she said her top priority is being "mom in chief" to daughters Malia and Sasha. She also shows the music on her "chill-out" playlist, including songs by Beyonce, Stevie Wonder and the duo of Tony Bennett and Lada Gaga.
Michelle Obama also told the stories behind some of her favorite photographs, including of her and her daughters walking along the Great Wall in China last year.
The first lady was not compensated for her work, Seymour said.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 11 2015 | 5:22 PM IST

Next Story