Christian publishers learn the business in Ukraine
“You have saved our publication from extinction!” They were dramatic words, but apparently the situation of the Christian magazine in a town on the edge of Siberia had been dramatic —which explains why the young woman responsible for the survival of the magazine was willing to travel two days by train to reach the conference in Kiev, Ukraine, organized by Magazine Training International (MTI).
Her magazine was one of 13 represented at the Advanced Business of Magazine Publishing Seminar held Oct. 16-20. The advanced seminar built on knowledge gained at the basic Business of Magazine Publishing course, which has been offered by MTI in six countries since 1999.
The trainers were experienced publishing professionals from the United States and Germany. Kent Wilson, publisher of NavPress, designed both the basic business course and the advanced course. He has taught business in seven MTI courses and conferences in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary, and Hong Kong. Ditmar Mittelstädt, publisher of Lydia Verlag in Germany, had previously taught business with MTI in Ukraine and Slovakia. The Lydia magazine is published in Germany, Romania, and Hungary. The third trainer was Paul Westervelt, director of periodicals at NavPress, where he is responsible for Discipleship Journal and Pray! magazine.
The Advanced Business of Magazine Publishing seminar was offered for the first time in Slovakia in 2004. Only magazines which have sent staff to the first course are eligible to send staff to the advanced course. A 38-page Advanced Business of Magazine Publishing manual was available in Russian and English. The seminar was interpreted in Russian.
The mission of Magazine Training International (formerly Magazine Training Institute) is to encourage, strengthen, and provide resources to Christian magazines as they seek to build the church and reach their societies for Christ. Over the last 18 years, MTI has offered more than 50 conferences, courses, and seminars in East/Central Europe and Asia. In addition to courses and conferences, MTI offers print, electronic, and audio resources and a Web site with hundreds of pages of publishing resources and information.
Her magazine was one of 13 represented at the Advanced Business of Magazine Publishing Seminar held Oct. 16-20. The advanced seminar built on knowledge gained at the basic Business of Magazine Publishing course, which has been offered by MTI in six countries since 1999.
Most of the magazines represented at the advanced course had sent staff to the first course, and although not all of the 25 participants from those magazines had attended the first course, they were required to read the first business manual and complete a pre-conference assignment.
The seminar was all about practice, not theory, participants found, as they listened to lectures, conferred with trainers, and worked on practical assignments addressing the publishing business concerns of their own magazines. The trainers were experienced publishing professionals from the United States and Germany. Kent Wilson, publisher of NavPress, designed both the basic business course and the advanced course. He has taught business in seven MTI courses and conferences in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary, and Hong Kong. Ditmar Mittelstädt, publisher of Lydia Verlag in Germany, had previously taught business with MTI in Ukraine and Slovakia. The Lydia magazine is published in Germany, Romania, and Hungary. The third trainer was Paul Westervelt, director of periodicals at NavPress, where he is responsible for Discipleship Journal and Pray! magazine.
The Advanced Business of Magazine Publishing seminar was offered for the first time in Slovakia in 2004. Only magazines which have sent staff to the first course are eligible to send staff to the advanced course. A 38-page Advanced Business of Magazine Publishing manual was available in Russian and English. The seminar was interpreted in Russian.
The mission of Magazine Training International (formerly Magazine Training Institute) is to encourage, strengthen, and provide resources to Christian magazines as they seek to build the church and reach their societies for Christ. Over the last 18 years, MTI has offered more than 50 conferences, courses, and seminars in East/Central Europe and Asia. In addition to courses and conferences, MTI offers print, electronic, and audio resources and a Web site with hundreds of pages of publishing resources and information.