DAVID WILLEY OF RODALE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGAZINE EDITORS

NEW YORK, NY (April 30, 2008)—David Willey, a senior vice president of Rodale, who serves as editor-in-chief of Runners World, and editorial director of Running Times, has been elected president of the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). It was announced today by Marlene Kahan, executive director of ASME.  He is the first ASME president to be based outside ofNew York City in nearly a decade. Willey, based in Rodales Emmaus, PA, headquarters, has served on the board since 2006.

Willey joined Runners World in 2003, and after attracting a roster of editing, writing, and design talent to the magazine, he oversaw its award-winning redesign in 2004. Since then, Runners World has earned three National Magazine Award nominations, including its first ever for General Excellence, and six of its feature stories have appeared in The Best American Sports Writing. The past four years were also the most successful in the magazines 41-year history, with paid circulation growing 23 percent, to 640,000, newsstand sales improving 26 percent, and ad pages increasing 41 percent. In 2005, RunnersWorld was named to the Advertising Age A-List and ranked #1 on the Adweek Hot List (10 Under 50).

In 2006, Willey assumed editorial oversight of runnersworld.com. After a redesign in 2007, traffic increased 150 percent, to more than 1 million unique visitors and 17 million page views per month. Runnersworld.com, now the most popular running-related site, has received a number of industry honors, including a National Magazine Award nomination for General Excellence and an MPA Digital Award nomination for Web site of the Year.

Prior to joining Runners World, Willey spent more than eight years at Mens Journal, starting as an assistant editor in 1995 and serving most recently as executive editor. Willey has made dozens of television appearances, and in 2007 he was the on-course reporter for NBCs broadcast of the ING New York City Marathon.

David Willey is a real leadera thoughtful, dynamic editor who combines journalistic integrity with smart instincts for success, said Glamour editor Cindi Leive, the out-going president of ASME.  Hes immensely respected by his peers, and I cant think of anyone better to oversee ASMEs evolution at this key moment for magazines.

Im honored to serve as ASMEs president, especially during this dynamic time said Willey. Under Cindi Leives leadership, the ASME board has embraced the digital challenges that editors face today. I look forward to continuing those efforts, while remaining a strong voice for editorial excellence and integrity in print, online, and in whatever medium comes our way next.

Roberta Myers, editor-in-chief of Elle, has been re-elected vice president for a second one-year term. Other officers include Adam Moss, editor-in-chief of New York magazine, who has been re-elected as secretary, and Lucy Danziger, editor-in-chief of Self, who has been re-elected treasurer, each for their second one-year term. An ASME officer is elected for a one-year term and can be nominated for a second one-year term.

Larry Hackett, managing editor of People Weekly, James B. Meigs, editor-in-chief of Popular Mechanics, and Diane Salvatore, editor-in-chief of Ladies Home Journal have been elected to the board for two-year terms, and may be re-elected for a second two-year term.

Angela Burt-Murray, editor-in-chief of Essence, Peggy Northrop, editor-in-chief of Readers Digest, and Jacob Weisberg, editor of Slate, have been re-elected to the board for a second two-year term.

The other members of the board who continue their terms are:  Betty Cortina, former editorial director of Latina; Hugh Delehanty, editor-in-chief of AARP the Magazine; Rosemary Ellis, editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping; Eric Schurenberg, managing editor of Money; and Richard David Story, editor-in-chief of Departures.  Cindi Leive remains on the board ex-officio.

Marlene Kahan is the executive director of ASME.