Longtime Essence Editor To Discuss Business Of The Media At Rider

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Essence Magazine Editor-in-Chief Emeritus Susan L. Taylor will give a lecture about the business of media at Rider University on Thursday, Nov. 7, the university announced.

She will discuss "Pioneering Voices in Media" in the Cavalla Room of the Bart Luedeke Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Taylor was the chief editor for Essence for 27 years and is credited with building the magazine’s popular brand. Under her guidance, the publication's readership soared to 8 million and the Essence brand expanded into book publishing, broadcasting, eyewear, hosiery, its own fashion catalog, the Essence music festival and empowerment seminars.

"Susan L. Taylor has made a notable impact on the media industry both through her leadership and through her philanthropic efforts," Rider’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Kelly Bidle said. "Each year we have been fortunate to have outstanding speakers at the annual Business of Media Lecture, and we're proud she will join the ranks of these contributors."

Taylor is the first and the only African American woman to be recognized by the Magazine Publishers of America with the Henry Johnson Fisher Award — the industry's highest honor — and the first to be inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors Hall of Fame. She is the recipient of scores of prestigious awards, including presidential citations, Image Awards and the NAACP President's Award for Visionary Leadership.

Taylor is also the founder of the National CARES Mentoring Movement, which is devoted to breaking the cycle of inter generational poverty among African Americans.

In 58 U.S. cities, local CARES affiliates recruit, train and deploy caring adults to schools and a wide variety of youth-serving organizations to serve as mentors, tutors, reading buddies and role models. To date, National CARES has recruited more than 130,000 mentors.

The annual Business of Media Lecture at Rider University is made possible through the generous support of Rob Hagedorn ’81. This year it is presented in conjunction with Rider’s Department of Communication and Journalism and the student group Tapestry, which provides opportunities to foster reflection of the cultural and life experiences of underrepresented populations.

Previous presenters of the lecture have included Silicon Valley visionary Jaron Lanier, Comcast Senior Executive Vice President David Cohen and Kevin Maney of Newsweek.