Jacqueline Leo

Jacqueline McCord Leo is an American magazine editor and media producer. She is the former editor-in-chief of the Reader's Digest. Her prior roles included editorial director of Consumer Reports. She was the founder of Child magazine, which was acquired by The New York Times Company, and became editor-in-chief of Family Circle.

Education

Leo graduated from Baruch College of the City University of New York in 1968.[1]

Career

Jacqueline Leo is founder and former Editor-in-Chief of The Fiscal Times, a news website she launched in February 2010.

Leo worked as the fashion editor for Modern Bride magazine, and in this role shared advice for people preparing for a wedding, advice that she published in a 1982 book.[2]

Leo founded and launched Child magazine in 1986.[3] A year later, The New York Times Magazine Group acquired the magazine and appointed her editor-in-chief of Family Circle.[4] While she was editor-in-chief, Family Circle ran an article on toxic waste dumping written by Stephanie Abarbanel that won the 1990 National Magazine Award for Public Interest.[5]

She later became editorial director of The New York Times Women's Magazine Group.[6]

In 1999 she was named head of interactive services for Meredith Publishing Group.[7]

She was senior producer and editorial director for ABC News' Good Morning America; and she served as editorial director for Consumer Reports magazine and their varied media products.

From 2001[8] through November 2007, Leo was vice president and Editor-in-Chief of Reader's Digest.[9][10] She was responsible for converting the magazine from reprints to digital content,[11] and led the magazine in a move towards computer assisted reporting.[12]

Selected publications

Awards and honors

Leo is a former president of the American Society of Magazine Editors.[15] In 1993 Leo received a Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications.[16][17]

Personal life

Jacqueline Leo was married to columnist and author John Leo.[18]

References

  1. Spreading the News City University of New York, 2015^
  2. Mary Pat Flaherty. Something old, new and some solutions The Pittsburgh Press, 1982-02-02, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  3. Barbara Lovenheim. Magazine Aimed at Parents The New York Times, 1986-12-14, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  4. Pat Guy. Woman heads 'Family Circle' USA Today, 1988-01-20, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  5. Deirdre Carmody. Women's Magazines Take Top Awards The New York Times, 1991-04-25, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  6. The Media Business; Promotion at Times Co. Unit The New York Times, 1994-03-08, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  7. The Media Business; Meredith Names Editor The New York Times, 1999-08-19, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  8. Rachel Scheier. Leo lands 'Digest' post Daily News, 2001-08-15, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  9. Richard Pérez-Peña. Editor of More Replaces One at Reader's Digest The New York Times, 2007-11-12, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  10. Lisa Granatstein. Not fade away Brandweek, October 21, 2002, retrieved 2025-01-19^
  11. New page in magazine's history Asbury Park Press, 2005-07-27, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  12. Jerry Gleeson. Hitting a bench mark Public Opinion, 2005-07-26, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  13. Reviews of The New Woman's Guide to Getting Married Phyllis Feldkamp. Advance planning is key for full-scale weddings The Christian Science Monitor ; Boston, Mass, 8 April 1982 Helen Ganz Spiro. Couple's priorities change with times Mount Vernon Argus, 1982-07-26, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  14. Reviews of Seven Oliver Burkeman. This column will change your life: Seven – a magic number? The Guardian, 2010-02-13, retrieved 2025-01-13 Terri Schlichenmeyer. Author gives in-depth look at number '7' Kenosha News, 2009-12-27, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  15. Journal of Magazine and New Media Research, Fall 1999 retrieved 2007-12-19^
  16. Deirdre Wyeth. Matrix Awards Hall of Fame NYWICI, retrieved 2025-01-13^
  17. RD's 2006 Tell Us a Joke Contest: Meet the Participants May 3, 2006^
  18. Clay Risen. John Leo, Columnist Who Took Aim at Liberal Pieties, Dies at 86 The New York Times, 2022-05-11, retrieved 2025-01-13^