Only a magazine publication truly representative of culturally rich Bowie, Maryland, and historically rooted Alexandria, Virginia, would thrive in these two areas. Reaching a readership of over 10,000 people in both cities, including homes and doctors offices, it is evident that Simply Magazines is a publication uniquely charged with connecting these two communities.
Simply Bowie headline (Photo: Simply Magazines)
When she’s not spending time with her husband and three children, Alyson Turner, the editor-in-chief of Simply Magazines who has over 11 years of publication experience, is diligently working on the magazine that so many residents in Bowie and Alexandria adore.
Alyson Turner editor note (Photo: Simply Magazines)
Simply is more than a regional lifestyle publication that features stories about food, culture and the communities it serves. It is one that bridges the gap between businesses, politics and community members.
"We connect community members with events in the community, business owners, politicians and community leaders,” Turner said. “You can see a billboard, you can see an advertisement, but if you pick up our magazine, you can read the story behind that person.”
“We're making connections everyday, and that’s why we do what we do.”
Before becoming a facilitator of DMV connections, Turner—who grew up with a passion for writing—received her bachelors degree in communications at Towson University in 2009, and masters degree in English and creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University in 2015.
It was during her undergraduate years at Towson when she had her first taste of the world of journalism, as she became an intern at Baltimore Magazine. Turner would have no idea that an internship she did during her undergraduate career, would directly prepare her for the role she now occupies as Simply’s editor-in-chief.
Aside form the journalistic presence she established in Maryland, Turner’s byline has also ended up on the other side of the globe in Okinawa, Japan. Upon meeting her husband, Turner moved to Okinawa, Japan, home to an American military base. The town of Okinawa also happens to be home to Okinawa Living, an American inspired lifestyle magazine that facilitates stories about American living in Japan, in which she wrote for. Turner would also become managing editor of the weekly newspaper that went out on the base for American military families.
“Then we had our first baby,” said Turner when speaking on what prompted her and her husband’s move back to Maryland.
As an esteemed writer and working mom, Turner’s days are never dull. In fact, for four years now, she has been sharing her love for writing as a freshman English Literature professor and honors program director at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland.
Around the time Turner began teaching, she would soon become the editor-in-chief of the esteemed publication residents in the DMV know and love. All it took was her putting her resume up on Indeed and a call from Veronica Fountain, the CEO and publisher of Simply Magazines.
“Veronica called me and was like, ‘Hey, I have this magazine in Bowie, but I really need a strong editor and editorial coordinator.’ And I’ve been with her for almost five years now,” Turner said.
Now serving as as the editor-in-chief for both Simply Bowie and Simply Alexandria magazines, Turner writes, interviews, manages interns and oversees the editorial calendar.
Simply Bowie covers (Photo: Simply Magazines)
“I just really enjoy what I do. I love working with people, Turner said.” “My favorite part is putting together the editorial, it’s like putting together a puzzle.”
As today’s digital age has transformed the primarily print-based, analog nature journalism, all media is experiencing a challenging shift. However, contrary to newspaper, magazines continue to perform comparatively well. To keep up with the digital age, Turner ensures that Simply launches a digital publication each month with their print magazine.
“I mean, yeah, I love flipping through a magazine, but people also want to see videos, behind the scenes, online events, blogs, they want to see all of that” Turner said.
Turner names being able to leave the Magazine franchise that Simply was once apart of and join Fountain who wanted to break away and start her own publication, as one of her biggest accomplishments as editor-in-chief.
“We pretty much had to start from scratch,” Turner said
“My biggest accomplishment was saying ‘all right, sure. I'll do it. I will leave as a coordinator and become the editor-in-chief and just start the magazine from scratch…and here we are, you know?”
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