Attention collegiettes! There’s a new magazine on the market whose uplifting content is shaping the way women are portrayed in the media. Verily Magazine recently launched its first print issue in June of this year, and focuses its editorial message on “celebrating the best of who you are.” The founders of Verily Magazine, Kara Eschbach and Janet Sahm, recognized the gap there was in print media to provide readers with fashion and relationship stories that both inspire and help individuals develop a truly holistic perspective of life.
Sahm, co-founder and Style Editor of Verily, explains why she was compelled to develop the magazine:
“After experiencing a small taste of the inner workings of the fashion magazine industry, I didn’t want to be a part of it, and thought it doesn’t have to be this way. At the time, I had never seen a magazine that was truly good for women, that featured beautiful fashion, which was respectful of women as well as relationship advice that was truly integrated and healthy”.
The magazine’s efforts to highlight the worth of women, provides a positive model in a world where women often receive demeaning messages in music videos and by way of relationship stories, which while attempting to be aspirational, leave readers with an inauthentic sense of beauty.
Her Campus had the pleasure of speaking with Ashley Crouch, Verily’s PR Manager and Contributing Editor, to hear more about the foundation of Verily, what readers can expect from the publication and her own personal definition of success: “striving each day to become the best version of herself and living a balanced and full life motivated by love.”
When discussing the conception of Verily, Crouch says the idea grew out of a conversation between women over brunch. She describes that the women at the table were from all walks of life, involved in industries ranging from philanthropy to business. The brunch conversation took an interesting course discussing the magazine market.
“All of the women at the table felt that magazines on the market didn’t resonate with them and the trajectory of their life,” Crouch says.
The women present were seeking more meaningful outlets for the next step in their careers and when Sahm, previously having interned at Elle Magazine, expressed her dream of one day starting her own fashion magazine, Eschbach, who had been working on Wall Street at Credit Suisse, responded, “Why not right now?”.
With full stomachs and production ideas circulating, the idea of Verily Magazine evolved.
Verily’s beautiful mission emphasizing, less of who you should be, more of who you are, “captures the identity and ethos we are trying to portray in the magazine”, Crouch says.
One of the standout ways in which Verily Magazine differs from other fashion and lifestyle publications doing the best on the market right now, such as Cosmopolitan, is that the relationship advice offered in Verily’s pages goes beyond offering sex tips.
Sahm describes how she and the team at Verily are striving to redefine the media’s portrayal of women saying, “Being “sexy” has become synonymous with being beautiful, and the media often focuses solely on the sexuality and objectification of women’s appearance to achieve power”.
Verily is also unique in the sense that the team firmly refuses to use Photoshop on the models’ face or body structure during editing. Earlier this summer, Verily launched a campaign, “Run-way to Real-way”, which was a model call in which women were asked to nominate friends in their lives to be models. Qualifications for the campaign were non-professional models ranging from ages 21-35 and of any ethnicity and body type. The campaign in its entirety highlighted the real and beautiful women that readers already know in their lives, celebrating their beauty and authenticity.
The successful outcome of this campaign – which drew hundreds of nominations and dozens of applicants – left Crouch feeling that people are excited about real beauty and being part of something uplifting.
Crouch comments that Verily is striving to, “change the conversation about fashion magazines with women” by encouraging active participation in shifting the storyline that the media offers women. The magazine aims to help position their target demographic, women aged 18-35, with positive agendas for success.
Crouch describes the demographic as, “women who are intelligent, culturally engaged, artistic, and who want a publication that caters to their desires for family and long-term committed relationships.”
She also comments that the content found in the magazine is mindful of the transitional phases of life that their readers are most likely experiencing.
“In visuals and aesthetic, we want to be authentic, uplifting, and a breath of fresh air.”
Crouch, previously a leadership consultant and freelance journalist for online blogs is now in the process of working with The Huffington Post to contribute a series of articles in conjunction with Verily’s newest initiative – a special weekly series of radio shows this week called “Getting Real” on SiriusXM Stars Channel 106 at 10 am ET.
During our interview with her, Crouch offered advice to our college demographic and those interested in pursuing an editorial career. She says that for young women who are interested in getting involved in editorial work, it’s especially important to be writing frequently, whether that’s through use of a journal, blog, or pitching ideas to online journals—any practice is key.
She also suggests building relationships with outlets you want to work with by asking if you can take an employee out to coffee to hear their career journey. Crouch advises that, “mentorship is important and can be beneficial in terms of getting into the space you would like to be.” Crouch, who graduated from the University of Dallas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology and Minor in Music, also suggests that to start the new school year off in an organized manner, creating specific goals is a helpful way to keep balance and purpose.
For more updates on Verily, you can get a “Daily Dose” of (p)inspiration on their Pinterest Page, or follow them on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram for behind-the-scenes, up-to-the-minute releases.
One of Crouch’s favorite pins on their page is, “comparison is the thief of joy”. She particularly loves this quote because working in an industry like she does, there is a lot of opportunity to compare oneself, and it’s easy to get caught up in evaluating how to measure up to what other companies and individuals are doing.
Verily‘s third issue will be debuting in October, and you can snag it by subscribing here or getting it for your iPad with the newly-released app. Verily will be distributed in Barnes & Noble this fall.
Her Campus truly appreciates the way in which Verily Magazine is shaping culture and redefining print media, and we look forward to their next release!