News

Magazine publisher Reiman to visit April 21

By Michelle Kalkhoff
ISU Magazine Club president

Magazine publisher Roy Reiman will be speaking 3-4 p.m. Friday, April 21, in 172 Seminar Room as part of a program organized by the ISU Magazine Club.

He will speak to students about getting and keeping a first job in magazine journalism so students can prepare themselves for success.

When Reiman was at Iowa State in March addressing the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Iowa Conference, he agreed to talk with the recently formed club. To find out more about that event, please read "Publisher Reiman addresses aspiring entrepreneurs."

Reiman, who earned a degree in agricultural journalism from Iowa State in 1957, started his magazine publishing business in his basement in 1963, a venture that would eventually sell for $760 million.

Related links ISU Magazine Club Reiman Gardens Reiman Publications Reiman writes success story

“Roy Reiman, with such luminaries as Hugh Sidey, Bob Bartley and Karol DeWulf Nickell, ranks among our most accomplished alumni," said Greenlee School Director Michael Bugeja. "His love of the written word, which he learned in journalism classes, and his respect for audience, which is his trademark, built one of the most successful and innovative magazine companies in the nation. It is my hope that students and faculty from every emphasis in the Greenlee School will turn out to hear this inspiring speaker and publisher.”

Reiman's background
Reiman grew up on a farm near Auburn, Iowa, and graduated from Auburn High School in 1952.

In 1957, he graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in agricultural journalism.

He joined Capper's Farmer magazine in Topeka, Kan., and became managing editor at the age of 23.

After a brief term at Agricultural Publishers in Milwaukee, he launched his own company in the basement of his home.

Reiman founded his publishing company in 1964 in Hales Corners, Wis. Reiman Publications delivers a range of country-themed publications to 16 million subscribers. Most surprisingly, none of the publications accept advertising. They are sponsored exclusively through subscriptions, which are renewed with a loyalty that is rare in the business.

Reiman said he attributes much of his success to being at the right place at the right time, but also being open to see the opportunities that were presented to him.

In the case of his first major success, Farm Wife News, Reiman learned that leading farm journals were planning to drop women’s features due to lack of advertising interest.

So in just three weeks, Reiman turned out the first issue of Farm Wife News, tested it and received 38,000 subscription checks in the mail.

Over time, the magazine dropped the “News” in the title, became Farm Woman, and finally Country Woman, garnering 2.3 million subscribers.

Reiman Publications, now headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Greendale, Wis., boasts seven magazines ranked among the top 100 in national circulation.

Combined circulation for Reiman's 12 major bimonthly magazines is more than 15 million. The magazines include Country and Country EXTRA, Farm & Ranch Living, Country Woman, Reminisce and Reminisce EXTRA, Taste of Home, Crafting Traditions, Quick Cooking, Country Discoveries, Light & Tasty, and Birds & Blooms.

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