Kate Kirby – The Editor Academy

The Editor Academy is Kate Kirby’s nine-module course on creating an independent magazine, from choosing a niche and building an online presence to editorial planning, design, marketing, launch and print production. It gives a would-be editor one route through the editorial, commercial and production decisions a new publication involves.

The course includes a collection of more than 100 AI prompts for story ideas, visuals, SEO and interview questions.

What you’ll learn

• Choose a magazine niche and name, define the ideal reader, select a publishing schedule, design a logo and begin showing up online.
• Choose a web host, launch the magazine website and configure an email subscriber list.
• Create a content plan and editorial calendar, plan features and photoshoots, and build a team of writers, editors and designers.
• Use the included collection of more than 100 AI prompts for story ideas, visuals, SEO and interview questions.
• Design the magazine through detailed video tutorials, then market it through social media, email and SEO while developing ads, partnerships and affiliate marketing.
• Choose launch dates and a publishing platform, export and upload an issue, and prepare a spine and press-ready print files in InDesign or Canva.

Niche, brand and website

The opening modules cover choosing a magazine niche and name, defining the ideal reader, setting a publishing schedule and designing a logo. You then choose a web host, launch the magazine’s website and set up an email subscriber list.

Editorial planning and your team

You build a content plan and editorial calendar, plan features and photoshoots, and put together a team of writers, editors and designers. The calendar ties themes, deadlines and contributors together so each issue comes together on time.

Design, marketing and revenue

Detailed video tutorials walk through designing the magazine. Marketing covers social media, email and SEO, along with advertising, partnerships and affiliate marketing as revenue sources.

Launch and print production

The final modules cover choosing launch dates and a publishing platform, exporting and uploading an issue, and preparing the spine and press-ready print files in InDesign or Canva.

Software you’ll need

InDesign requires a paid Adobe subscription, and professional print export from Canva may need a paid Canva plan. Neither subscription comes with the course.

What’s in the course files

The course files include video lessons, PDF guides and templates, and the AI prompt collection.

Who The Editor Academy is for

The course suits writers, creatives and niche experts who want to launch their own print or digital magazine and need a start-to-finish production plan.