ABOUT US

HOW AND WHY WAS LIVING STARTED?

Founded in 1990 by Eugene Souder, a pastor with graphic skills from Grottoes, Virginia, he felt that families were getting little positive reinforcement. So he decided to create a publication to “light a candle rather than curse the darkness.” LIVING is an alternative “good news” publication offering hope and encouragement for healthy and positive relationships in the home, workplace and community.

HOW OFTEN IS IT PUBLISHED AND FOR WHOM?

Published four times a year with Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter editions, LIVING features stories and helpful living tips for children, teens, singles, married couples and retired persons. It covers a wide variety of subjects that people face in the home and workplace.

WHO READS LIVING? OR WHERE IS IT DISTRIBUTED?

LIVING is distributed on more than 30 racks placed in grocery stores, restaurants, and other places of business in Harrisonburg and surrounding counties.

LIVING Staff

Editor
Melodie M. Davis has been the local editor of LIVING since its inception in 1992 and became national editor in 1995. She is also a writer/producer for Third Way Media in Harrisonburg, Va., author of eight books, and syndicated columnist of Another Way newspaper column since 1987.

Manager
Dorothy M. Hartman has served as manager of LIVING operations since 2002. She coordinates all aspects of the publication from schedules to overseeing layout and advertising to billing and financials.

Graphic Design
Mary Jo Veurink is a freelance graphic designer living in Broadway, VA. She enjoys working from home in order to spend time with her two young daughters. She is also church administrator at Grace Mennonite Fellowship, Lacey Spring. Her husband, Lynn, works in the Auxiliary Services office at Eastern Mennonite University.

Sales

Paul A. Yoder, sales manager, has been a sales representative for LIVING since 2007 and formerly was the owner of Garrison Press. For more than 20 years he served as the director of Choice Books literature ministry across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbbean.

Raymond Ressler has been a sales representative for LIVING since its inception in 1992. He is also a realtor for Cottonwood Realty.

LIVING is published by Media For Living, a non-profit 501c3 organization in Harrisonburg, Va., established in 1991 to produce and disseminate quality, easy-to-use communication tools.

The Board of Directors:

Trisha Blosser, vice president, Harrisonburg, Va.
Phillip C. Stone, Jr., treasurer, Harrisonburg, Va.
Alana Miller, secretary, Harrisonburg, Va.
Mary Ann Heatwole, Harrisonburg, Va.
Virginia Spicher, Harrisonburg, Va.
Laban Peachey, Harrisonburg, Va.

TO LAUNCH A LIVING EDITION IN YOUR AREA

LIVING can be a Total Market Coverage (TMC) product, meaning it is mailed in bulk to every home in a targeted urban, suburban or rural area—or a mixture of all three. It is mailed under a 3rd Class mailing permit to all postal routes in a prescribed area.

LIVING can also be distributed on racks placed in high traffic areas including restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, medical facilities.

GETTING STARTED

If you think your community needs an alternative “Good News” publication, contact us at the home office: Media for Living, 1251 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22802, or call us to discuss the possibilities: 540-433-5351. You will need to set up a small organization comprised of a contact person, at least two part-time advertising sales persons and a 4-person local committee that meets occasionally to give direction and keep in touch with the home office.

UNDERWRITING

As a free publication, meaning it is a non-subscription paper, costs of production for LIVING are covered entirely by advertising. Local businesses, non-profit organizations, churches, schools at all academic levels, both public and private, see this as an effective, low-cost vehicle to get their messages to the greatest number of people at a very low cost per household. In addition, many businesses and organizations feel positive about the messages conveyed in the editorial content and want to be associated with that mission.

ADVERTISING RATES

The value of advertising is measured by the greatest number of homes reached in a given market or commercial area.

SIZE OF PAPER AND DISTRIBUTION CONSTRAINTS

LIVING is a tabloid size, full color publication printed on newsprint. Existing editions range from 24 to 28 pages, depending on the number of advertising inches. A rule of thumb is to keep a 40 percent editorial content to 60 percent advertising ratio. Experience has shown that the most viable distribution should be held to 50,000 households to keep ad rates reasonable and the advertisers in close proximity (within a certain market area).

Call 540-433-5351 or email mediaforliving@gmail.com to find out more!