Profile: Rebecca Burns
June 5, 2007 at 8:40 pm by Scott Freeman in Randomly Noted
She juggles three roles: editor in chief of Atlanta magazine, author of Rage in the Gate City, about Atlanta’s 1906 race riots, and an instructor who teaches magazine writing at UGA. Rebecca Burns was named editor of the popular general-interest magazine in 2002, and has given it an edgier, more youthful tone. (Full disclosure: This writer used to work with Burns at the magazine.)
Her career can be a balancing act. “I have a wonderful husband. I never cook and never go to the grocery store. So I don’t have to worry about practical things.â€
Atlanta magazine has been around 46 years, but has never faced the kind of competition it now has in the magazine market. “It’s really an exciting time because this magazine is more of a general-interest publication. We have politics and news and stories that are important. With the AJC sadly scaling back staff, we have the chance to cover more.â€
Burns has long wanted to teach, and the part-time job at UGA has allowed her to fulfill that dream. “It’s really great to work with young writers who are passionate about long-form journalism. And it’s helped me here as an editor; I’m able to articulate thoughts because I’ve thought them through for my class.â€
Photo by Joeff Davis
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June 7th, 2007 at 12:17 am
Ms. Burns is an amazing woman. Her work on the 1906 Race Riots was extremely important as she found new evidence that was buried for years. She is also a great speaker and again, just amazing. Thanks to her family for sharing her time with important issues affecting the community - now and 100 years ago.
June 7th, 2007 at 12:19 am
Ms. Burns is an amazing woman. Her work on the 1906 Race Riots was extremely important as she found new evidence that was buried for years. She is also a great speaker and again, just amazing. Thanks to her family for sharing her time so she can perform the research that is needed to tell stories today and of the times that have shaped our history.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Hey Becky:
Long time…huh?