Comstock's magazine
| Editor | Judy Farah |
|---|---|
| Categories | Business |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Publisher | Comstock Publishing Inc. |
| Founder | Winnie Comstock-Carlson |
| First issue | July 1989 |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | Sacramento, California |
| Language | English |
| Website | comstocksmag |
Comstock's magazine is a monthly business magazine with a focus on the Sacramento metropolitan area. The publication was founded in 1989 by Winnie Comstock-Carlson and features articles on topics of interest to region's business and community leaders.[1] Its slogan is "Business insight for California's Capital Region."[2]
History[edit]
Winnie Comstock-Carlson was born inside a Japanese concentration camp in the Philippines during World War II. She grew up in Nevada City[3] and moved to Sacramento in 1962.[4]
Comstock-Carlson worked as an advertisement salesperson at Sacramento Magazine for five years[5] then at Executive Place magazine for another nine years until the publication shuttered in 1989.[6] A few weeks later Comstock-Carlson got the idea to start her own magazine. Lacking funds, she convinced vendors to wait for payment until after publishing the magazine.[5]
Comstock-Carlson used a home equity loan to fund the magazine's launch. But six months later the United States entered into a recession. Comstock-Carlson took on credit card debt to keep the business afloat until it was financially sustainable.[7]
In fall 2004, two senior editors and another staffer at the magazine quit to start a rival business publication called Prosper magazine. The new magazine was financially backed by Warren Smith, co-owner of the Sacramento River Cats.[6][8][9] Comstock-Carlson said the competition forced her to "write some huge checks" and take on a second mortgage to pay for a circulation audit, new computers, new software and better trained staff. "It was a blessing to us," Comstock-Carlson later said. "We needed a kick in the pants to get to the next level."[10] Prosper shuttered after three years and published its final issue in December 2007.[11]
Circulation[edit]
In 1996, Comstock's magazine had a monthly circulation of 20,000 in Sacramento and another 12,000 for its northern Nevada edition, published quarterly.[7] That same year the publisher was considering launching a Fresno edition that would cover the San Joaquin Valley.[7]
Awards[edit]
In 2012, Comstock's magazine won two Maggie Awards from the Western Publishing Association. In the category for consumer magazines with circulation under 75,000, Comstock's magazine won "Best Cover" for its January 2011 issue and won "Best Business Finance" magazine.[12]
In 2017, the magazine's founder Winnie Comstock-Carlson was named "Sacramentan of the Year" by the Sacramento Metro Chamber.[13]
Comstock's magazine has won multiple California Journalism Awards from the California News Publishers Association. In 2022, the magazine took home 20 awards[14] and won another dozen in 2023.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ Studio Sacramento | Winnie Comstock-Carlson | Season 4 | Episode 2 | KQED. 2024-03-27.
- ^ "Media Kit (2009)". Comstock's magazine. Archived from the original on July 23, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ "Chamber launches breakfast series". The Stockton Record. November 3, 2001. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "Sacramento Metro Chamber Announces Annual Award Winners". Sacramento Metro Chamber. November 27, 2017. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Goodman, Elaine (June 19, 2015). "2015 Women Who Mean Business: Winnie Comstock-Carlson, publisher and president, Comstock's". Sacramento Business Journal. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Anderson, Cathie (July 18, 2014). "Familiar face takes helm as editor of Comstock's Magazine". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Nax, Sanford (November 2, 1996). "Comstock's may come to Fresno". The Fresno Bee. pp. 29–30.
- ^ Ortiz, Jon (November 3, 2007). "Prosper turns a final page". The Sacramento Bee. pp. 19–20.
- ^ Shallit, Bob (May 31, 2004). "Ex-staffers to compete against Comstock's". The Sacramento Bee. pp. D1.
- ^ Shallit, Bob (November 7, 2007). "Shallit: Comstock's magazine chief gives failed rival it's due". The Sacramento Bee. pp. D4.
- ^ Weintraub, Adam; Turner, Melanie (November 2, 2007). "Prosper to halt magazine publication". Sacramento Business Journal. Archived from the original on November 5, 2007. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
- ^ Turner, Melanie (May 4, 2012). "Sactown, Comstock's each snag two Maggie awards". Sacramento Business Journal. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ Glover, Mark (November 27, 2017). "Top Sacramento Metro Chamber honor goes to Comstock's magazine founder". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on November 28, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ Labi, Vanessa (June 3, 2022). "Comstock's Content Honored in California Journalism Awards". Comstock's magazine. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ Fergesen, Jennifer (May 25, 2023). "Comstock's Magazine Wins First Place for General Excellence in the California Journalism Awards". Comstock's magazine. Archived from the original on May 25, 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-18.