The class took a field trip to London to visit the Hearst magazines. Terry Mansfield, retired CEO of the international division met us in the lobby and toured us throughout several of the buildings Hearst owns. We met the editors of Elle, Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan. The students heard from the editorial, the production and the advertising side of the publications. We walked among them in their work spaces and interacted with the staff in hallways and elevators. Terry worked his magic on my students with his sincere optimism on the business and tips on how to be successful: Trust yourself, break the rules, don’t be afraid to fail, don’t listen to naysayers, work your butt off, and give something back.
We left on a high note and had dim sum at Ping Pong restaurant where the students were asked to choose 2 or 3 small dishes and to eat only with chop sticks. We succeeded in all of the above. London is busy, big, bustling sort of place. I enjoyed my visits, but I really love the quiet and small town feel of Oxford. Sort of like Athens just older and wiser.
Photo is made in the offices of Cosmopolitan magazine. Terry is in a green suit, fourth from the left. The editor of Cosmo is blond with a white blouse in the middle of the group (about 8 over from the left). The rest are my students (except for the one woman sitting down).
Leara Rhodes 