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Past Honorees
Mark Levine
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Past Honorees
Mark Levine
Publisher
KIDS DISCOVER
2003
Comments made by Leanna Landsmann,
President of Time For Kids Media Group, at the induction of Mark
Levine into the Hall of Fame.
Mark Levine inherited the American Baby title early
in his life, left it for a few years to teach himself the publishing
business, and came back to partner with his cousin and father to
build a business. Together they took a small brochure—delivered
by hand to new mothers—and transformed it into one of the strongest
niche marketing companies in America. One of the most enduring accomplishments
of Mark's life is the confidence he instilled in two generations
of mothers and fathers who looked to American Baby titles for information
about their new role as parents. Tens of millions of mothers counted
American Baby as a companion and a comfort during the most critical
times of their lives.
At the time of the sale of American Baby to Cahners
Publishing in 1986, Mark's company was comprised of 10 magazine
titles (including Childbirth Educator), two nationally distributed
television shows, and a major sampling company—reaching millions
of families as well as achieving genuine financial success. Mark,
through his constant efforts to serve the new family market through
as many paths as possible, helped create the concept of "integrated
marketing" long before there was a phrase to describe it. He
was pivotal to American Baby's decision to take magazine editorial
to cable television, to market directly to the first-time experience,
and to champion the cause of children's health to the Hispanic market.
After Mark sold American Baby, he remained at Cahner's
as VP and Group Publisher. During that time, he planned his next
venture and began to organize his thoughts around his belief that
parents are their children's first teachers. He decided to follow
the families he had served so well through his years at AB and created
KIDS DISCOVER, in part in response to his own children's
need for high quality, inspired non-fiction. Mark used his life-long
interest in photography and expertise in production to help him
choose an editorial staff that would create the distinct look and
feel of KD. Along with his partner Bob Elder, he was able to design
a business model that eventually brought KD to the homes and classrooms
of over 500,000 children monthly. AEP rewarded Mark's vision with
the Golden Lamp award in 1999, and KD continues to be nominated
for AEP awards. KD also received the Parent's Choice Gold Award
in 1996 and 1997. KD was nominated for the National Magazine Award
in 1993.
Over the next few years, as children began sharing
their favorite issues of KD with their teachers, Mark added another
dimension to the KD business model—the classroom. in 1998 he
purchased Creative Classroom and began to take fuller advantage
of his knowledge of, and success with, the elementary educator market.
He also began distributin the KD Teacher Catalog in 1997 and found
a way to reach out to over one million teachers a year with his
promise of consistently first-rate supplementary classroom material.
In 1997 he founded First Time Teacher, a magazine for brand new,
entry-level teachers.
Over the last 30 years, Mark has mentored many publishing
professionals who have risen to very powerful an influential positions,
including an SVP at Turner's Cartoon Network, several SVP's at AOL/Time
Warner, the former publisher of Rosie, the Group Publisher
of Gruner & Jahr, as well as the Editor-in-Chief of American
Baby.
In addition, Mark has always put time and energy behind
organizations that support his passions. He has served with the
prestigious Aperture organization, the Committee for Photography
at the Museum of Modern Art, the American Craft Council, and the
Longhouse Foundation.
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