2. 7. 2011 Cynthia G. Wagner Becomes Editor of THE FUTURIST Magazine

Contact:
Patrick Tucker
Senior Editor
THE FUTURIST
Director of Communications
The World Future Society
Ptucker@wfs.org

[Bethesda, Maryland] Cynthia G. Wagner has been named Editor of THE FUTURIST magazine, published by the nonprofit World Future Society. Wagner will be taking over the magazine from Edward Cornish, who founded Society and its flagship publication, THE FUTURIST, in 1966.

“For 44 years, I have had the privilege of serving as Editor of THE FUTURIST magazine. I would like to thank all of you for your support during our journey along the frontiers of the future. It has been a thrilling ride,” Cornish remarked in an essay, available on THE FUTURIST's Web site.

Cornish will be transitioning to a new role as futurist in residence at the magazine where he will write about the past, present, and future of futurism. “After thinking and writing about the future for more than four decades, I believe I have learned some things about foresight,” he remarked.

Cornish is also the author of the book Futuring: An Exploration of The Future.

“I am fortunate to have learned the business from one of futurism’s founders, a visionary of visionaries. I draw not only from Ed’s insatiable curiosity as a journalist, but also from his critical judgment about what really matters,” said Wagner.

Wagner first came to THE FUTURIST as an editorial assistant in 1981 and has been managing editor since 1992. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Grinnell College and an M.A. in communications, magazine journalism, from Syracuse University’s S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

“Right from the start, she proved to be a highly capable editor and quickly developed into an outstanding one,” remarked Cornish.

Wagner’s first issue as editor, the March-April 2011 FUTURIST, hit store shelves last week. The issue features a special section on the future of health care and articles by celebrated technologist and writer Kevin Kelly and the prolific author and scientist William Sims Bainbridge.

Among the many influential futurists, experts, and public figures who have contributed to THE FUTURIST over the past 45 years are Gene Roddenberry, Al Gore Jr., Newt Gingrich, Alvin and Heidi Toffler, Buckminster Fuller, Frederik Pohl, Isaac Asimov, Vaclav Havel, Margaret Mead, Robert McNamara, B.F. Skinner, Nicholas Negroponte, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Kurzweil, David Walker, Glenn T. Seaborg, Hazel Henderson, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Douglas Rushkoff, Clay Shirky, Robert James Woolsey, and Helen Fisher.

THE FUTURIST was nominated for a 2007 Utne Independent Press Award for Best Science and Technology Coverage.