This past spring I attended a book event at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. I had the pleasure of meeting a smart and 
classy young woman there who’d started an upbeat, youthful, entertainment magazine named Tocsin. I ‘d never met an independent magazine editor before. I was curious to learn more about her sole venture into the world of magazine publishing. We exchanged contact information and have remained in touch since then. Her name is Shanique Byrd. We recently chatted about Tocsin magazine:
Tika: Hi Shanique. I so admire your ambition to start a magazine. What was your inspiration for publishing an entertainment magazine?
Shanique: My inspiration came from the need to do something different. I wanted to be a news reporter, but it didn’t work out. I then started working with a small magazine and the desire to start my own fell into my thought processes.
Tika: When was Tocsin magazine launched?
Shanique: Tocsin Magazine was created in the summer of 2010. We started out as an online video interview magazine. We went to print in the summer of 2011.
Tika: How did you come up with the name Tocsin?
Shanique: I came up with Tocsin because of its meaning, which is: An alarm, a warning bell. The concept of the original website was to find celebrities that were buzzing on the internet from rumors put out by blog sites and have them explain the truth behind the rumors.
Tika: Do you find yourself always having to explain the name and its meaning?
Shanique: Yes, people are used to simple names like People, Vibe, Us, etc. Tocsin is constantly mispronounced Tucson and the meaning is not widely known. Tocsin is actually pronounced Tok-sin.
Tika: Did you have a hard time finding financial and moral support for taking on such an endeavor as starting a magazine?
Shanique: I’ve found it extremely difficult to find financial and moral support. I remember speaking with Jamie Foster Brown, the publisher of “Sister 2 Sister” magazine, at a media dinner for the Braxtons, and telling her that I was starting a magazine. She advised me about the difficulties of starting a magazine. She was right about everything. Sometimes I wish I had listened.
Tika: How do you come up with topics for the articles in Tocsin?
Shanique: Most of the topics are things I’ve experienced or friends and family. I like to use real life situations to give people a more informed article. Not just theories or opinions.
Tika: Do you use only staff writers for your articles?
Shanique: I have no staff writers, per se. My writers vary. I may use the same writer from time to time, but it all depends on what they want to write and how it fits in with the current issue. I also print stories submitted to me from real people who write about their own life experiences and situations. Some have never written an article prior to writing for Tocsin. I consider them ‘reality writers’.
Tika: I’m really impressed with Tocsin magazine. I have seen improvements with each edition. I’m particularly fond of the cover of the current edition, because I actually watched Hollywood Exes. R. Kelly’s ex-wife, Andrea, kept me in stiches the whole season. What have you learned about publishing a magazine that you did not know prior to starting Tocsin?
Shanique: Prior to publishing the magazine, I didn’t realize how hard it would be to get my magazine on newsstands. I think that is why you only see 2 or 3 black magazines on newsstands.
Tika: What do you envision for Tocsin magazine in the next five years in terms of content, etc.?
Shanique: I envision getting bigger and better, from the celebrities to the articles and interviews. I’m praying for an error-free publication. It seems like it doesn’t matter how many times my associate editor and I go through the magazine there are always a few errors we miss. So, my dream is to first be error-free and the other things will follow.
Tika: I thoroughly enjoyed your interview with Prince’s ex-wife, Mayte Garcia. Is there one particular celebrity that you dream of interviewing? And why?
Shanique: I dream of interviewing Oprah Winfrey. I have always used Oprah as an inspiration for my desire to be a news reporter. So, an interview with her would definitely mean a lot to me.
Tika: What advice would you give someone interested in becoming a magazine publisher?
Shanique: The advice that I would give is, try to create something different. There are many magazines, so ask yourself: What do I bring to the table that isn’t already out there? Plus, I’d say find advertisers before you start. Those are the people who will drive your publication.
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Visit tocsinmag.com for information on subscribing or advertising. You can follow Shanique Byrd on Twitter and Facebook.
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