(New York, N.Y. June 19, 2001) - The American Magazine Conference 2001, the annual conference of Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) and the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME), will bring together industry leaders and newsmakers to discuss the power and vitality of magazines in today's complicated media marketplace. The conference, which will take place October 21-24 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, is titled "Future Intense: Brainstorming for the Next Media Boom." Several prominent industry leaders and luminaries have already been confirmed for the event. They include Oprah Winfrey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Harpo Inc., and Jack Welch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Electric Company. Also slated to speak are Jerry Levin, Chief Executive Officer, AOL Time Warner; Thomas Middelhoff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bertelsmann AG; and Martha Stewart, Chairman & CEO, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. "Keeping in mind that the financial markets are cyclical, AMC 2001 will help our magazines weather the downturn and strategically prepare them for the next upswing," noted Cyndi Stivers, President/Editor-in-Chief, Time Out New York, and Chair of this year's conference. "Our lineup of industry leaders will share insights about this complicated media marketplace and what it will take for us to flourish long-term." The sponsors of the American Magazine Conference 2001 include The Ad Age Group, DeSilva & Phillips, Inc., The Douglas/Jones Group, The Jordan Edmiston Group, Inc., Mediamark Research Inc., PRIMEDIA Intertec-Folio:, Quebecor World, R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, Inc., and UPM-Kymmene, Inc. Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) is the industry association for the consumer magazine business. Established in 1919, the MPA represents more than 240 domestic publishing companies with approximately 1,400 titles, more than 80 international companies and more than 100 associate service providers. Staffed by magazine industry specialists, the MPA is headquartered in New York City, with an office of government affairs in Washington, D.C. The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) is a non-profit professional organization for editors of consumer magazines, as well as editors of online magazines, which are edited, published and sold in the U.S. Established in 1963, ASME currently has about 900 members nationwide. Among other things, ASME provides an opportunity for magazine editors to network with their peers. ASME works to preserve editorial independence and speaks out on public policy issues, particularly those pertaining to the First Amendment.