PRINTWhere are they now? Vox staffers weigh in. Q&A: Sarah Engler
Courtesy of Sarah Engler
When Sarah Engler (left) thinks about her past at Vox, she remembers “late nights in the office, having eaten nothing but Chipotle and vending machine snacks and consuming way too much caffeine. “
May 15, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Sarah Engler, former Short Talk editor, managing editor and 2003 editor-in-chief of Vox, is now an associate editor at Cookie — a lifestyle magazine for modern moms. Prior to her stint at Cookie, Engler interned and was an editorial assistant at Real Simple. She currently splits her time between editing two online blogs and a front-of-book section in the magazine called Smart Cookie, which is similar to Vox’s Short Talk. Unlike many of her cohorts in the Big Apple who switch publications often, Engler hopes to stay at Cookie and feels fortunate that she’s landed in great places since leaving Vox.
Vox: What do you remember most about Vox?
Sarah Engler: I just remember late nights in the office, having eaten nothing but Chipotle and vending machine snacks and consuming way too much caffeine. It got really late, and I started to get that crazy feeling. Every once in a while I’ll feel that again when I’m working late here. I’m like “Oh, it’s like working at Vox again.”
Vox: Do you have any funny stories or experiences from Vox?
SE: When I was editor-in-chief, we had just finished this issue that we were super stoked about. It was the best issue we’d ever put together. We switched design programs, and it totally messed up everything at the press. So Vox didn’t come out on Thursday. It was really, really awful. And the next day it was as if somebody had died. Everyone kept coming up to me and apologizing.
Vox: Did anything happen at Vox that makes you cringe?
SE: I remember the time we ran a huge feature story on strippers. It was fairly graphic — I seem to recall a mention of a 16-inch dildo somewhere in there. Anyway, the magazine was delivered to Columbia elementary schools as part of some education program with the Missourian. Needless to say, that didn’t go over very well. Though I’m sure the kids were stoked.
Vox: How did your experience at Vox help you?
SE: Just do whatever needs to be done. It sounds crazy, but a lot of interns come in feeling very entitled and want bylines. Really you just need people who are there and willing to run around and do whatever. I was the second Mizzou person they had hired at Real Simple. Now they seek them out because they have the right attitude. They kind of won’t hire anyone else.
Vox: Do you plan on staying at Cookie?
SE: I’m really happy here. I don’t really see myself leaving for a while, which is rare because there are so many different publications in New York City, and people are hopping around all the time.
