CHRIS KOROTKY
Inside Cheerleading magazine

• Title:
  * President of Inside Publications
  * Publisher of Inside Cheerleading magazine
• How long have you been involved in the spirit industry?  In 2002, we launched Inside Gymnastics magazine, and from day one, coverage of cheerleading was a part of the magazine.  We recognized that gymnastics club owners wanted information on how to start cheer programs, how to develop cheer teams, and information about the industry in general.  From the beginning, the response to our cheerleading coverage was phenomenal, and in 2004, we launched Inside Cheerleading magazine.  A number of our staff members who had backgrounds in cheerleading had been with us in the gymnastics days, and it was a smooth transition.  We also had instant credibility among cheer and gym club owners who knew the company from the gymnastics side, so we couldn’t have been more pleased with the welcome and reception.
• Mission/main idea behind IC:  Our mission is really quite simple.  From the start, our goal has been to deliver a magazine that is fun, entertaining to read, in touch with our readers, and most importantly, full of substance.  Our readers tell us time and time again they read the magazine cover to cover and then keep it for continued reference.  We’ve always made sure we keep a strong balance in the magazine to equitably cover all segments of the market, from All Star, school level, juniors, and collegiate cheerleading.  Our advertisers also tell us that they see measurable results from their placement in the magazine, and we work extremely hard to make sure we are delivering for our advertising partners.
• What does being a member of OSIP mean to you?  One of the most refreshing things about the cheer market is that although it is extremely competitive, there is also a great open dialogue among members of the spirit industry.  OSIP is a great forum for interacting with a broad range of members of that industry.  We are a relationship-driven organization, so we welcome opportunities to meet face-to-face with leaders in the spirit industry.
• Why did you join OSIP?  And what does IC do to promote the spirit industry?  We were one of the charter members of OSIP and joined both to support the industry and to contribute to it.  It also provided another outlet for meeting with and getting to know our peers.  We are fortunate to have an opportunity to promote the industry in every issue of the magazine and through our website, www.insidecheerleading.com.  We view every issue of the magazine as an opportunity to share the highlights of what is going on in the industry and also provide a forum for people to get news, information, and feature material in an entertaining format.
• Interesting fact about the IC:  Inside Cheerleading recently celebrated its two-year anniversary!
• What would you like to see happen with OSIP in the coming year? The mainstream media has sometimes portrayed cheerleading in not the most favorable light throughout the last year, particularly in the area of safety and sometimes in image.  I’d like to see all of us in the spirit industry work together to demonstrate all of the positive attributes cheerleading has to offer and the positive influence it has in the lives of everyone involved.