Many public relations pros believe the best time to research editorial calendar opportunities is when the leaves begin to fall and football is in the air.  While late fall/early winter is the most popular time for publications to release their editorial calendars for the coming year, there are lots of hidden gems you can find during other months that may have been previously overlooked or added to a calendar since the close of the year.

As of the writing of this post, nearly half of the half million story opportunities have yet to reach their respective deadline dates.  If you’re just starting to think of the editorial calendar opportunities available or you have a new project or client, there are still plenty out there for you.  This is especially true if you have a green energy, travel, sustainability or corporate responsibility story to tell as these are some of the top story opportunities published in editorial calendars for this year.

If you’re in the fashion or retail space, you are also in luck.  While we’re late to the party for Mother’s Day gift guides, almost all the 2012 holiday gift guides are still pre-deadline.  There are also hundreds of “fall fashion” story opportunities that are awaiting your pitch.  And you would be surprised at how many non-sports related magazines have some type of “tailgating” issue in the works, most pre-deadline.

The great news is you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars for an up-to-date editorial calendar database – there are some great ones available for around $500 per year.  If you are looking to go an even lower cost route, you can spend time searching the Web which has made editorial calendars more accessible than ever.   It wasn’t so long ago that getting your hands on editorial calendars meant calling up a publication, asking them to mail you a copy, and waiting for it to arrive in your mailbox before finally getting to the good stuff.   If you are fortunate enough to have interns or entry level staff, researching editorial calendars is a great way to introduce them into the wonderful world of media outreach and research.   Here are some tips to get them started and to help accelerate their search:

1. Make a list of your key publications.
2. Research each publication’s website – this is where most will publish their editorial calendars.
3. Find the diamond in the rough by digging deep and knowing the synonyms for your key message. For example, don’t just search for ‘green energy’, also search for ‘clean energy’, ‘alternative energy’, ‘wind’, ‘solar’, etc.  It may sound elementary, but you’d be surprised at how many folks give up after a quick cursory search.   Their miss could be your next media hit.

Once your team has compiled a list of available opportunities and you’re ready to start pitching, remember that when you introduce yourself to journalists, you should be clear about what you can provide to them, not just what you want from them.  If you’re able to line up an executive level interview or a quote for their story, let the journalist know and be ready to deliver when the deadline approaches.

Make this spring your season for hunting and pitching rather than waiting for the fall to see what stories are available for next year.  There is a lot of 2012 left to come and most of your competitors quit researching editorial calendars months ago. Take advantage of the opportunities still open and enjoy the hunt!

1. @officialkojo: Kojo is a rising star in comedy and has been called “The Fresh Prince of Hackney”. He has appeared on the MTV Base network in a number of shows including The Fresh Prince of Hackney, The Young Gods of Comedy, and Kojo’s Comedy Funhouse. He also owns a production company and maintains his website OfficialKojo.com.

Tweets: 45,889 | Followers: 43,782 | MMI Rank: 120 | Stars: 5

2. @DaveGorman:  Dave Gorman is an author, stand-up comedian, photographer, and television host whose style of comedy is often referred to as “documentary comedy.”  Gorman’s act focuses on real-life incidents that may seem exaggerated, but are always accompanied with evidence to prove their authenticity.  He has won the title of Best One Person Show at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival for his live performances and received many other nominations for his comedy.

Tweets: 34,519 | Followers: 206,104 | MMI Rank: 454 | Stars: 5

3. @edeckers: Erik Deckers widely read weekly newspaper humor column, Erik Deckers’ Laughing Stalk, appears in many newspapers and on the blog of the same name. Deckers also co-authored Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself and Twitter Marketing for Dummies. His play “Cabin Fever U” was named Best Comedy in the 2005 Frank & Katrina Basile Emerging Playwrights competition.

Tweets: 30,429 | Followers: 12,055 | MMI Rank: 873 | Stars: 5

4. @AllanCavanagh: Irish cartoonist and caricaturist Allan Cavanagh’s work has appeared in The Connacht Tribune and on his personal blog Caricatures Ireland. Cavanagh is also an accomplished sculptor who was a lead artist for the 2002 National Sculpture Day for the Sculptors’ Society of Ireland.

Tweets: 76,713 | Followers: 3,859 | MMI Rank: 959 | Stars: 5

5. @nikkiwoods: Nikki Woods wears many hats including television personality, producer, media consultant, and author. As a contributor for the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Woods provides info-tainment on weekend events and activities. Her podcast Women on the Go and her blog Mamas Gone Wild, showcase her wit and humor.

Tweets: 24,927 | Followers: 13,475 | MMI Rank: 1,407 | Stars: 5

6. @geektome: Elliott Serrano is a comic artist and freelance writer, as well as a columnist for a number of blogs.  As a writer for the Chicago Tribune, Serrano shows his humor through “geek features’ like the RedEye’s Geek to Me column and blog.

Tweets: 41,133 | Followers: 3,827 | MMI Rank: 1,834 | Stars: 5

7. @BTLSRADIO: Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, born Todd Alan Clem, is the host of The Bubba the Love Sponge Show. Although Clem has been the center of several controversies for his remarks regarding celebrities and sexual references, he remains successful as his listeners tune in for his humor, his simple yet engaging approach to many non-traditional radio topics and his unique show content.

Tweets: 16,088 | Followers: 101,988 | MMI Rank: 1,881 | Stars: 5

8. @LeonRogers: Leon Rogers is a comedian who has appeared on Comedy Central and in the movies Tuskegge Airmen and Barbershop 1 and 2. He made his debut with Chicago’s All Jokes Aside Comedy Club and his success caught the attention of Cedric “The Entertainer” who included Rogers on his “Cedric The Entertainer Comedy Revue” comedy tour.

Tweets: 23,497 | Followers: 11,218 | MMI Rank: 2,306 | Stars: 5

9. @barefootfoodie: Barefoot Foodie is the blog of Brittany Gibbons, a writer and humorist who first gained notoriety for her humor blog. Now part of the humor podcast Brittany & Meredith Live, Gibbons also focuses her energy on the nationally recognized online magazine Curvy Girl Guide and has presented on beauty and body acceptance for TED. Gibbons was awarded the 2011 BlogHer Humor Voice of the Year.

Tweets: 16,326 | Followers: 7,246 | MMI Rank: 2,646 | Stars: 5

10. @nicoduretour: Nicolas Lacroix is a humor writer, musician and radio personality whose main interests are TV, film, video games, food and wine. He is also one of the contributors to Parent-Le Retour (Parents Return) where he shares his humorous insights into music, culture and more.

Tweets: 21,558 | Followers: 3,407 | MMI Rank: 2,887 | Stars: 5

* Number of tweets and followers are based on data collected on the date the article was written.

** If you are a MyMediaInfo client with access to the social media module, you can recreate this list using the easy steps below.  To learn more about the social media module, click here.

1. Click on the Social Media Module. On this page, under the ‘Twitter’ column, click on ‘Beats/Focus’. This will bring you a list of Top-level beats.

2. Here, type in the search term ‘humor’, and click on ‘GO’.

3. Select the sub-level beat “humor” under the “Arts & Entertainment” category. Now click “OK”.

4. You will now see a display of the number of results from this search. Click on “Get Results” to view the list.

5. To rearrange the list in a descending order of MMI rank, click on the column called “MMI Rank”. Remember, the smaller the MMI Rank number, the more influential the Twitter handle.

1. @KatjaPresnal: Katja Presnal is no stranger to parenting and mom lists. As the woman behind SkimbacoLifestyle.com and SkimbacoHome.com, this mom of three wears many hats. She’s an interior design editor, avid skier, as well as a social media, PR and lifestyle expert. Her blog network ‘Skimbaco Lifestyle’ offers ideas for a “Scandinavian-inspired lifestyle that is stylish, luxurious with a small budget, and focused on making every day an adventure.”

Tweets: 34,087 | Followers: 28,380 | MMI Rank: 324 | Stars: 5

2. @xsparkage: This is the Twitter page of Leesha, also known as Xsparkage on YouTube. She is a makeup guru who regularly posts how-to videos on make-up application, makeup tutorials, and product reviews. She also uploads photos of products, swatches and makeup looks. An expert on cosmetic products, her blog and Twitter page are good authorities on the best branded makeup available in stores.

Tweets: 31,146 | Followers: 53,271 | MMI Rank: 361 | Stars: 5

3. @highsnobiety: Highsnobiety is an online fashion magazine for men that reviews the latest trends in footwear, art and lifestyle. The website’s section for women, HighSnobette, looks at women’s fashion, art, street wear and couture. HighSnobette’s Twitter feed is @highsnobette.

Tweets: 27,721 | Followers: 48,770 | MMI Rank: 545 | Stars: 5

4. @mercnews: San Jose, California’s daily newspaper, MercuryNews.com, provides an online shopping page that lets readers shop for the best deals in the Bay Area. Items range from groceries and household products to apparel and sports products.

Tweets: 62,454 | Followers: 11,797 | MMI Rank: 633 | Stars: 5

5. @ConnieFoggles: Connie Roberts is a mom of two and an advocate for many causes including the rights of children, special education, women’s rights, and rights for people with health problems. She is also a Disney fan who regularly reviews Disney restaurants, products and related topics. Roberts reviews many other products and shares her parenting experiences on her blog BrainFoggles.com.

Tweets: 37,973 | Followers: 10,705 | MMI Rank: 703 | Stars: 5

6. @herbadmother: Catherine Connors, blogger at HerBadMother.com and mom of two, likes to share her opinions on products, clothes, parenting, and more. She is also a contributor at BlogHer, a featured parenting blogger at Beliefnet, and the co-founder of Bad Moms Club.

Tweets: 27,577 | Followers: 16,348 | MMI Rank: 715 | Stars: 5

7. @FabulousSavings: Based in Toronto, Fabulous Savings offers coupons, product reviews, and other tips on saving money while shopping. Their discounts and coupon offerings include clothing and apparel, health and beauty, home, lifestyle, technology, travel and entertainment, as well as food and dining. They take care to include only those stores that offer coupons to ensure that readers get exactly what they come looking for – good deals!

Tweets: 48,104 | Followers: 9,554 | MMI Rank: 899 | Stars: 5

8. @flarefashion: Flare is a Canadian fashion magazine that provides the latest information on fashion, beauty, health and entertainment. With a readership of over 1.7 million, the website also shares videos and updates on fashion shows and events.

Tweets: 19,181 | Followers: 23,610 | MMI Rank: 991 | Stars: 5

9. @alywalansky: Aly Walansky writes A Little Aly-tude, a well-known beauty and style blog that’s a popular source for advice, tips, reviews and lifestyle commentary. Walansky reviews products and offers tips on accessories, beauty, style, health and nutrition, travel destinations and deals. She also hosts great giveaways on her site.  In addition to her own blog, she serves as beauty editor for MyGloss.com, style columnist for SheKnows.com and contributes to other popular publications.

Tweets: 35,138 | Followers: 12,356 | MMI Rank: 1,027 | Stars: 5

10. @lauriewrites: Laurie White is a contributing editor at BlogHer and A Girl Must Shop. A teacher, writer, avid traveler, and photographer, White also blogs at Draft Day Suit and has a personal blog called LaurieWrites. Her Twitter feed features updates about family, music, photography, pop culture, and shopping.

Tweets: 51,450 | Followers: 3,797 | MMI Rank: 1,037 | Stars: 5

* Number of tweets and followers are based on data collected on the date the article was written.

** If you are a MyMediaInfo client with access to the social media module, you can recreate this list using the easy steps below. To learn more about the social media module, click here.

1. Click on the Social Media Module. On this page, under the ‘Twitter’ column, click on ‘Beats/Focus’. This will bring you a list of Top-level beats.

2. Here, type in the search term ‘shopping’, and click on ‘GO’.

3. Select the sub-level beat “Shopping” from both the “Lifestyles and Society” category and the “Travel and Transportation” category. Now click “OK”.

4. You will now see a display of the number of results from this search. Click on “Get Results” to view the list.

5. To rearrange the list in a descending order of MMI rank, click on the column called “MMI Rank”. Remember, the smaller the MMI Rank number, the more influential the Twitter handle.

Direct Message Distribution

A direct message distribution service like MyMediaInfo connects public relations and marketing professionals who send out releases with influencers looking for pitches from a particular industry, beat, or subject area.  By creating a specific media contacts list and sending it through a one-to-one messaging system, PR’s can build relationships with their contacts, proactively follow-up on the releases they send and keep track of recipients.  These types of tools allow for a greater level of control over the life of the release and insight into how well it was received.  They also encourage relationship building and precision in communicating with influencers rather than blasting out information to all media outlets, including those that may not give the information consideration because it is not relevant to their areas of coverage.  This targeted approach may seem daunting to some as it requires PR’s to take the time to develop relationships with journalists and influencers, but the payoff can be better coverage and a higher campaign success rate.

Self-Publishing Tools

Self-publishing tools such as the one available in Thomson ONE Public Relations are quickly gaining traction as a more efficient, secure and cost-effective alternative to traditional wire services.  Self-publishing tools give PRs full control of the release creation and distribution process, eliminating the need for back and forths with a third party provider.  Such tools typically apply a flat annual pricing model, eliminating the need for per word or per release charges.  If you are a public company considering this option, evaluate providers who offer proprietary disclosure distribution networks. Such networks should ensure regulatory compliance while maximizing the reach of your disclosure release to all key outlets as well as to your investor relations website which has become a primary research destination for both investors and the media.

SEO Enhancement Distribution Tools

Many tools dedicated to optimizing press releases for visibility in search engines have cropped up over the past few years.  Services like PR.com and others aim to help press releases get picked up on aggregation sites such as Yahoo News and Google News through the use of keywords and social media sharing which can result in increased coverage.  This type of distribution tool is most effective when used with proactive, targeted outreach to specific outlets, journalists and influencers to encourage coverage for your pitch.

For many public relations professionals, leveraging the benefits from a combination of these distribution tools is the right answer.  Finding a system that works best for you may take a bit of testing, but the payoff can be more visibility for releases and successful campaigns, and those results are well worth it!

@phdinparenting: PhDInParenting.com is one of the most popular go-to spots for tips on parenting, women’s issues, children’s education, children and mothers’ products, consumer news, political issues concerning parenting and more. Founded by Annie Urban, a mother who advocates for the social, political and consumer rights of mothers and children everywhere, the blog provides useful tips for mothers and discusses various issues across government, corporations, the media, and other bloggers.

Tweets: 65,203 | Followers: 62,924 | MMI Rank: 37 | Stars: 5

@CarlaYoung: Carla Young is a work-at-home mom and the founder and CEO of MOMeoMagazine.com. She is also the publisher of Entrepreneurial Moms.com magazine. MOMeo magazine addresses issues of working mothers, family life and more. Their blog also hosts a weekly chat on Twitter, #MOMeoChat, where MOMeo brings experts to answer moms’ questions on business, family and household management.

Tweets: 77,192 | Followers: 27,478 | MMI Rank: 83 | Stars: 5

@CAITLINMORAN: Caitlin Moran is an author, columnist, award-winning writer, and well-known advocate for feminism who shot to worldwide fame when she published her controversial book “How to Be a Woman.” The mom of two girls, Moran takes to her website to talk about women’s issues, her book, motherhood, and more.

Tweets: 42,420 | Followers: 184,551 | MMI Rank: 103 | Stars: 5

@momlogic: Launched in 2007, Momlogic.com is a parenting online magazine for mothers around the world.  It offers topical posts, breaking news, celebrity and entertainment news, and stories relevant to motherhood, child-rearing and parenting. The website was named the most influential parent-focused blog overall by PRWeek in July 2008.

Tweets: 24,419 | Followers: 156,342 | MMI Rank: 227 | Stars: 5

@KatjaPresnal: Katja Presnal is a mom of three, and the Founder and Editor of Skimbaco Blog Network and SkimbacoLifestyle.com. She is a lifestyle expert who promotes living a “Scandinavian inspired lifestyle that is stylish, luxurious with a small budget, and focused on making every day an adventure.” Beyond her thoughts on family and parenting, her blog also focuses on the latest trends in fashion, products and shopping tips, home décor, DIY ideas, travel destinations and deals, and food ideas, recipes and kitchen gadgets. Follow @Skimbaco to read updates from the blog.

Tweets: 33,742 | Followers: 27,785 | MMI Rank: 269 | Stars: 5

@CarissaRogers: Carissa Rogers is the owner and publisher of GoodnCrazy.com, a blog on parenting, food, Mom life, new technology, and photography. A mother of three, Carissa blogs about her experiences as a mother and shares product reviews when she finds something she really likes!

Tweets: 55,122 | Followers: 12,680 | MMI Rank: 275 | Stars: 5

@SelfishMom: Amy Oztan is a work-at-home mom who writes the blog SelfishMom.com and co-hosts a weekly podcast about blogging, technology and social media with Blogging Angels. She was named one of the fifteen most powerful moms in social media by Working Mother and Funniest Mom on Twitter by Babble.com in 2010. Her blog is an entertaining blend of self-deprecating humor and light-hearted sarcasm, which shine through in her posts about product reviews, personal updates, parenting stories and more.

Tweets: 46,850 | Followers: 10,004 | MMI Rank: 338 | Stars: 5

@MoneySavingMom: Crystal Paine is MoneySavingMom.com, one of the ultimate resources for information on frugal living. The blog is dedicated to sharing information on coupons, best deals on everything from groceries to holiday destinations, freebies and giveaways, and best ways to earn and manage money as a blogger. A mom to three children, Crystal says she owes her frugal planning and financial savvy to her mom, who put her in charge of grocery shopping and meal-planning at a very young age.

Tweets: 21,854 | Followers: 89,244 | MMI Rank: 380 | Stars: 5

@Paisano: Tech-expert Doriano “Paisano” Carta is a father of three and Editor-in-Chief of Dadomatic.com. As the counterpart to “mommy blogs,” Dadomatic.com was founded as a forum for dads to write about their experiences and offer advice to other dads, as well as offer helpful product reviews. The majority of the 90 blog contributors are men, with the female contributors voicing their thoughts in the ‘Better Half’ section. Follow @Dad_O_Matic for updates from the blog or Carta’s personal twitter handle @Paisano for his updates.

Tweets: 35,841 | Followers: 8,778 | MMI Rank: 500 | Stars: 5

@DaveTaylor: Dave Taylor writes several blogs ranging from technology to movies. His parenting blog, GoFatherhood.com, is where he talks about life as a single dad since his 2008 divorce, bringing up three kids, and the joys of fatherhood. While he tackles major topics like balancing sports and education, and offers advice to other single dads struggling with similar parenting issues, he also talks about the small stuff, from buying gifts for the holidays and weirdly named baby products.

Tweets: 30,551 | Followers: 10,529 | MMI Rank: 510 | Stars: 5

* All number of tweets and followers are based on facts collected on the date that the article was written.

** To recreate this list: If you are a customer of MyMediaInfo, and have access to the social media module of the database, then you can recreate this list using some easy steps.

1. Click on the Social Media Module. On this page, under the ‘Twitter’ column, click on ‘Beats/Focus’. This will bring you a list of Top-level beats.

2. Here, type in the search term ‘Parenting’, and click on ‘GO’.

3. Select the “Parenting” sub-level beat under the top-level beat ‘Lifestyles and Society’, and click “OK”.

4. You will now see a display of the number of results from this search. Click on “Get Results” to view the list.

5. To rearrange the list in a descending order of MMI rank, click on the column called “MMI Rank”. Remember, the smaller the MMI Rank number, the more influential the Twitter handle.

It seems like everywhere you turn someone is making the case for having a social media presence for your business, but keeping up with every new network out there is a pretty daunting task.  You have to be selective because each one you engage with is a time and resource commitment.  And when it really comes down to it, not every social network is right for every business.  Even Facebook.   So, how do you know which ones you need to be a part of to help meet your goals?  Here are some things to consider as you plan your social media strategy for the coming year.

Who are you looking to engage with?

If your target audience is other businesses, investing your time and energy into a social network that is full of consumers may not be your best bet.  Do your research to figure out if a particular social network is right for you.  Use the search feature to dig around (search on keywords that are a good representation of your offerings) and get a sense of whether the people on the site are the people you want to reach.

How much time can you devote?

While the whole point of social networking is to be consistently engaged, some social networks can require more effort and attention than others.  If you are selecting networks that require a constant watch or interaction, you’ll want to factor that in to your decision.  Also, it’s important to think realistically about the sustainability of your effort.  There’s nothing less social than getting to a page and seeing it hasn’t been updated for months or that it has been abandoned.  More often than not, having no page is better than having a dated page so if you’re getting into a social media network make sure you have the resources to go all in.

What goals are you trying to meet?

It’s important to think about your goals and what you expect to get out of your social media participation.  There are so many different reasons to build a social media presence.  Perhaps you want to use it as an avenue for lead generation or you’d like to show your expertise and thought leadership in your field.  Maybe you just want to show a different side your business and give an ‘insider’ look to your daily happenings.  Whatever your reason for becoming part of the social media universe may be, there is a social network out there designed to fit your purpose.

Who are you representing?

While it can be tempting to combine our personal and professional selves on social media as a way of streamlining our lives, there’s a big caveat that comes along with doing so.  Your professional contacts are probably not interested in the great deal you just scored on a new winter jacket or what you watched on television last night, and your friends and family might not want to hear the twelve biggest gripes public relations folks have with journalists.  Know your audience, keep focused on delivering content that they are most interested in and make it a priority to add value to the community.

When it comes to social media, it’s always worth mentioning that once something is posted, it’s out.  Even the ability to delete doesn’t ensure that what you’ve posted will disappear, so it’s always a good policy to read twice before you hit the post button.  And most importantly, even though social media can be a great way to make new contacts and build your identity, keep in mind that it will never take the place of face-to-face, real-life networking.  A smile and handshake trump tapping away at a keyboard every time.

With each New Year comes new resolve to become more active and get healthy.  The road to good health can be a bumpy one for some folks as it requires a healthy dose of motivation and more than a little will power to skip dessert.  Making the transition to ahealthy lifestyle can be a big commitment, but luckily there are plenty of experts out there to help you along with fitness and exercise tips, great healthy recipes, and maybe most importantly, some much needed motivation. These 10 exercise and fitness experts will have you feeling your healthiest in no time!

1. @elephantjournal: elephant journal is a blog about spiritual well-being, healthy living, fitness, yoga and all healthy practices that lead a person toward a better life. Blog creator Waylon Lewis promotes change for the better in all aspects of life, including health and environment and the blog includes articles, videos, and interviews with other eco-conscious and healthy living experts. Backed by a group of contributing writers, the elephant journal brings a daily dose of good and fair living.

Tweets: 31,144 | Followers: 47,764 | MMI Rank: 234 | Stars: 5

2. @mizfitonline: Carla Birnberg is a personal trainer, health and fitness expert, bodybuilding competitor, and creator and writer for health and fitness blog MixFitOnline. Her blog chronicles her experiences in the field of fitness and competitive bodybuilding. She also talks about healthy eating and living, diets, workouts, and motherhood. Her personal mantra is “fitness isn’t about fitting in.” She advocates an innovative, customized and unique approach to fitness that suits every individual.

Tweets: 76,585 | Followers: 12,473 | MMI Rank: 272 | Stars: 5

3. @JoyceSchneider1: As one half of the successful health guru duo The Cook and the Cardiologist, Joyce Schneider is a reformed chocoholic who promotes the idea that food can be healthy and low-cal without sacrificing taste. Along with her husband, Schneider writes the blog The Cook and the Cardiologist as a way to share knowledge about the heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type-2 diabetes. By offering healthier substitutions for just about any ingredient, they show readers how to make healthy eating into yummy eating! Their articles include information on metabolism, organic food, heart disease among women and more.

Tweets: 29,655 | Followers: 80,591 | MMI Rank: 354 | Stars: 5

4. @HealthHabits: HealthHabits is a blog on fitness, exercise, training, nutrition, healthy eating and more. Owner and writer Douglas Robb has been guiding people toward healthier living, fitness and weight loss for years. His blog provides various programs on personal fitness, nutrition, and more. He also wrote the book A Paleo Diet for the 21^st Century.

Tweets: 25,284 | Followers: 308,827 | MMI Rank: 418 | Stars: 5

5. @FitBottomedGirl: The Fit Bottomed Girls are two friends – Jenn and Erin – who met while working for a magazine publishing company. They created their blog in 2008 to offer working women, mothers, single women, and even guys tips on improving health and fitness through proper eating habits and exercise. Beyond the fitness and health advice on their site, you can also find reviews for workout DVDs and health and fitness products, as well as their personal fitness and exercise experiences. Recently they launched a sister site called Fit Bottomed Mamas.

Tweets: 31,418 | Followers: 15,366 | MMI Rank: 430 | Stars: 5

6. @JeanetteJenkins: Jeannette Jenkins is a celebrity fitness trainer and host of Lifetime Television’s “My Workout: Powered by Podfitness.com.” Her website The Hollywood Trainer talks about fitness programs, personal fitness training, extreme sports, and more. She has also released numerous workout DVDs that have been voted top 10 DVDs of the year by Fitness Magazine. Her Twitter feed shares various tips and advice for fitness and exercise.

Tweets: 20,379 | Followers: 106,655 | MMI Rank: 489 | Stars: 5

7. @MensHealthMag: Men’s Health Magazine is the world’s largest magazine brand with 44 editions around the world. Their website averages 38 million page views a month. Launched in 1987 with a focus on men’s health-oriented issues, the magazine has evolved to include more topics related to men’s lifestyle, like fitness, nutrition, relationships, travel, technology, fashion and finance.

Tweets: 19,075 | Followers: 617,966 | MMI Rank: 958 | Stars: 5

8. @CarrotsNCake: Tina Haupert, creator and writer at Carrots ‘N’ Cake, is a certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. Her blog focuses on weight-watching, nutritional foods, fitness and maintain a well-balanced diet. Her book Carrots ‘N’ Cake: Healthy Living One Carrot and Cupcake at a Time was published in 2011 and she also writes a weekly column for Health.com.

Tweets: 22,711 | Followers: 12,517 | MMI Rank: 1,153 | Stars: 5

9. @YumYucky: This is the Twitter page of Josie Maurer, blogger at YumYucky.com and self-proclaimed food enthusiast. She shares her food obsession and efforts at maintaining a healthy weight through humor and witty stories. A mother of 4, Josie shares her healthy diet plans and workouts and involves her readers her yearly weight and food related resolutions. Her blog YumYucky has been recognized as one of Shape Magazine’s Top 8 Sites for Fitness Motivation and is also on Fitness Magazine’s ‘Favorite Food and Nutrition Blogs’ list.

Tweets: 32,020 | Followers: 4,620 | MMI Rank: 1,310 | Stars: 5

10. @OurTownMagazine: Our Town Magazine caters to the great Miami community and focuses on luxury lifestyle, dining and local living.  It also contains articles on health and fitness, as well as healthy recipes, yoga and fitness routines.  Owner Carolyn Gardner interacts with readers through this Twitter feed.

Tweets: 26,712 | Followers: 16,152 | MMI Rank: 1,381 | Stars: 5

* All number of tweets and followers are based on facts collected on the date that the article was written.

** To recreate this list: If you are a customer of MyMediaInfo, and have access to the social media module of the database, then you can recreate this list using some easy steps.

1. Click on the Social Media Module. On this page, under the ‘Twitter’ column, click on ‘Beats/Focus’. This will bring you a list of Top-level beats.

2. Here, type in the search term ‘Fitness’, and click on ‘GO’.

3. Select the “Exercise and Physical Fitness” sub-level beat, and click “OK”.

4. You will now see a display of the number of results from this search. Click on “Get Results” to view the list.

5. To rearrange the list in a descending order of MMI rank, click on the column called “MMI Rank”. Remember, the smaller the MMI Rank number, the more influential the Twitter handle.

The top Corporate Social Responsibility story topics for 2012 are:

1. Corporate Philanthropy
2. Community Involvement
3. Environmental Impact

Corporate Philanthropy – With political and social movements turning the microscope on corporate profits in the last months of 2011, corporate philanthropy will be a major focus in 2012. While many companies have long supported social causes quietly as part of their corporate mission, the coming year will likely bring these efforts to the forefront, and magazines will heavily feature content on the topic.

Community Involvement – Businesses are an important part of the communities within which they function, and how they engage with neighbors communicates a great deal about their commitment to corporate social responsibility.  How companies are giving back on both a local and global scale will be a subject of great interest in 2012.

Environmental Impact – ‘Green’ has been a hot topic for the past few years, but the focus has been on personal and household impact on the ecosystem. Over the next twelve months, magazines will shift the attention from individual impact and move toward content that puts the spotlight on the way in which businesses operate to help promote a healthy environment.

1. Gardens & Landscape
2. Home Automation
3. Design & Architecture
4. Interiors & Decoration
5. Home Improvement & Renovation

Gardens & Landscape – With a difficult real estate market persisting, homeowners are making improvements to their current home, starting with beautifying their outdoor space. For those looking to discover their green thumb or for people who are already experts, there will be numerous resources available to help them meet their goals with Gardens and Landscape proving to be a hot topic for the coming year.

Home Automation – It’s not just for the Jetson’s! As technology focuses on ways to make our everyday lives simpler and more comfortable, solutions that keep us in control of our homes while we’re away from home are being developed daily. In 2012, magazines will dedicate pages to advances that allow us to control everything from the lights in our living room to the temperature in our home, all from a remote device like a smartphone or computer.

Design & Architecture – Whether you see the home as the ultimate showpiece, are interested mainly in maximizing space and function, or just love to imagine your dream house, an amazing design is a necessity.  With so many styles and sensibilities to pore over, it’s not a surprise that home design and architecture stories will get lots of attention over the next twelve months.

Interiors & Decoration – It’s the small touches and homey décor that make a house into a home, so it’s no surprise that stories about interiors and decoration rate high on magazine editorial calendars in the coming year. Focusing on making indoor living spaces attractive, comfortable and functional, is not only a fun and creative outlet, but is also a great and affordable way to change the look and feel of any room.

Home Improvement & Renovation – With people staying put in their homes during a tough real estate market, home improvement and renovation projects are an outlet for making changes big and small or for fixing things that have gone ignored for awhile. In 2012, magazines will offer plenty of stories about home improvement, all of which will likely be of great interest to the many intrepid do-it-yourself readers out there.

By Eric Hill, Co-Founder & President, MyMediaInfo

One of my favorite commercials is an AT&T commercial for their 4G LTE phone.  Two guys are tailgating at a football game, sitting in their chairs, and are way ahead of everyone else because of the speed of their network and phone.  Throughout AT&T’s 4G campaign, the overwhelming theme of speed of information is drilled home.  From the office guy who sounds off that he wasn’t invited to the Taco party to the Flash Mob dancer that didn’t get the text to start an hour later, AT&T is pushing speed.

In the business world and especially in my own world, speed and accuracy of information is extremely important.  However, in our never-ending quest to share, learn and gain new knowledge through technology, we’re sometimes too distracted to understand the whole story and learn some great life lessons.  I wanted to share a personal story that inspires me when I think I am having a rough day.  This is the story of Joe Lee, my Father-in-Law.

At 14, Joe was forced to leave his homeland and move to America.  Joe’s family was in dire straits and if he couldn’t provide for his mother and sister, as well as his aunt and two cousins, they may have died.  So Joe got on a boat, alone, and traveled thousands of miles to a land where he didn’t speak the language and hardly knew a soul.

Joe didn’t complain, but instead did exactly what he had to do.  He forfeited his childhood for his family’s survival.  He worked tirelessly in a laundromat, always sacrificing everything but the most basic needs so he could send money home to his family.  After many years in the US, Joe was able to get married and have 5 beautiful daughters, but life was still difficult for him.  Even though the Army rejected him due to his flat feet, he would work 12-15 hours a day as a cook, bartender or waiter to feed his growing family.  Tragedy struck when Joe’s wife, May, died from cancer, when their youngest daughter was only a few years old.  Joe’s mother left her homeland, never to return, for the US to raise five girls she never met.  After all, it was Joe who did the same many years earlier for her.

Joe married again a few years later.   Two more children, a girl and boy, were added to the ever growing clan.  Joe raised the kids with a heavy hand but it was the only way he knew how.  They lived in one of the worst parts of the city.  So bad that the kids would have to step over drug addicts sleeping on their front steps to enter their building.

Despite the daily temptations outside their doors, Joe’s kids grew into amazing adults.  All seven of them went to college and on to enjoy productive careers.  And ten grandchildren followed.

Two weeks ago we took Joe to the Emergency Room for the last time.  He was 86.  Joe knew it was his time, and he was okay with it.  He would say that he wasn’t a smart man, and then we would remind him of how he had such great children and a big smile would come across his face.  He would then look at some of his youngest grandchildren and time enabled him to say the words to them that he had always felt for all of his kids, “Grandpa loves you.  Grandpa loves you.”

Can you imagine a 14 year old doing this in today’s world?  Not only sacrificing his childhood, but being selfless enough to provide for two families.   One of Joe’s daughters wrote a tribute to her Dad, “To Baba, whose favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, and his last wish was for his family to be together.”  Once Joe was sure that all seven of his kids were together on Thanksgiving, he took his last breath.  I will always carry the memory of a man who sacrificed everything to ensure his family would stay together.