Rebecca Burns has two primary interests: exploring new forms of nonfiction storytelling, and examining how cities are shaped by their histories. She has merged those interests over the past 15 years through a career as a city-magazine writer, editor, and digital strategist—along with work as an author and journalism instructor.
Burns served as editor-in-chief of Atlanta magazine from 2002-2009 and under her direction the magazine received dozens of local, regional, and national awards for its journalism and design excellence. She then spent several years as director of digital strategy for Emmis Publishing, working with editors and publishers on websites, blogs, and mobile applications for the company’s family of city and regional magazines, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Texas Monthly.
In 2011, she co-curated the Atlanta History Center exhibit “Atlanta Magazine, 1961-2011: 50 Years of the Changing City” and produced the accompanying digital media project which won the 2012 national City and Regional Magazine Association award for excellence in multi-platform storytelling.
In fall 2012, she returned to Atlanta magazine to serve as deputy editor and digital strategist, working on special projects such as the award-winning Groundbreakers community service awards. She launched and oversaw the magazine’s daily news and culture blog.
Her own writing and reporting projects focus on Southern history, civil rights, urban planning, and social and economic justice. Burns is the author of three books on Atlanta history including Burial for a King (Scribner 2011), which chronicles the aftermath of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and his funeral in Atlanta.
In 2015, Burns joined The Red & Black independent student news organization, serving as editorial adviser, publisher, and ultimately executive director. She also teaches part time at UGA. She frequently speaks to school, civic, and corporate groups. She is a past instructor at Emory University.
Honored for publishing leadership by the Magazine Association of the Southeast and Women in Communications, she is a past board member of the Atlanta Press Club and former board chair of VOX Teen Communications. In 2021, she was inducted into the Atlanta Press Club Hall of Fame. She holds an M.A. in Communication from Georgia State University.
Contact Me
For information on book rights, excerpts, and reprints, contact:
Robert Guinsler, Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc.
65 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10012
212-780-6050
sll.com
If you are interested in having me speak to your organization, class, or book club, email me directly.