About Better Homes & Gardens
TABLE OF CONTENTS
On This Page
Who We Are
Our Leadership Team
Editorial Policy
Content Integrity
Fact Checking
Product Reviews
Diversity Pledge
The History of Better Homes and Gardens
Our Editorial Teams
Recent Press
About Dotdash Meredith
Who We Are
Better Homes & Gardens launched in 1922 in Des Moines, Iowa, as Fruit, Garden and Home by Edwin Meredith, who wanted a product that door-to-door magazine salesmen could offer the woman who answered. For one hundred years, Better Homes & Gardens has been stimulating creativity, delivering know-how, and sharing fresh ideas that you can make your own. We power your passion to live a better, more beautiful, and colorful life.
Better Homes & Gardens is a go-to resource for home ideas, food and recipes for everyday and special occasions, and garden know-how that can't be rivaled. Our early magazines dealt almost exclusively with garden topics, but as the years—and our name and logo—progressed, we've been busy adding to our encyclopedia of home helpers. We built a first-of-its-kind "taste-testing kitchen" in 1928, and by the 1970s, we had over 7 million magazine subscribers. We erected a half-acre test garden in the middle of Des Moines, Iowa, in 1998, and in all the years between filled our pages with ideas for elevating everyday living.
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Our Leadership Team
General Manager, Emily Manchester
Emily Manchester has been with Dotdash Meredith since 2016 and is the General Manager of BHG.com. Previously, she led all editorial and strategy decisions for The Spruce, The Spruce Pets, The Spruce Crafts, and MyDomaine as Editorial & Strategy Director. She was a part of the team that launched the original Spruce site in 2017. Over the span of her career, Emily has worked on both editorial and SEO teams and has 8 years of experience in digital content.
Associate Editorial Director, Sheena Chihak, R.D.
Sheena Chihak is the associate editorial director at BHG.com. Prior to her current role, Sheena led the food team as the senior food editor. Her food choices, and life choices for that matter, come down to variety and balance. Add butter and veggies, put in hard work at the office and travel somewhere new, work out regularly and get a massage. A registered dietician, Sheena earned her dual B.S. degrees in dietetics and journalism from Iowa State University.
Senior Editor, Lauren Phillips
Lauren Phillips has immersed herself in all things home her entire career. She's currently a senior editor at BHG.com and has more than 5 years of experience working at beloved brands such as Coastal Living, Real Simple, and most recently at The Spruce. With both print and digital media experience, she's honed her skills as a writer, editor, researcher, and fact-checker. The first to raise her hand and ask a question, her curiosity tends to be the catalyst to fruitful and enjoyable conversations.
Senior Editor, Home, Caitlin Sole
Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG.com. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design education and expertise. She has vast experience with digital publishing, including SEO, photoshoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Caitlin regularly attends trade shows and industry press conferences for market research and continued education. She graduated with a bachelor of journalism, with an emphasis in magazine editing, as well as a minor in textile and apparel management from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Senior Editor, Sarah Martens
Sarah Martens is the senior editor at BHG.com where she leads the food team. A foodie to the core, Sarah started her career in insurance and as a food blogger on the side. In addition to food, she's the go-to source for new craft trends (she's the mastermind behind marbleized Easter eggs) and loves sharing stories about traditional and emerging holidays. She holds a B.A. in magazine journalism from Drake University.
Editor, Garden, Viveka Neveln
Viveka Neveln is the garden editor at BHG.com. She is our staff expert in gardening, plants, landscaping, garden design, trends, pest control, and more. Viveka loves getting people excited about the botanical world and feels happiest with dirt under her nails. She's been an avid gardener for more than 30 years across 4 states and 3 countries. Viveka's got a bachelor's degree in horticulture from Iowa State University and a master's degree in plant pathology from Cornell University.
Editorial Policy
Our goal is to provide accurate, reliable, credible, engaging, and balanced information online for our readers. Our editorial content is produced independently and without influence by any advertiser or commercial supporter. We source our stories with information experts and they are written by experts in their fields. Online content is defined as text, articles, photos, graphics, audio, video, blogs, user-generated content (UGC), and links.
Content Integrity
We are committed to the quality and trustworthiness of our content and editorial processes. Our team of writers, editors, and photographers rigorously researches and reviews all content on an ongoing basis to ensure it is up to date, accurate, and puts the needs of our readers first.
Original illustrations, graphics, images, and videos are created by internal teams, who collaborate with experts in their fields to produce assets that represent diverse voices, perspectives, and contexts. Periodic review by editors as well as by Anti-Bias or other Review Board members as appropriate, ensure the quality, accuracy, and integrity of these assets. Photos and videos are not edited in any way that may cause them to be false or misleading.
We correct any factual errors in a transparent manner and strive to make it easy for our readers to bring errors to our attention.
Read our full integrity promise including our policies on accuracy and corrections, fact-checking independence and impartiality, and originality here.
Fact-Checking
As part of our commitment to content integrity and accuracy, Better Homes & Gardens has a team of experienced fact-checkers providing a vital layer of review on key articles. Each of our fact-checkers is carefully chosen and vetted for their research skills, journalistic integrity, eye for detail, and subject matter expertise. They confirm all statements of fact, statistics, and other data with reputable sources to ensure that the information in our articles is accurate and up to date.
Product Testing & Reviews
Our team is constantly on the lookout for the latest products and brands to help you create a home that brings you joy. Whether we're scouring the internet for the best deals of the day, assessing new products in one of our three testing labs, or getting expert tips and suggestions on the best items for your home, our editors choose each product that we recommend with care.
We strive to be honest about the products we feature, highlighting what we love but also where we think they could be better. While we purchase most of the products we test ourselves, occasionally we receive items for free to test or sample. We never promise a positive review in exchange for a free product—we wait until we've tried it to decide if it's worth recommending to you. If you buy a product through a link on one of our pages, we may earn a commission through your purchase.
Diversity Pledge
BHG.com believes that individuals deserve respect, representation, and opportunity. We work daily to create content that elevates the voices of talented creatives and experts. We believe in telling personal stories and sharing the unique products behind those creatives and experts. Our goal is to constantly grow and evolve, and we strive for excellence as we help you make your home better every day.
We are committed to diversifying our contributor network to amplify BIPOC and LGBTQ+ voices, from writers and sources to illustrators, photographers, stylists, and freelance staff who work on our brand. We strive for inclusivity in our editorial coverage and are regularly updating our style guide to avoid problematic terms. We are regularly updating content such as old recipes and legacy home and garden guides and tours through a lens of cultural sensitivity.
Better Homes & Gardens Magazine
Better Homes & Gardens launched in 1922 as Fruit, Garden and Home. The magazine offered informative articles, cooking techniques, and contests. In 1925, the name changed to Better Homes & Gardens, and it was considered one of the "Seven Sisters" women's service magazines. Throughout the decades, BH&G has branched out to cookbooks (the New Cookbook, affectionately called the "Red Plaid Cookbook," was first published in 1930 and has sold approximately 38 million copies), special interest publications, real estate, television shows, and more. The brand has been one of the most popular media outlets throughout the 20th century. Better Homes & Gardens is published 10 times a year with a rate base of 5 million. It was recently awarded the 2021 FOLIO Eddie Award for Best Consumer, Home & Living magazine for our Stylemaker issue.
Our Editorial Teams
Our editorial and leadership team is comprised of experienced editors and experts in their fields including food, home design, gardening, and more. At Better Homes & Gardens, we hope to fuel your creative ideas and help you bring them into reality.
BHG.com Editorial Staff
SVP & Group General Manager, Home & Design Mélanie Berliet
General Manager Emily Manchester
Associate Editorial Director Sheena Chihak, R.D.
Senior Editor Lauren Phillips
Senior Editor, Home Caitlin Sole
Senior Editor Sarah Martens
Editor, Garden Viveka Neveln
Social Editor Jennifer Aldrich
Visuals Editor Casey Oto
Associate Editor, Food & Recipes Katlyn Moncada
Assistant Editor, Home Emily VanSchmus
Editorial Assistant, News & Special Projects Bryce Jones
Editorial Assistant, Home & Garden Savanna Bous
Executive Video Producer Allie Merriam
Senior Video Producer Shirley Cheng
Better Homes & Gardens Magazine Editorial Staff
Vice President, Editor In Chief Stephen Orr
Creative Director Jennifer D. Madara
Executive Editor Oma Blaise Ford
Managing Editor Greg Kayko
Home Editor Amy Panos
Style & Design Director Jessica Thomas
West Coast Editor/Gardens Miranda Crowell
Senior Style Editor Jennifer Condon
Senior Editors Katy Kiick Condon, Monika Biegler Eyers, Kit Selzer
Associate Market Editor Lauren Bengtson
Associate Editor Mallory Abreu
Test Garden Manager Sandra J. Gerdes
Food Editor Jan Miller
Senior Editor Emily Teel
Features Editor Diana Dickinson
Health & Features Director Amy Brightfield
Beauty & Fashion Director Erica Metzger
Assistant Editor Samantha Benoit
Design Director Stephanie Hunter
Deputy Art Directors Jarret Einck, Lori Sturdivant
Associate Art Director Maggie Goldsmith
Photo Editor Holly Pruett
Copy Chief Angela K. Renkoski
Senior Copy Editors Erika Bjorklund, Martha Coloff Long, Madelaine Jerousek-Smith
Production Editor Cindy Murphy
Recent Press
Our editors share valuable insider tips and tricks every day. Here are some of our editorial team's latest features in national media. For press queries, you can reach us at bhg.press@meredith.com.
About Dotdash Meredith
BHG.com is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family, an operating business of IAC.
Dotdash Meredith is the largest digital and print publisher in America. From mobile to magazines, nearly 200 million people trust us to help them make decisions, take action, and find inspiration. Dotdash Meredith's over 50 iconic brands include PEOPLE, Better Homes & Gardens, Verywell, FOOD & WINE, The Spruce, Allrecipes, Byrdie, REAL SIMPLE, Investopedia, Southern Living, and more.
Dotdash Meredith Press
Read about Dotdash Meredith and our family of brands in the news.
Meet Our Senior Management Team
Learn more about the Senior Management Team team behind Dotdash Meredith.
Privacy
Our mission is to be clear and transparent about how and why we collect and use personal information and to empower you to control your personal information. Please read our full Privacy Policy.
Contact Us
Do you have something you'd like to share? Whether you have a comment, need help, or have an idea to share, we look forward to hearing from you: bhgeditor@meredith.com.
You may also mail us a letter at: Better Homes & Gardens, 1716 Locust St, Des Moines IA 50309
