Magida was the editorial director of Jewish Lights Publishing, the Vermont publisher of books on religion and spirituality; a senior editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times; an environmental reporter for National Journal; a writer-editor for Ralph Nader; the director of publications for an energy conservation project; and a reporter for two Pennsylvania newspapers. He has written for Tikkun, The New York Times Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe Magazine, Geo, Islands, Historic Preservation, The Christian Science Monitor, The Jerusalem Report, The Washington Times, The Dallas Morning News, and The Baltimore Sun.
He has appeared on PBS's "MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour," ABC's "World News Tonight," C-Span's "Booknotes," NPR's "Morning Edition," and an A&E documentary. He has received 16 Simon Rockower Awards from the American Jewish Press Association, five A.D. Emmart Awards for writing on the humanities, two Smolar Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism, and two National Mass Media Certificates of Recognition from the National Conference of Christians and Jews.