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Snap Happy
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That iMac Photo Booth is the darndest thing!

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News
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1. Marketwatch.com
Behind the 'snub' of the New Yorker
Commentary: Its award-nomination count fell this year
By Jon Friedman
3/20/06
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7BAC63F0F3%2D7571%2D4B4F%2D9888%2D811F62ABEF86%7D&dist=newsfinder&siteid=google&keyword=

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Last April, I overheard a woman say something interesting as she left the annual National Magazine Awards luncheon in New York.

The publishing community likes to think of this ceremony as its version of the Oscars (though few others would think to draw that bizarre, illogical comparison). Anyway, the magazine professional turned to her seatmate and remarked on an annual event that seemed as predictable as death and taxes: yet another dominant showing by the New Yorker.

With considerable bitterness, she spat: "Oh, they ALWAYS win." While her tone was as pathetic as it was comical, I formed a conclusion, on the spot: rivals were sick and tired of being pushed around by the New Yorker -- and they might just be ready to take matters into their own hands.

The magazine's nomination count was revealing, almost startling, this year. Remember, The New Yorker received 21 nominations over the past two years - the most of any magazine. This year, however, the number dropped to "only" five.

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2. Women's Wear Daily
Memo Pad
March 20, 2006
By Jeff Bercovici
http://www.wwd.com/issue/article/105088

SHUT OUT, AGAIN: What, exactly, does the American Society of Magazine Editors have against Hachette Filipacchi Media? The company, home to 16 titles including Elle and Premiere, has failed to score so much as a single National Magazine Award nomination in each of the last six years. Not since 2000, when Premiere was a finalist in the reviews and criticism category, has a Hachette magazine been nominated, and not since 1993, when American Photo took home a general excellence award, has one of them won.

Naturally, Hachette editors, past and present, have their theories about the drought, although they're reluctant to discuss them on the record. The most commonly cited ??” and seemingly flawed ??” explanation involves the nature of the company's portfolio: Elle aside, it's mostly enthusiast or shelter titles. But that argument doesn't hold much water, considering Backpacker, Runner's World and House & Garden are all up for general excellence awards this year.

A more convincing case posits that Hachette's cost-conscious mind-set is to blame, yielding handicaps such as relatively poor paper quality and low editorial-to-advertising page ratios. Cond?© Nast, which perennially dominates the ASMEs (and which owns WWD), has historically been as much concerned with market share as with profit-loss ratios, noted one Hachette editor: "They have the ability to lavish huge amounts of space on subjects, and that's what's rewarded ??” length, and, to some degree, pomposity."

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3. New York Times
A Painted Lady of Magazines, With Gravitas
David Carr
March 20, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/20/business/media/20carr.html

CULLEN MURPHY and William Langewiesche have been the Tracy and Hepburn of The Atlantic Monthly for the last 15 years. Mr. Langewiesche has been nominated for National Magazine Awards eight times in the last eight years, including this year, and won the reporting category in 2002 for his article about the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990.

Mr. Murphy, the former managing editor, who left his position after the magazine was recently moved to Washington, went out in spectacular fashion. His version of The Atlantic received eight nominations for work just this past year, more than any other magazine in the country, including a nomination for general excellence.

Last Friday, it was announced that they would both be going to work at Vanity Fair. That is an awful lot of editorial firepower to put under a cover that is typically anchored by someone like Paris Hilton tugging at her clothes.

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Whispers
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Ed hears...

... that iVillage??™s Diet & Health Channels are seeking an assistant producer. Responsibilities include: generating article ideas, researching and reviewing book excerpts, writing and editing, working with experts, reporting and organizing traffic metrics, working with production to maintain the site and build new content through our content management system. HTML a plus but not required. B.A. in journalism, English or communications preferred. Send resumes to jobs@mail.ivillage.com. It??™s OK to mention Ed.

... that San Francisco Bay Area-based Yogi Times magazine seeks strong, reliable writers to cover Bay Area stories. We're an up-beat monthly lifestyle magazine with informative, inspiring and often fun articles -- some but not all of which are related to yoga. We also cover music, arts, beauty, fashion, health, community service, etc. Please pick up a copy of the free magazine at your local cafe or yoga studio. The magazine is mainly a labor of love and service, and is unable to pay writers. But, if you want beautiful clips in your voice, and experienced leadership/editing, this may be the opportunity for you. If you're seriously interested and willing to commit to writing one article per month (600-800) words, please email carolynyoga@yahoo.com with a brief description of your background and interests plus one clip. (OK to mention Ed)

... that there??™s an assistant editor opening at Ballinger Publishing in Pensacola Florida: Pensacola Magazine, NW Florida Business Climate. Good Job, all kinds of reporting and editing. Not bad if you don't mind hurricanes and mild winters. (Best not to mention Ed)

Internships

... that Working Mother magazine has an excellent opportunity for a few smart, talented and on-the-ball editorial interns. Duties include working closely with editors, researching, sniffing out story leads, working on special projects and some administrative assistance. We??™re a small staff so you??™ll get the chance to really be part of the team. In this market it's all about experience and this is a great start. Must be a team player, comfortable with computers and able to work autonomously. Position starts in April, May or early June and runs through August or September, depending upon your availability. Schedule is flexible, but we prefer 2-3 full days/week. Position is unpaid, but we'll make sure you get great experience! Please specify the position you are applying for in the subject line. Send resume, cover letter, and 2-3 clips to: Susan Gerstenzang, susan.gerstenzang@workingmother.com -- No Calls Please. (OK to mention Ed)

... that Working Mother magazine has an excellent opportunity for a smart, stylish, organized and on-the-ball fashion intern. Duties include working closely with our fashion and lifestyle editors, calling in products (some children's products), scoping out new fashion accessories, working with vendors, writing buyer's guide info, going to trade shows and helping set up photo shoots. Must have a pleasant phone manner, be comfortable with computers and able to work autonomously. Position starts in May or early June and runs through August or September, depending upon your availability. Schedule is flexible, but we prefer 2-3 full days/week. Position is unpaid, but we'll make sure you get great experience! Please specify the position you are applying for in the subject line. Send resume and cover letter to: Susan Gerstenzang, susan.gerstenzang@workingmother.com -- No Calls Please. (OK to mention Ed)