Blog Magazine

Behind the Computer Revolution was a Magazine

The magazine was Popular Electronics. The article that changed everything was about a gizmo called the personal computer. The year was 1975, the place Harvard Square and the rest is history. 

Nudity Sells, but is it Controversial?

Jennifer Aniston recently stirred up a lot of media attention for her provocative January GQ cover; even more recently Aniston admitted the photo was "Photoshopped," which isn't really that surprising of a confession. Still, it gave us pause--we know nudity on magazine covers sells--but is it ever shocking or controversial anymore? Aniston's GQ cover certainly isn't the first of its kind or the last.

Top Hopeful 2008 List

While People magazine rounded up the celebrity "Babies of the Year" (as if there is any real contest) and Entertainment Weekly the "10 Biggest Showbiz Events of 2008," Discover magazine rounded up the "Top 100 Science Stories of 2008," a topic that unfortunately has been sidelined much of the last few months and year by politics and the economy. Unlike so many magazine lists remembering 2008, Discover's list is refreshingly hopeful.

Jumpstart Your 2009 Healthy Eating Habits

It's never too early to get started on healthy eating after the holidays. Some of our favorite food magazines like Cooking Light, Eating Well and Everyday Food have tips and recipes to help get us all back in the swing of things for healthy post-holiday eating.

Some of Our Favorite Magazine Covers of 2008

It's been a mostly interesting year as far as magazine covers go--lots of political and celebrity controversy--plus a lot of innovative design elements and memorable subject matter. For us, the most memorable magazine covers are the ones that got--and kept--people talking.

 

Best Obama Magazine Covers

Earlier this week The Associated Press named the top news story of 2008: the historical election that made Barack Obama the first African-American president of the U.S. To recognize the biggest news story of the year (and beyond) here are our favorite Obama magazine covers.

Most Controversial Magazine Covers of 2008

Obama illustration/The New Yorker: Illustrator Barry Blitt's cover called "The Politics of Fear" featured Barack and Michelle Obama in stereotypical images designed to "satirize the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the Presidential election to derail Barack Obama's campaign," according to The New Yorker's press release. Many did not get the joke; Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton called it "tasteless and offensive."

Sarah Palin/Us Weekly: Republican Vice Presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin landed on the cover of celeb magazine Us Weekly under the headline “Babies, Lies and Scandal” and an outrage of readers and the media ensued. Critics pointed out that other celebrity magazines like OK! magazine and People used less inflammatory headlines like "A Mother's Painful Choice" with the same photo.

Madonna/Guy Ritchie Us Weekly: Us Weekly broke the news that Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie were on the brink of divorce on a July cover story. The magazine speculated an affair between the pop singer and Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez although Madonna denied the allegations. However, in October 2008, Madonna’s rep confirmed to People magazine the singer and Ritchie were divorcing after over seven years together.

Gisele Bundchen/LeBron James Vogue: Vogue's cover featuring NBA star LeBron James and supermodel Gisele Bundchen caused a lot of chatter over whether their King Kong-like pose perpetuated racial and sexual stereotypes.

 Jennifer Aniston & Angelina Jolie feud/Vogue: Celebrity magazines buzzed with stories of a feud when Vogue magazine quoted Jennifer Aniston on its December cover, “What Angelina did was very uncool.” Nearly four years after Aniston and Pitt divorced over rumors of a Jolie-Pitt affair, the topic remains a hot one.

Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and baby photos/People magazine: A few months after the Jolie-Pitt twins appeared on celebrity magazine People’s cover, media insiders alleged People magazine comprised their editorial practices to appease Angelina Jolie; the New York Times ran an expose and accused People magazine of submitting to Jolie’s requirement of “positive coverage” only. 

Magazine News from Around the Web

 Wenner Media, publishers of Rolling Stone, Men's Journal and Us Weekly will postpone the Us Weekly spin-off, Us Style, which it previously announced.

Bonnier Corp., which already owns Sport Diver magazine recently acquired Scuba Diving.

The Advocate, starting with its February issue, is among other magazine titles that will go to a monthly publication from a bi-weekly one in order to save publishing costs. 

Time magazine Washington Bureau Chief Jay Carney stepped down from his position to become Vice President-elect Joe Biden's communications director.

After being sold for $1 in October, TV Guide magazine was sold again by Macrovision for a little more than a $1.

Shuttered Magazines: RIP
Hearst: Quick & Simple, Cosmo Girl, O at Home;
Time Inc. shuttered Cottage Living  and Hachette Filipacchi Home; Conde Nast shuttered Golf for Women while  Men's Vogue will return to its prior form as a twice-yearly Vogue supplement; New York Times' Play and Time Inc.'s Sports Illustrated Latino.

Some small market magazines got the axe also: Mass Appeal, Luxury Spa Finder, American Jewish Life, Future Snowboard and Atlanta Peach.

The Box Office Before Christmas

Today Jim Carrey's "Yes Man" and Will Smith's "Seven Pounds" open at the box office and give some hope to those of us itching to go to the movies before Christmas. This year the deluge of holiday-fare happens on Christmas Day--five movies open nationwide: Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett star in the much-hyped "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button";  Adam Sandler and Keri Russell star in the kid-friendly fantasy "Bedtime Stories"; Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson in the feel-good comedy "Marley and Me"; Tom Cruise's Nazi thriller "Valkyrie"; and Frank Miller's "The Spirit."

2009 Magazine Industry Predictions

 Folio magazine asked a diverse group of magazine and media industry professionals--publishers, editors, designers and bloggers--for their 2009 projections; some had the courage to be optimistic.