Blog Magazine

April Issue Last Print Edition for Blender Magazine

Alpha Media Group, publisher of Maxim, Blender and formerly Stuff magazine, announced last week Blender magazine's April issue would be its last print edition. After the April issue the lad-mag/music/entertainment magazine will be online only.

Blender's tagline was "the ultimate guide to music and more," the more usually being provocative photos of female entertainers. Blender made headlines a few years ago when it teamed with VH1 for "50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs," in which Starship's "We Built This City" was named number one worst song ever.

Once upon a time Blender was a leader in digital advertising, publishing digital CD-Rom magazines in 1994 with high-profile advertisers such as Calvin Klein, Apple, Toyota and Nike. With the folding of Blender, 30 people will lose their jobs.

Economist, Elle Top 2009 Magazine Hot List

Finally some positive magazine industry news--AdweekMedia Magazine released its annual Hot List of the Top 10 Magazines for 2009, which recognizes consumer magazines with outstanding ad revenue and page performance. This year's list: The Economist, Elle, People, Women's Health, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Real Simple, Men's Health, Family Circle, Vogue and New York magazine.

First Lady Makes Vogue Magazine Cover History

First Lady Michelle Obama became only the second first lady (Hillary Rodham Clinton was the first) to grace the cover of Vogue magazine's March issue. As the Washington Post noted last month, Mrs. Obama's appearance on the fashion industry bible communicates a modern event--the intersection of power and beauty.

Vanity Fair, Demi Moore and Magazine Cover Controversy

This 1991 Vanity Fair cover shot by Annie Leibovitz stirred up a lot of controversy and remains one of the most-talked about magazine covers in recent history.Critics balked at the "unnecessary exposure" and some retailers responded by selling the magazine in brown paper bags. Advocates argued the cover captured the beauty of pregnancy. At the time Moore told V magazine, "It did seem to give a little bit more permission to feel sexy, attractive when you're pregnant,but I really didn't expect for the response to be what it was. I was pretty shocked."

People Magazine: A Beautiful Tribute

In 1997 Princess Diana's death shook the world and in response People magazine produced this startlingly beautiful black and white cover of the beloved "People's Princess" for the magazine's tribute issue devoted entirely to Diana's extraordinary life.

1968 Ground-Breaking Glamour Magazine Cover

This August 1968 Glamour magazine issue was  the first time an African-American woman was on the cover of a national women's monthly magazine, according to the American Society of Magazine Editors. Cover model Katiti Kirondi II was featured as part of fashion special "10 Best-Dressed College Girls and 100 Great Fall Looks," which included mini-skirts and psychedelic colors.

Best Magazine Covers Featuring Women

In honor of Women's History Month--celebrated each March--we're kicking off a week's worth of great magazine covers throughout history featuring incredible women who've shaped sports, business, entertainment and more. Today's pick comes from our favorite online archive: Sports Illustrated. We found the inspiring collection "Women's Covers: The 1980s," which features 18 women athletes in all their powerful glory.

Pregnant Athlete Appears on ESPN The Magazine Cover

This week's issue of ESPN The Magazine features a first on its cover--a pregnant athlete. That athlete is 22-year-old record-setting and MVP of the WNBA Candace Parker for the "Women in Sports" issue, which also features women in sports stats, trends and team-profiles.

National Magazine Awards Finalists Announced

The New Yorker magazine is the most-honored magazine in the history of the magazine industry's most prestigious awards, the National Magazine Awards, which announced its 2009 nominations yesterday. Not surprisingly The New Yorker magazine leads this year's total nominations (10.) Among other top finalists, all receiving multiple nominations are New York magazine, Gourmet, Time, Backpacker, Mother Jones, Field & Stream and more.
The American Society of Magazine Editors--ASME--hands out the National Magazine Awards each year, honoring the best in editorial content, editorial techniques and imaginative design.

Details Magazine Features Peculiar A-Rod Photo Spread

Troubled Yankee's third baseman Alex Rodriguez is stirring up controversy again with a provocative photo spread in the current issue of Details magazine. The image getting the most flack from sports writers is a photo of the athlete kissing himself in a mirror.