News: May 2011 Archives

Fast News for May 24, 2011

SPD MEDIA MIX is our regular list of publication design, digital, and media news and updates. Please send your links and news items to SPD at mail@spd.org and we'll add them to the Mix.

>> Top Ad Gainers: Competitor - a magazine for elite athletes - is leading all monthlies for first-half ad page gains, with an almost 50 percent increase in ad pages from January through June 2011, compared to 2010. Competitor is also the biggest gainer over last June's numbers, up 76% over June 2010. Number 2? Trailer Life at 64%. What does this mean?

>> Mr. Magazine Now a Magazine: Go-to quote guy for the magazine industry Samir Husni, has launched The Samir Husni Daily Magazine, using the paper.li platform. Updated twice daily, TSHDM will give you "an insider's tour of [Mr. Magazine's] daily reading habits."

>> Face-ing the 80s: If you find yourself needing an acute 80s fix, the blog Test Pressing has an inspiring collection of the Neville Brody-designed The Face, the standard-bearer of 80s cool.

>> Caffeinating Print: In an attempt to bring the success of the energy drink to their media branch, Red Bull is taking branded content to another level. The Red Bulletin, a monthly periodical of original content based on the "Red Bull lifestyle", includes features on Red Bull-sponsored athletes, as well as other extreme sport and musical coverage.

Fast News for May 12, 2011

SPD MEDIA MIX is our regular list of publication design, digital, and media news and updates. Please send your links and news items to SPD at mail@spd.org and we'll add them to the Mix.

>> Has the "Jesus Tablet" Risen? Despite recently making iPad app deals with Apple, Condé Nast and Hearst executives "aren't exactly doing backflips" about their iPad business. After months of heated negotiations, the publishers finally threw in the towel and will see if they could make a go of it the Steve Jobs way. In other words, it's not exactly the deal publishers were hoping for. Meanwhile, Time Inc. continues to sit it out and observe.

>> Adweak? After being welcomed with glowing reviews, the newly reimagined Adweek has begun to fade on the advertising front.

>> How Now: Megan Lane Patrick, has been named content director and editor at How magazine. She replaces long-time editor Bryn Mooth, who has decided to follow her passion.

>> Golden Gatefolds: Another sign of the slow, steady advertising recovery is the incredible jump in advertisers buying gatefold ads in magazines. Gatefold ads jumped 50 percent in the first quarter of 2011.

Fast News for May 10, 2011

SPD MEDIA MIX is our regular list of publication design, digital, and media news and updates. Please send your links and news items to SPD at mail@spd.org and we'll add them to the Mix.


NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS SPECIAL
>> The winners of the 2011 National Magazine Awards were announced last night at the annual awards presentation at the spectacular 583 Park Avenue ballroom in New York City. Hostess Katie Couric, along with celebrity presenters Jillian Michaels, David Copperfield, Rocco DiSpirito, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, doled out awards in 18 categories. … MORE

Fast News for May 5, 2011

SPD MEDIA MIX is our regular list of publication design, digital, and media news and updates. Please send your links and news items to SPD at mail@spd.org and we'll add them to the Mix.

>> Hearst Bites the Apple: Hearst has struck a deal with Apple that will make it the first big publisher to sell subscriptions for its digital editions on the iPad. The company will sell iPad subs for Esquire, Popular Mechanics and O, The Oprah Magazine through the iTunes store starting next month. The subscriptions will cost $19.99 a year, or $1.99 a month. Is Conde Nast hot on their heels?

>> Key to the Cities: AD Steven Banks and his magazine, Los Angeles, were the big winners at the National City & Regional Magazine 2011 Awards, held this week in Chicago. Banks was named "Designer of the Year" while Los Angeles won the award for "Excellence in Design." Runners-up included 5280 Magazine, Cincinnati Magazine (also "Best Cover" winner), Seattle Met, and Texas Monthly, which also won for its website.

>> The Font Oscars: Are you working with winning fonts? Check out the Type Directors Club's TDC2 2011 winners here.

Fast News for May 3, 2011

SPD MEDIA MIX is our regular list of publication design, digital, and media news and updates. Please send your links and news items to SPD at mail@spd.org and we'll add them to the Mix.

>> Launches Gone Wild: New magazine launches doubled in Q1 of 2011 compared to last year's numbers, according to MediaFinder.com. Of the 54 launches, the majority were focused on regional interests, food, and women's issues.

>> Get Your Free Magazines!: Time Inc. and Apple have reached a distribution deal for all of the publisher's magazine apps. Sports Illustrated, Fortune, People, and Time will all be available as free downloads for subscribers to their print editions.

TIME: The X Factor

Aurthur Hochstein spoke of TIME's iconic "X" covers and continuing the tradition with covers marking the demise of Saddam Hussein and Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi back in October at SPD's 1,000 Covers evening. With the breaking news that Osama Bin Laden has been killed (on the day of the 8th Anniversary of "Mission Accomplished" no less) will the magazine will run another edition? … MORE