• NBC New York.com, Tuesday, November 8, 2011 4 PM

Two items about two completely different publications here, one a sort-of-traditional print pub that is distinguished by its physical size. Yes, the “Larger than Life” issue of multi-format art magazine Visionaire measures five by seven feet, has broken a Guinness World Record and features Lady Gaga as cover model.

In a Q&A with the co-founder of the 20-year-old pub, Cecelia Dean,  she explains the production challenges -- as well as the symbolism -- of printing a giant publication.

We were also intrigued by this discussion of a new online travel publication, Vela, featuring women’s writers only. Providing "A Warm Welcome to Vela Magazine," writer Allison Stein Wellner has some provocative things to say about the current state of women’s magazines.

She notes: "Vela is written by women, but is obviously not a 'women’s magazine' in the shuddering nausea sense, and decidedly not the territory of  'the gang tattoo of a Ya-Ya Sisterhood more interested in swapping stories about rough breakups and first periods and facial scrubs than in serious (male) literary writing,' as founder Sarah Menkedick writes in the site’s manifesto."

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