• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, July 7, 2008

The relaunch gives the site a crisper, cleaner look, less cluttered and easier to navigate. Discover, like other magazines, seems to have discovered that less is more on the Web. The profusion of content categories and features has been replaced by a simpler layout, highlighting a smaller number of high-interest items, with links to related content for the curious.

The new blogs, include "Reality Based," a blog written by Melissa Lasky, formerly of Opinionista.com, the Huffington Post and Freakonomics.com, covers the frequent intersections of politics and science. The site is also launching "Science Not Fiction," a blog delving into the overlap (and discrepancies) between science and science fiction, written by senior editor Stephen Cass.

Aside from the new blogs, Discover has also become the official host of "Bad Astronomy," an offbeat blog by Philip Plait. But Plait isn't the only established blogger migrating to the Discover Web site: Carl Zimmer is bringing his Scienceblogs.com blog, "The Loom," on board, too.

Conde Nast to Buy Us Weekly... Maybe

A rumor first broached on Charlie Rose's talk show is gaining steam: Wenner Media may sell Us Weekly to another major publisher -- possibly Conde Nast -- for as much as $750 million. Folio caught the first clue when Rose appeared to gently ambush Jann Wenner about the possible sale of Rolling Stone. Subsequently the New York Post's Keith Kelly reported that Rose was on the right track, but got the title wrong: Wenner is trying to sell Us Weekly, according to Kelly, who cited an anonymous source. A Wenner spokesperson denied the rumor -- but was as good as contradicted by a spokeswoman for Conde Nast, who added: "It is a company policy to never comment on potential acquisitions." In the first seven months of 2008, Us Weekly's ad pages are down 9.8% compared to the same period last year. Wenner's flagship Rolling Stone is suffering more, with a 24.7% decline. The sale of Us could give Wenner the funds to turn around the iconic music magazine he founded in 1967.

From Elle to Barack: Fennell Leaves Fashion Mag

Samantha Fennell is resigning as associate publisher of Elle to join Barack Obama's presidential campaign as a fund raiser, Hachette Filipacchi. Some of Fennell's responsibilities will pass to Daniel Ragone, vice president and publisher of Elle Décor, who has been named vice president and managing director of Elle. Barbara Friedmann, currently vice president and group marketing director for Elle and Elle Decor, will assume the role of vice president and acting publisher of Elle Décor.

Meredith Puts Stanich In Charge of More and Readymade

Meredith Corpo. said Lauren Stanich would head up the More and ReadyMade brands, as senior vice president, beginning July 21. She'll have responsibility for business, marketing and editorial operations at both brands. Previously, Stanich was president of publishing for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, which recently saw the departure of CEO Susan Lyne.