• by Michael Shields , January 3, 2005

While 2004 ended on an up note, with ad pages rising for the last seven months of the year, magazine industry followers contacted by MediaDailyNews said they remained guarded on the publishing industry's prospects for 2005. Nonetheless, there has been a lot of excitement in print this past year, and 2005 promises to continue to be intriguing. Here are a few to keep an eye on in the New Year.

Magazines we are looking forward to:

Racing Fan -- There has to be a place for a mass market title covering the world of NASCAR and the like, given the sport's popularity and the lack of coverage in titles like Sports Illustrated.

The New Frontier-- Helen O'Donnell tries to channel the spirit of JFK Jr.'s defunct George following a year when politics were more top of mind than in decades.

Tango -- A magazine promising to take a serious look at relationships and dating in the age of match.com.

Sly -- Don't laugh at the Rambo image in your head--there is plenty of room in the men's category for guys of a certain age who want to stay fit.

Domino -- CondeNast attempts to extend the shopping magazine craze into the crowded shelter category.

Magazines that need a good year after double-digit declines in ad pages:

* Redbook
* Seventeen
* Star

Magazines we think might have a better year than expected:

The remaining sisters, like Good Housekeeping, Ladies' Home Journal, and Better Homes and Gardens.

Magazine category in trouble:

Anything with "Low Carb" in the title .

Magazines we'd like to see in 2005:

EXPN -- Why doesn't ESPN, which has branded itself as being the central place for action sports like skateboarding and snowboarding, leverage its expertise and publishing prowess to launch a magazine in this realm? Given the fact that EXPN already exists as an undernourished Web site, why cede this category to smaller titles like TransWorld Skateboarding?

Faith and Values-- Shouldn't a major publisher step up and attempt a mass circulation book that speaks to Christian Conservatives in this country?