• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, February 22, 2008

The Magazine Publishers of America has named the finalists in its Digital Awards, now in their second year. The awards--complete with gala dinner and speeches--serve to highlight the online strategies pursued by America's consumer magazines, large and small. Finalists for some of the top-line categories are listed below; the full list, including nominees for best online video, podcasts, online community and mobile strategy, is available on the MPA Web site. The winners will be revealed at the Magazines 24/7 Digital Conference on Feb. 27 in New York.

"Web site of the Year" is an award for sites focusing on general news, business, or social topics: BusinessWeek.com, Slate Magazine, and Time.com.

"Fashion and Beauty": InStyle.com, ShopVogue.TV, and Style.com.

"Entertainment," including coverage of films, TV, music, and celebrities: EW.com, People.com, and TVGuide.com.

"Sports," including coverage of professional and recreational sports: Bicycling.com, Runner's World, and SI.com.

"Service and Lifestyle," including regional living, food, home entertaining, family, health, or hobbies: ConsumerReports.org, dweel.com, nymag.com.

"Magazine Blog of the Year": nymag.com's "Daily Intelligencer," Self.com's "Eat Like Me," and Wired.com's "Danger Room."

Variety and Jobster Launch "the Biz"

Variety is launching an online social network for professionals in the entertainment business, the magazine's Web site announced this week. The network is intended to allow media types to search for jobs, pitch projects, exchange ideas and meet new people. According to Variety, recruiters can find job candidates on the site by searching interests, skills and experience; users can also post portfolios of work, including video.

The Variety network comes close on the heels of two new networks from Fast Company and Inc., both owned by Mansueto Ventures. The "Company of Friends" network hosted on the Fast Company site includes 95,000 business professionals who contribute content and discuss topics in public forums.

Sister publication Inc. is launching IncBizNet.com, a sort of social network and user-generated company database for privately held companies. IncBizNet.com will function as a directory with data updated by the companies themselves, with a press release newswire, blogging functions, local community groups and a marketplace for products and services.

Travel + Leisure to Create Two Books

Travel+Leisure magazine is partnering with DK Eyewitness Travel to produce two hardcover travel books: "Unexpected Italy" and "Unexpected France." The books, which will retail for $25, will be filled with illustrations, insider accounts and editors' recommendations, as well as practical content including maps and listings for hotels, restaurants, and recreation.

Granath Named Associate Publisher of The Week

Peter Granath has been named associate publisher of The Week magazine, owner Dennis Publishing announced this week. Granath comes to The Week from Time Inc., where he served as New England advertising manager for that company's thriving CNNMoney.com online business. Before that, he led national sales development for the Fortune/Money Group.