Time and Sports Illustrated took the top honors at the second annual Digital Awards hosted by the Magazine Publishers of America in New York on Wednesday. The awards, handed out during the fourth annual Magazines 24/7 Digital Conference, are intended to highlight magazine initiatives in the digital space, which have proliferated over the last few years.
With Grammar Girl creator and podcaster Mignon Fogarty presenting, Web site of the year (recognizing news, social topics, business and finance) went to Time.com, followed by Businessweek.com and Slate magazine in second and third place. The Web site of the year for fashion and beauty went to Style.com, followed by InStyle.com and ShopVogue.TV in second and third place.
In entertainment, People.com took the top spot, followed by Entertainment Weekly's EW.com, and TVGuide.com. Sports Web site of the year went to Sports Illustrated's SI.com; Runner's World took second and Bicycling.com third. Service and lifestyle top honors went to New York's nymag.com, followed by ConsumerReports.org and dwell.com.
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The magazine blog of the year award was taken by New York's "Daily Intelligencer. " Also recognized were Wired.com's "Danger Room," and Self.com's "Eat Like Me." Best online stand-alone video went to Slate V for "Justice Scalia Joins 24," with National Geographic's "Gorilla Massacre" taking second and Fine Woodworking's "Teaching Stradivarius" getting third. The best online video series went to Newsweek for "Voices of the Fallen." Consumer Reports was recognized for "Crash Tests" and Technology Review for its documentaries.
A full list of awards, including for podcasts, mobile strategy, and online community, is available at the MPA Web site.
Allure Will Lure Readers to Spas
Conde Nast's Allure is set to launch a comprehensive guide to luxury spas, Allure Spa, kicking off with a circulation of 200,000 this September. The first issue will generate buzz and awareness, with free distribution to spas and salons. In addition to listing the top spas in the U.S. and abroad, the Allure guide will include content about popular treatments, diets, and specialty spas offering medical treatment or certain kinds of recreation.
Country Living Revamps
Country Living is getting an editorial makeover that will bring new content areas while generally maintaining the title's traditional feel, according to Hearst, which publishes the magazine. Beginning with the May issue, the magazine will feature more decorating, fashion, and gardening content. Executives hope these new content areas will attract advertisers in related categories, offsetting some recent losses due to the downturn in the housing market.
Hearst and Motown to Host "Ultimate Prom"
Hearst Magazines Digital Media is partnering with Universal Motown Records to put on an uber-glam prom for the senior class of St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, New York on May 30, including appearances by Universal stars who are popular with the teenage set: JoJo, Drake Bell, Lloyd, Suai, Jada and a surprise guest. The prom, and all the various preparations for it, will be featured on a video channel at MyPromStyle.com, the artists' individual sites, and Universal Motown's site. MyPromStyle.com is part of Hearst's Teen Network, linked to Cosmogirl.com, eSpin.com, Seventeen.com, and Teenmag.com. Also included in the coverage will be a sweepstakes to win CDs, autographs, and personal phone calls with the performers.
Licciardi to Publisher at Audubon
Audubon announced two management appointments this week, with Greg P. Licciardi named to the newly created position of publisher, and Edward Whitaker assuming the role of managing director of marketing and publishing. Licciardi joined Audubon in October as managing director of advertising, and has since increased the mag's ad revenue 40% during the first five issues of fiscal 2008.
Time Out Raises Cash
Time Out's founder, Tony Elliott, has hired an investment bank to help raise money for the expansion of the magazine--probably through the sale of part of the company, according to Portfolio.com, which first reported the news. According to the report, Elliott wants to expand Time Out to Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and Miami. These new editions may begin as Web-only publications, with potential print editions to follow.
Time Inc. Makes Promotions
Time Inc.'s Media Group has named Mary Haskin vice president for marketing and sales development in its corporate sales and marketing group. Previously, Haskin worked for Saatchi & Saatchi in a variety of positions, including executive vice president and senior group account director, as well as one of the founders of oneseven, a 17-member team of former Saatchi & Saatchi personnel who created a specialty group at Interpublic.