• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, May 2, 2013

ASME Cover Winners Announced

New York magazine’s dramatic aerial photograph of Manhattan half blacked-out after Hurricane Sandy won the Cover of the Year award from the American Society of Magazine Editors. The cover photo for the Nov. 12 issue, which shows all of Lower Manhattan darkened except for the very tip around Battery City, was even turned into a poster by The Museum of Modern Art.
 
In other categories, Bloomberg Businessweek took the award for best cover in the Business and Technology category, for its mildly risqué February 6-12 issue showing sandwiched airliners in flight with the caption “Let’s Get It On,” referring to the merger between United and Continental. 

In the News and Politics category, the award again went to New York’s post-Sandy Manhattan cover. In the Entertainment and Celebrity category, the award went to The New York Times Magazine’s Dec. 23 issue, showing a bemused Jerry Seinfeld.
 
In the Service category, the award went to Rotarian for its March 2012 cover on “The Future of Water.” In Fashion and Beauty, the award went to Harper’s Bazaar for its March 2012 issue, “Gwyneth Revealed,” depicting the actress in an ultra-high-slit dress. In Sports and Adventure, the award went to The New York Times Magazine for its August 26, 2012 cover “Deuce,” showing Venus and Serena Williams.
 
The Lifestyle category award went to New York magazine, for its cover story on “Sex,” showing a couple about to lock lips. In the Brainiest category, the award went to Bloomberg Businessweek for its May 28-June 3 issue on the Euro crisis, with a large black circle on the cover with the words “Bang Head Here.” In the Most Delicious category, the award went to Garden & Gun’s October/November issue on Southern food, depicting a stack of delectable biscuit sandwiches. And in the Best Obama category, the award went to Bloomberg Businessweek for its November 12-18 issue, showing an aged Obama with the caption “The Next Four Years.”
 
SI.com, TheWeek.com Score Record Traffic
 
Magazines are racking up record volumes of Web traffic with high-profile stories. Monday, April 29, 2013 was the biggest day ever for Sports Illustrated’s Web site and mobile presence, thanks to the first-person essay in which NBA center Jason Collins announced that he was gay, making him the first professional basketball player to come out while still playing. SI.com tallied over 3.7 million unique visitors; the Collins story even surpassed the previous online debuts of its popular swimsuit issue. It also benefited SI.com’s mobile platform, which counted 740,000 unique visitors over the course of the day and 1.5 million page views.

TheWeek.com also broke traffic records in April, with total unique visitors just shy of 5.8 million over the course of the month, including 588,000 visitors on April 19, making that the publication’s biggest day ever online. The monthly stats represent an increase of 3.2 million unique visitors over October, when Ben Frumin was pointed editor in chief of the Web site.
 
Forbes Offers WiFi via Print -- No, Really
 
Forbes is taking print digital, quite literally, with a limited number of special issues that contain a small WiFi router, courtesy of Microsoft. The Microsoft ad, promoting Office 365, includes a T-Mobile Wireless router and a battery with enough juice for three hours; the free WiFi access is good for up to 15 days.

AIM Acquires Mountain Group From Bonnier

Bonnier Corp. has sold its Mountain Group, which includes Ski, Skiing, Warren Miller Entertainment and NASTAR, to Active Interest Media. AIM’s management team -- including CEO Efrem (Skip) Zimbalist, President and COO Andy Clurman, and CFO Brian Sellstrom -- were previously in charge of the Mountain Group titles from 1996-2003, when the division was called Mountain Sports Media.

The Advocate Bows LGBT Content Discovery App

The Advocate is unveiling a new free-advertising supported iPad application, Advocate Discovery, which makes it easier for users to discover LGBT-related content from all over the world, including a selection of the most recent articles, features, blogs, and videos on the topics. The app, developed in partnership with Trapit, is curated by The Advocate’s editorial team and can be tailored to the user’s interests. Advocate Discovery also allows users to share content through social networking platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or schedule headlines and features to share using Buffer.

ABM Members Approve SIIA Merger

The membership of American Business Media has voted to approve the proposed merger with the Software & Information Industry Association, which is intended to create a comprehensive, global business information and media industry association. SIIA President Ken Wasch stated: “This is an important part of our effort to bring together the entire B2B media and information industry. For the first time, B2B media, paid content and technology companies in the advertising personalization, and subscription management segments will all be participants in our larger, more robust organization.” ABM will continue to offer its member services, including ABM events, awards programs and Committees & Councils, while joining forces with SIIA on government affairs, including lobbying efforts.

Kaylin, Way To Top Spots at O, The Oprah Magazine

Hearst Magazines has named Lucy Kaylin editor in chief of O, The Oprah Magazine, filling the spot left by Susan Casey, who is leaving the company to work on a new book. The appointment is effective May 6. Kaylin previously served as deputy editor of the magazine, a role she held since 2009. Before that she was executive editor of Marie Claire from 2006-2009. Kaylin’s old post as deputy editor will be filled by Deborah Way, who joined the magazine in 2005 and served as executive editor since 2008. Before joining O, Way was editor in chief of Indianapolis Monthly.

Tan To VP, Marketing, Real Simple

Kim Tan has been named vice president for marketing at Real Simple, with responsibility for developing and implementing a strategic plan to provide comprehensive marketing programs and sales development tools for the Real Simple brand, starting with print and digital assets. Tan previously served as executive director of creative services at GQ, overseeing the brand’s integrated marketing and creative services departments.