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Portfolio Misses Another Historic Cover

Magazine editor becoming known for bad decisions

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 18, 2009 8:20 AM CDT

(Newser) – The bad cover decisions at Portfolio just keep on coming, writes Ryan Tate in his continuing persecution of the mag on Gawker. Sure, “diva editor” Joanne Lipman has made some poor choices of what to feature instead of the current economic crisis—a clothier, Sarah Palin. But her worst decision yet? Not featuring an inaugural Barack Obama cover shot by the legendary Annie Leibovitz. Lipman ditched the portrait, fearing every magazine would have an Obama cover.

What did Portfolio put on the December/January cover, instead of the “exclusive work from a star photographer … timed exquisitely to front-run the inaugural buzz”? A dead bull on Wall Street: “clever, but severely tardy”—a phrase that could also be used to describe the state of the business magazine run by an editor who “finds business journalism uninteresting”—and who “is becoming known for her disastrous cover decisions.”

Then-presidential hopeful Barack Obama talks with photographer Annie Leibovitz at the airport in Charleston, W.Va., Thursday, March 20, 2008.
Then-presidential hopeful Barack Obama talks with photographer Annie Leibovitz at the airport in Charleston, W.Va., Thursday, March 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
National Magazine Award winners Chris Anderson, Joanne Lipman, Jim Nelson, and David Remnick following the ceremony at the 2008 National Magazine Awards.
National Magazine Award winners Chris Anderson, Joanne Lipman, Jim Nelson, and David Remnick following the ceremony at the 2008 National Magazine Awards.   (706)
Cover of the premier issue of Conde Nast Portfolio. Photo by Scott Peterman.
Cover of the premier issue of Conde Nast Portfolio. Photo by Scott Peterman.
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
polstroad
Mar 18, 2009 1:52 AM CDT
what is worse that a place badmouthing another place for what is viewed as no good merchandising? Do your own thing well and forget the others.
DeniseVB
Mar 18, 2009 1:47 AM CDT
So? Business magazines usually lean conservative? Gawker needs to get a grip, not every magazine slobbers over Obama. Thank goodness, I'd have nothing to read :)

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