50 Favorite Magazines

Beyond blemishes, glossies have retouched the truth out entirely

(NEWSER) - Tired of seeing the truth airbrushed and Photoshopped entirely out of Vogue and its glossy rack-mates, Mark Morford, in the San Francisco Chronicle, ruminates on his ideal reality-based publication. His mag—Truth Hurts or My Eyes, My Eyes!—will feature "wrinkles and scars and flab and sag, stretch marks and cigarette burns and age spots and syringe holes and … asymmetry galore." More»

Spears cover story raises eyebrows among loyal readers

(NEWSER) - Loyal Atlantic subscribers are in for a shock: Britney Spears graces the April cover. Though the magazine has showcased Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart, the prime real estate granted to the pop-tart has some questioning the effect dropping advertising and newsstand sales are having on the venerable journal's direction—and how such changes affect other magazines on the remake. More»

Sorry, Transformers fans

(NEWSER) - The summer blockbuster: proof that, when it comes to movies, budget is often inversely proportional to quality. In Time , Everett Rosenfeld and Gilbert Cruz reflect on the worst of the worst:

1. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Director Michael Bay’s only priority: explosions.
2. Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace: “This is the story of a man with too much power and the terrible things he did”—that is, George Lucas.
3. Sex and the City 2: Our heroes go to the Middle East and “proceed to act closed-minded and condescending.”

Sidney Harman assumes magazine's growing losses

(NEWSER) - Sidney Harman has agreed to buy Newsweek, Advertising Age reports . The 91-year-old stereo-equipment magnate, who is married to Democratic Rep.Jane Harman, will essentially pay nothing for the magazine—the real cost comes in assuming Newsweek's liabilities, which could top $70 million this year. The Washington Post Co. has been looking for a buyer for Newsweek since May, when it announced the magazine would lose money again this year. More»

Washington Post Co. cites mounting losses

(NEWSER) - The Washington Post Company is looking for someone to take Newsweek off its hands, the company announced in a press release today (to the apparent surprise of Newsweek's Tumblr ). “The losses at Newsweek in 2007-2009 are a matter of record,” said Donald Graham, chairman of the Post Company. “We expect it to still lose money in 2010. .. Newsweek is a lively, important magazine and website, and in the current climate, it might be a better fit elsewhere.” With a sales pitch that upbeat, it'll sell in no time. More»