The Magraker: Judging a Book by its Cover

As much as I claim to like the content of magazines, it's really all about the cover--that initial reaction you have to a beautiful or shocking or thought-provoking image that (supposedly) sums up the issue. That's why it's always interesting to see who the MPA, the Magazine Publishers of America, announce as their finalist for the Cover of the Year. Below is the Cover of the Year finalists for 2008, with the winners to be presented at the AMC on October 6. View all the finalists here.

Cover of the Year

Interview
June/July 2008

“Andy is 80!”

New York
March 24, 2008

Eliot Spitzer’s Brain

The New Yorker
October 8, 2007

“Short Stance”

It's pretty special that Interview's "Andy is 80!" summer issue is one of the top 3 finalists, acting as recognition for the revamped magazine. I worked at Interview during that issue, and it was a real turning point for the magazine. Editor Ingrid Sischy had stepped down after 20 years and a whole new crew from the top echelons of the industry were brought in. The magazine could have gone a number of different directions, but for that issue, they decided to honor the man himself, Andy Warhol, who created the magazine nearly 40 years before by having Marc Jacobs play him on the cover. MJ was the perfect choice because it not only marked Interview's renewed footing in the fashion world, but Marc's whole career and life is based on Andy-isms.

The New Yorker and New York Magazine raked up the most nominations. The MPA didn't recognize many fashion magazines even though those covers are usually the most striking (perhaps because my favorites covers were from international mags). Notably, the controversial New Yorker cover depicting cartoon Barack and Michelle Obama acting out America's fears wasn't mentioned. Other deserving finalists:

Best Concept Cover

TIME
April 28, 2008