Mr. Magazine

Once a week, I highlight three new magazines on my web site Mr.Magazine™. This week the three new magazines are ATV Illustrated Trail and Travel Guide, Avenue Report and Duece Builder. Read here about these new launches. To be considered for review on my web site, please send a copy of your first issue to Samir “Mr. Magazine™” Husni, Department of Journalism, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677.

Yes, I said any city. This week we feature three new regional magazines in our What’s Hot What’s New section on Mr. Magazine. It never stops to amaze me the amount of new titles arriving on the city, state and regional magazine scene. You name the niche, and you will find at least one magazine aimed that city specific niche. Try Brides, Homes, Dogs, Business, you name the category and there is at least one magazine devoted to that subject matter in your own neighborhood. Take a look at Kentucky Bridal, Lake Erie Living and South Carolina Alive here. They are only but a sample from many.

My early numbers for May show a total of 81 new magazines launched during last month. That brings the total number of launches this year to 283 so far which is still short 84 titles from the 367 total of the same period last year. Although it is too soon to say that this may be the beginning of the reverse of the decline in number of launches, it is however the highest number of launches this year (20 more than the previous high of 61 in January). Keep in mind that all the numbers used in Samir Husni’s Guide to New Magazines (Volume 22 out now, you can order here) and Mr. Magazine website are numbers based on real physical possession of the magazines and not launch announcements or preview issues. To ensure your new magazine is included in the Guide or considered for review on our website, please send a copy of your first issue to: Samir Husni, Department of Journalism, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677.

It is amazing how a little common sense can take you a long way. The folks at Automotive Traveler an online-only publication that brings “travel back to the real world,” and where the editors like to say “every drive is an adventure,” did just that. Richard Truesdell, editorial director of the new magazines tells me in an e-mail that Automotive Traveler is “a hybrid, a combination of what I like to think is 75% Condé Nast Traveler with 25% Motor Trend.” He goes on to say, “We are totally interactive, using Olive Software’s innovative Active Magazine platform, combined with a few tricks of our own. You’ll notice we’ve designed and built Automotive Traveler horizontally, taking advantage of almost all of the available screen real estate (The Automotive Traveler viewer interface automatically scales to optimize the viewing experience from everything from a 9-inch laptop to a 42-inch flat panel home theater monitor). This minimizes the need to scroll and zoom; like a traditional magazine, you just flip the page by clicking on the upper right-hand corner of the image when you want to move on.” That horizontal platform is what caught my attention (it is in direct proportion to the magazine spread). I never understood why magazine publishers continue to try to fit a horizontal space on a vertical medium. It is just not easy on the eyes. I have said it before and I will continue to say it, we do not have a problem with any of our platforms…we have a problem with what we are trying to put in and on them… Using the right dimensions, the right typography and the right movement makes Automotive Traveler a welcomed addition to the world of on-line media. They do not need to call themselves a magazine and they do not need to be ink on paper. They are just another medium providing a relevant message through what they consider the best relevant vehicle. Interested in going for a ride, click here.

Once a week, I highlight three new magazines on my web site Mr.Magazine™. This week the three new magazines are American Driver, Single Mother and Ty Pennington At Home. Read here about these new launches. To be considered for review on my web site, please send a copy of your first issue to Samir “Mr. Magazine™” Husni, Department of Journalism, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677.

A welcomed surprise arrived in my mailbox today. The first international issue of Nico magazine published by my friend Mike Koedinger of Colophon 2007 and the We Love Magazines conference in Luxembourg. Mike and his Fashion Editor Angelina A. Rafii wrote the intro to the first issue. In it they wrote, “Some say that the best thing about magazines is creating them…The result is a 252-page magazine that will be distributed all over Europe and exported to Australia, South Africa, USA, Tokyo and Hong Kong… The reason why we’ve created this bi-annual is simple: we deeply love magazines. We still get excited discovering new titles, flipping through their endless pages and reading the features. This is our contribution to your excitement. Enjoy!” Well my friend, the excitement spills all over the pages and the love is evident in every page. Mike, I know you love magazines and so does Andrew Losowsky; Angelo Cirimele; Samir Husni (that’s me); Jeremy Leslie; Horst Moser; and David Renard. Thanks for giving us space in your first issue of Nico to share the love. To get your copy of the first issue click here.

Once a week, I highlight three new magazines on my web site Mr.Magazine™. This week the three new magazines are Fashion LA, Hot Wheels and The Sopranos. Read here about these new launches. To be considered for review on my web site, please send a copy of your first issue to Samir “Mr. Magazine™” Husni, Department of Journalism, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677.

Once a week, I highlight three new magazines on my web site Mr.Magazine™. This week the three new magazines are Ambassador, Gladiator and Kitu Kizuri. Read here about these new launches. To be considered for review on my web site, please send a copy of your first issue to Samir “Mr. Magazine™” Husni, Department of Journalism, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677.