News from the Magosphere February 3rd ’09

Esquire UK features plasticine clothes
Very lucky with the timing, as Morph’s creator died recently and reruns have been everywhere. Lovely idea gets its rewards

Fanzines refuse to die
“What’s going on here is what academics describe as ‘slippage of the auratic’”- in other words, people like things

Gallery launches magazine for “the creative and curious”
Looks interesting/fun

Another iPhone magazine launches
Still looks crap

Music magazine goes online, then online spins off into print
Next up: TV series creates radio spin-off, radio retreats into Morse Code

British firm tried to buy Google’s Print Ad service
Good publicity either way

Inside a small independent Japanese magazine company
Their name means “two beers”, which is enough for me

Harper’s Bazaar gets bigger
Getting ready for Love

Intern drunk-dials editor, gets arrested mid rant
Editor gets even

Crisis watch

Arthur refolds, puts last issue online
Two writers refuse to release the digital rights of their work, demand cash for copies of their unedited text. “Remember: these yokels are self-proclaimed potheads, so buyer beware, etc”
UPDATE: Ralph points out: “Arthur isn’t officially folded, they just don’t have enough money to print the current issue… also, they never pay writers – the reviewers just don’t want their writing used unless printed first.”

Magazine goes up for sale on eBay
Stunt finds private buyer, magazine survives

Vanity Fair runs same cover image twice
Sorry Annie, you’ve been replaced by your own back catalogue