The magazine is providing some of the best New Orleans coverage I've seen so far, especially from the hardworking, empathetic Dan Baum in Talk. All his pieces so far are riveting contributions that are a serious pleasure to read as well, and I hope he's working on a feature-length story. This is sound, un-self-aggrandizing, and entertaining journalism—hell, writing—and I admire it.

Meanwhile, the Target-sponsored issue turns out not to be such a big deal, at least according to the American Society of Magazine Editors, which elected to give The New Yorker a little dressing-down (as it were) but nothing more serious. From AdAge:

After a regularly scheduled board meeting this afternoon, the society issued a statement that said, “Our guidelines do call for a publisher’s note to readers in single-advertiser issues, and The New Yorker has agreed to include such a note when and if they do this again.”

Predictably, and as you know I do like a little predictability, Lewis Lazare is very maaaaaad about that. I've come to think of him as a friend, really. It's good to see people caring so much about the magazine that they raise their blood pressure to a Targety red on its behalf. AdAge ads:

In a column last week, Mr. Lazare called today’s ASME meeting and its action or inaction regarding the issue a potentially “defining moment” in its history.

Many editors and advertisers have disagreed, calling the issue as a masterstroke of magazine advertising that did not breach the boundary between ads and editorial.

Others have more or less shrugged, suggesting that the publishing industry faces bigger issues, like rising advertiser demands for a print version of product placement. ASME is still in the process of revising its guidelines to address such activities; its new guidelines are expected to be released at the American Magazine Conference next month.

Porch Duty [Dan Baum, New Yorker]
On the Roof [Baum, New Yorker]
Kajun's [Baum, New Yorker]
Interview with Baum [for Smoke and Mirrors; levity.com]