Emily Gordon writes:

Quoting from the American Society of Magazine Editors website, the most relevant and, for Emdashes writers and readers, exciting bits (OK, I'm also very happy for my own magazine, Print):

• The New Yorker leads the list of finalists with a total of 10 nominations, including General Excellence, Reporting and Feature Writing. The New Yorker is the most honored magazine in the history of the awards, having received 187 nominations and 47 Ellies.

GENERAL EXCELLENCE: Recognizes overall excellence in magazines in six circulation categories. The award honors the effectiveness with which writing, reporting, editing and design work together to command readers attention and fulfill the magazine's unique editorial mission.
Circulation 1,000,000 - 2,000,000
Bon Appétit; Field & Stream; The New Yorker; Popular Science; Vogue

[The New Yorker was nominated for the issues of February 11 & 18, 2008; May 26, 2008; and November 17, 2008.]

REPORTING: This category recognizes excellence in reporting. It honors the enterprise, exclusive reporting and intelligent analysis that a magazine exhibits in covering an event, a situation or a problem of contemporary interest and significance.
Fast Company; GQ (2 nominations); The New York Times Magazine; The New Yorker
[Ryan Lizza on how Chicago shaped Barack Obama: "Making It," July 21, 2008]

FEATURE WRITING: This category recognizes excellence in feature writing. The award honors the stylishness, flair and originality with which the author treats his or her subject.
The Atlantic; Esquire; GQ; Harper's Magazine; The New Yorker
[Nick Paumgarten on the lives of elevators: "Up and Then Down," April 21, 2008]

ESSAYS: This category recognizes excellence in essay writing on topics ranging from the personal to the political. Whatever the subject, the award honors the author's eloquence, perspective, fresh thinking and unique voice.
The Antioch Review; Backpacker; Glamour; Harper's Magazine; The New Yorker

[Roger Rosenblatt on death and family: "Making Toast," December 15, 2008]

COLUMNS and COMMENTARY: This category recognizes excellence in short-form political, social, economic or humorous commentary. The award honors the eloquence, force of argument and succinctness with which the writer presents his or her views.
Automobile; The Nation; The New Republic; The New Yorker; Sports Illustrated
[Hendrik Hertzberg, Comments on Barack Obama's visit abroad ("Foreigners," August 4, 2008), on McCain supporters calling Obama a socialist ("Like, Socialism," November 3, 2008), and on the passing of Proposition 8 in California ("Eight is Enough," December 1, 2008)]

REVIEWS and CRITICISM: This category recognizes excellence in criticism of art, books, movies, television, theater, music, dance, food, dining, fashion, products and the like. The award honors the knowledge, persuasiveness and original voice that the critic brings to his or her reviews.
The Atlantic; The Nation; New York (2 nominations); The New Yorker
[James Wood, Books, on Richard Price and the art of dialogue ("Say What?," April 7, 2008), on Marilynne Robinson and religion ("The Homecoming," September 8, 2008), and on the life of V.S. Naipaul ("Wounder and Wounded," December 1, 2008)]

FICTION: This category recognizes excellence in magazine fiction writing. The award honors the quality of a publication's literary selections.
The American Scholar; The New Yorker (2 nominations); The Paris Review; The Virginia Quarterly Review
[Annie Proulx, "Them Old Cowboy Songs," May 5, 2008; Aleksandar Hemon, "The Noble Truths of Suffering," September 22, 2008; Roberto Bolaño, "Clara," August 4, 2008; Joshua Ferris, "The Dinner Party," August 11, 2008]

LEISURE INTERESTS: This category recognizes excellent service journalism about leisure-time pursuits. The practical advice or instruction presented should help readers enjoy hobbies or other recreational interests.
Esquire (2 nominations); Field & Stream; The New Yorker; Texas Monthly
[Patricia Marx, On and Off the Avenue, on shopping in China ("Buy Shanghai!" July 21, 2008), on buying shoes in New York ("Sole Sisters," September 1, 2008), and on going discount ("The Price is Right," December 8, 2008)]

PHOTO PORTFOLIO: This category honors creative photography and photo illustration (including portraiture or specially produced layouts on fashion, food, decorating, travel, design, the arts, etc.).
Bon Appétit; GQ; Gourmet; The New Yorker; W
[Platon, photographs of the men and women who volunteered to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their families: "Service," September 29, 2008]