Back in April, Esquire editor David Granger told the Observer he had no worries that the Internet would make magazines unnecessary, as, arguably, it has done with newspapers. But if magazines want to flourish in the Internet age they have to capitalize on the direct, textural experience they provide that the Internet can't.

“Magazines have to become more magaziney rather than less magaziney,” said Mr. Granger back then. “There are things you can do with your cover where the paper will actually fold into different shapes—this cool experience that will let you do novel editorial things, but it’s all very expensive.”

But he likely already had in mind something far more elaborate than an origami cover—like, a flashing, battery-operated cover!

The Times' Tim Arango writes today that Esquire will have an electronic cover for its September issue that will flash the words, “the 21st Century Begins Now."

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Hearst has added yet one more building to its growing arsenal around Columbus Circle.

The publishing behemoth recently closed on 811 Ninth Avenue for $17.1 million, according to city records. Lightning quick would be appropriate terminology for how rapidly this deal went down: Hearst went to contract and closed on the 21,500-square-foot property on the same day, July 19.  read more »