GENERAL EXCELLENCE
This category recognizes overall excellence in magazines. It honors the effectiveness with which writing, reporting, editing and design all come together to command readers' attention and fulfill the magazine's unique editorial mission.

Under 200,000 circulation
Print: Martin Fox, vice president & editor, for January/February, May/June, July/August issues.

200,000 to 500,000 circulation
National Geographic Adventure: John Rasmus, editor-in-chief, for March/April, May/June, September/October issues.

500,000 to 1,000,000 circulation
Vibe: Emil Wilbekin, editor-in-chief, for September, November, December issues.

1,000,000 to 2,000,000 circulation
Entertainment Weekly: James W. Seymore, Jr., managing editor, for June 29/July 6, November 2, December 21/December 28 issues.

Over 2,000,000 circulation
Newsweek: Richard M. Smith, chairman and editor-in-chief; Mark Whitaker, editor, for September 24, October 1, October 15 issues.

PERSONAL SERVICE
This category recognizes excellence in service journalism. It honors the intelligence and clarity with which a magazine presents information intended to help readers improve the quality of their personal lives.

National Geographic Adventure: John Rasmus, editor-in-chief, for Land of the Lost, by Laurence Gonzales, November/December.

LEISURE INTERESTS
This category recognizes excellence in coverage of leisure-time pursuits. It honors the intelligence and clarity with which a magazine presents information and advice designed to help readers enjoy specific hobbies or other recreational interests.

Vogue: Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief, for three articles by Jeffrey Steingarten, Caviar Conundrum,
March; Salt Chic, July; High Steaks, September.

REPORTING
This category recognizes excellence in reporting. It honors the enterprise, exclusive reporting and intelligent analysis that a magazine exhibits in covering a story of contemporary interest and significance.

The Atlantic Monthly: Michael Kelly, editor, for The Crash of EgyptAir 990, by William Langewiesche, November.

PUBLIC INTEREST
This category recognizes journalism that has the potential to affect national or local policy or lawmaking. It honors investigative reporting or groundbreaking analysis that sheds new light on an issue of public importance.

The Atlantic Monthly: Michael Kelly, editor, for Bystanders to Genocide, by Samantha Power, September.

FEATURE WRITING
This category recognizes excellence in feature writing. Whether the piece is reported narrative or personal reflection, the award honors the stylishness and originality with which the author treats his or her subject.

The Atlantic Monthly: Michael Kelly, editor, for Moonrise, by Penny Wolfson, December.

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.

New York Magazine: Caroline Miller, editor-in-chief, for three columns by Michael Wolff, Russert to Judgment, February 12; Sullivan's Travels, March 5; The Stupids, April 9.

ESSAYS
This category recognizes excellence in essay writing. It honors the eloquence, perspective and fresh thinking that an author brings to bear on an issue of social or political significance.

The New Yorker: David Remnick, editor, for My Father's Brain, by Jonathan Franzen, September 10.

REVIEWS and CRITICISM
This category recognizes excellence in criticism of art, movies, television, theater, music, dance, dining, fashion, products and the like. It honors the knowledge, persuasiveness and original voice that the critic brings to his or her reviews.

Harper's Magazine: Lewis H. Lapham, editor, for three reviews by Lee Siegel, Seize the Day Job, March; The Second Coming of Richard Yates, July; Cold Verities, October.

PROFILE WRITING
This category recognizes excellence in profile writing. It honors the vividness and perceptiveness with which the writer brings his or her subject to life.

The New Yorker: David Remnick, editor, for The Lost Tycoon, by Ken Auletta, April 23 & 30.

SINGLE-TOPIC ISSUE
This category recognizes magazines that have devoted entire issues to an in-depth examination of one topic. It honors the ambition, comprehensiveness and imagination with which a magazine treats its subject.

Time: James Kelly, managing editor, for its September 11 special issue, September 13.

DESIGN
This category recognizes excellence in magazine design. It honors the effectiveness of overall design, artwork, graphics and typography in enhancing a magazine's unique mission and personality.

Details: Daniel Peres, editor-in-chief; Rockwell Harwood, art director, for September, October,
November issues.

PHOTOGRAPHY
This category recognizes excellence in magazine photography. It honors the effectiveness of photography, photojournalism and photo illustration in enhancing a magazine's unique mission and personality.

Vanity Fair: Graydon Carter, editor; David Harris, design director; Lisa Berman, photography editor, for April, November, December issues.


FICTION
This category recognizes excellence in magazine fiction writing. It honors both the quality and the novelty of a publication's literary selections.

The New Yorker: David Remnick, editor, for What is Remembered, by Alice Munro, February 19 & 26; A House on the Plains, by E.L. Doctorow, June 18 & 25; Surrounded by Sleep, by Akhil Sharma, December 10.

GENERAL EXCELLENCE ONLINE
This category recognizes outstanding magazine Internet sites. It honors the use of Web technology and design to display and build on the core strengths of a site's print counterpart, if any, or to create an entirely original "magazine environment" on the web.

National Geographic Magazine Online (www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm): Valerie May, director, new media