Mark Pasetsky's Cover Awards

My immediate reaction?

I thought Barack Obama said the Access Hollywood interview was the LAST time he would put his daughters in the media spotlight?

Putting that aside, this is an incredibly strong cover for Larry Hackett’s People magazine.

It’s the first cover featuring the entire Barack Obama family. (Janice Min’s Us Weekly was the first glossy glossy to feature Barack & Michelle Obama on its cover.)

While the Obama family photo is strong, it’s worth noting that Michelle Obama is somewhat in the background. Do you think that was done on purpose?

I do. Her popularity is in question and editors think about these types of things when it comes to selecting the final cover picture.

The Insets:

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Good news from Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze, who is battling pancreatic cancer, is looking like his old self again – healthy, happy and hot, reports People.

“I’m a miracle dude … I don’t know why,” he said Sunday afternoon.

Posted by: Mark Pasetsky

Pasetsky’s Cover Critique

I bet they would have gone for Ted Kennedy as the main cover if they closed later - but the Senator’s condition was not released until yesterday.

The main story featuring Bill & Hillary is entertaining.   Globe uses the well-known Clinton fortune “$109 million” as its hook.  They forgot to subtract the amount Hillary has used to loan to her campaign.

And there’s a nice, emotional story on Patrick Swayze renewing his wedding vows!

Bottom Line: Overall a strong cover from Globe.

Pasetsky’s Cover Critique

Strong, emotional cover for the Globe this week.

We haven’t heard that much about Michael J. Fox in a while and this looks like Globe has a sad update - one that many readers will want to know about.

Plus, the insets are all very timely. 

Globe follows up on its Hillary gay scandal from last week with Bill’s ultimatum.

Simon Cowell storms out of American Idol.  Oh well!  He’ll be back.

And Nicole finally wakes up and is trying to save her kids from Scientology.  My question is what took her so long???

Bottom Line: A Winner!

Pasetsky’s Cover Critique

Poor Barack Obama!

He loses in Pennsylvania and he wakes up to this cover.

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Tony Frost’s Globe screams “Doris Day Betrayed.”

And it’s the main cover?

Moving on.

Did you know that “Obama’s Wife is Ruthless and Controls Everything he Does?” 

With the Pennsylvania primary coming up next Tuesday…

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UNDERCOVER: CoverAwards Reviews The Globe’s Cover Story on Patrick Swayze! 

Earlier this week I gave strong praise for this dramatic Globe cover.

Today, I’m letting you know if the cover story delivers for the reader — which is a key to success in sustaining strong newsstand sales over the long-term.

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Sad for Patrick Swayze.  I mean really sad!

So how do I say this delicately???

This is a strong cover for Tony Frost and the Globe.  It’s emotional and compelling.

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People Magazine’s Larry Hackett won the greatest honor he’s probably ever received last week when CoverAward’s anointed the above cover “Cover of the Week.” In all seriousness, this is a great cover.

David Perel’s National Enquirer went in a bit of a different direction and showed an exclusive picture of Patrick Swayze smoking!

Expect one of the major weeklies - either the tabloids Star, National Enquirer or Globe — or the glossies to go with a full cover on Swayze.

Unfortunately, I predict one of the covers to portray Swayze’s battle with Cancer as much tougher and more grim than we’ve been hearing, which is really sad.

On that note, I wish Patrick and his family only the best and hope he can make a full recovery!

If you haven’t heard by now, Lisa Marie Presley (you know, the daughter of Elvis) is pregnant!  

For weeks the press had been wrongly calling her fat when she was in fact pregnant!

So, Lisa admits she’s pregnant and is apparently pissed off that she was called fat.

And, above you have this week’s Globe cover with the BEST COVER PHOTO OF THE DAY! 

Why?  It’s newsy and it tells the entire story.   Look at the crazed look in her eyes!  It says it all.

Look for a strong week from Globe on the newsstand.