When Adam Moss was brought in as the new editor of  New York Magazine more than three years ago, it was to revive a title that had been drifting. Moss's mandate: Make it great again, a place where real journalism would be published.

Moss, who had been spirited way from The New York Times Sunday Magazine, set about to do just that, and it wasn't long before New York media folks began talking about the new life Moss had breathed into the weekly, founded by famed editor Clay Felker four decades ago.

Yesterday, Moss was recognized by his peers for doing all that and more for New York. The title earned five National Magazine Awards, known as Ellies, the most of any publication, including one for general excellence among magazines with circulations between 250,000 to 500,000 circulation.

The other awards were in the categories of profile writing, best magazine section, design, and internet, for its web site, nymag.com.

In recognizing Moss and New York, the judges opined," New York revels in the diversity, sexiness and intensity of the city it covers."

The awards are administrated by Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, the same folks who hand out the Pulitzer Prizes for newspapers. The magazine awards are sponsored by the American Society of Magazine Editors.

But this year's awards included some upsets, led by zero wins for the New Yorker, which was up for nine awards, the most nominations this year, and just one win for Esquire, which was up for seven, the same number as New York. In years past, the New Yorker either led in the number of wins or came in among the top winners.

Among this year's first-time winners were O, the Oprah Magazine, the Paris Review, Departures, Beliefnet.com and McSweeney's.

National Geographic and Vanity Fair both won two awards.

Below are the winners and finalists in this year's competition:

GENERAL EXCELLENCE
This category recognizes overall excellence in magazines in six circulation categories. 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 100,000 circulation
WINNER Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Mark Strauss, editor, for May/June, July/August, September/October issues.
I.D.: Julie Lasky, editor-in-chief, for March/April, May, June issues.
Metropolis: Susan S. Szenasy, editor-in-chief, for June, September, November issues.
Print: Joyce Rutter Kaye, editor-in-chief, for March/April, July/August, September/October issues.
The Virginia Quarterly Review: Ted Genoways, editor, for Spring, Summer, Fall issues.

100,000 to 250,000 circulation

WINNER Foreign Policy: Moisés Naím, editor-in-chief, for May/June, September/October, November/December issues

Mother Jones: Russ Rymer, editor-in-chief, for March/April, September/October, issues; Monika Bauerlein and Clara Jeffery, editors-in-chief, for November/December issue.

Philadelphia Magazine: Larry Platt, editor, for September, November, December issues.

Salt Water Sportsman: Sid Evans, editorial director; David DiBenedetto, editor, for February, October, November issues.

Seed: Adam Bly, editor-in-chief, for June/July, November, December/January issues.

250,000 to 500,000 circulation

WINNER New York Magazine: Adam Moss, editor-in-chief, for May 22, July 17, September 18 issues.

The Atlantic Monthly: Cullen Murphy, managing editor, for January/February, James Bennet, editor, for September, December issues.

Audubon: David Seideman, editor-in-chief, for March/April, May/June, September/October issues.

Cookie Magazine: Pilar Guzmán, editor-in-chief, for September, October/November, December/January issues.

Texas Monthly: Evan Smith, editor, for March, September, October issues.

500,00 to 1,000,000 circulation

WINNER Wired: Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief, for August, November, December issues.

Condé Nast Traveler: Klara Glowczewska, editor-in-chief, for September, October, November issues.

The Economist: John Micklethwait, editor, for September 9, October 28, December 23 issues.

Esquire: David Granger, editor-in-chief, for July, September, November issues.

Gourmet: Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief, for April, August, December issues.

GQ: Jim Nelson, editor-in-chief, for March, September, October issues.

1,000,000 to 2,000,000 circulation

WINNER Rolling Stone: Jann S. Wenner, editor and publisher; Will Dana, managing editor for May 4, May 18-June 1, November 16 issues.

Entertainment Weekly: Rick Tetzeli, managing editor, for June 30/July 7, September 22, December 29/January 5 issues.

Field & Stream: Sid Evans, editor-in-chief, for May, October, December-January issues.

More Magazine: Peggy Northrop, editor-in-chief, for February, June, October issues.

The New Yorker: David Remnick, editor, for February 13 & 20, March 27, October 9 issues.

Over 2,000,000 circulation

WINNER National Geographic: Chris Johns, editor-in-chief, for May, November, December issues.

Glamour: Cynthia Leive, editor-in-chief, for May, September, December issues.

Martha Stewart Living: Martha Stewart, founder; Margaret Roach, editorial director, for March, July, December issues.

O, The Oprah Magazine: Oprah Winfrey, founder and editorial director; Amy Gross, editor-in-chief, for February, July, November issues.

Time: James Kelly, managing editor, for June 12 issue; Richard Stengel, managing editor, August 7, August 14 issues

PERSONAL SERVICE
This category recognizes excellence in service journalism. The advice or instruction presented should help readers improve the quality of their personal lives.

WINNER Glamour: Cynthia Leive, editor-in-chief, for What No One Ever Tells You About Breast Implants, by Liz Welch, November.

Bicycling: Stephen Madden, vice president and editor-in-chief, for Project Jeremy, by Selene Yeager, October.

Field & Stream: Sid Evans, editor-in-chief, for a four-part package, How they Survived: A Taste of Death by Keith McCafferty, Lightning Rod, by Dave Hurteau, Surprise Attack, by Hal Herring, How Sportsmen Really Die, by Keith McCafferty, July.

Redbook:   Stacy Morrison, editor-in-chief, for You can save a woman’s life – just by asking her how she’s doing, by Denise Dowling, October.

Wondertime:   Lisa Stiepock, editor, for Argue with Me! by Jay Heinrichs, Winter.

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.

WINNER O, The Oprah Magazine:  Oprah Winfrey, founder and editorial director; Amy Gross, editor-in-chief, for Reading: A Love Story, July.

Esquire:  David Granger, editor-in-chief, for Esquire’s Best Bars in America, June.

Golf Digest Magazine:  Jerry Tarde, chairman and editor-in-chief, for Total Improvement Issue, May.

Men’s Health:  David Zinczenko, senior vice president and editor-in-chief, for a three-part series, Your Perfect Summer: Part One— A New Path to Change, by Jim Thornton; Part Two—Your Breakthrough Season; Part Three—The Men Who Live Forever, by Christopher McDougall, July/August.

Wired: Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief, for Second Life, October.

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.

WINNER Esquire:  David Granger, editor-in-chief, for The School, by C.J. Chivers, June.

Fortune:  Eric Pooley, managing editor, for The Law Firm of Hubris Hypocrisy & Greed, by Peter Elkind, November 13.

IEEE Spectrum:  Susan Hassler, editor-in-chief, for Re-engineering Iraq, by Glenn Zorpette, February.

Rolling Stone:  Jann S. Wenner, editor and publisher; Will Dana, managing editor, for Inside Scientology, by Janet Reitman, March 9.

Time:   James Kelly, managing editor, for One Morning in Haditha, by Tim McGirk, March 27; The Shame of Kilo Company, by Michael Duffy, June 5; The Ghosts of Haditha, by Michael Duffy, Tim McGirk and Aparisim Ghosh, June 12.

PUBLIC INTEREST

This category recognizes journalism that sheds new light on an issue of public importance and has the potential to affect national or local debate policy.

WINNER Vanity Fair:  Graydon Carter, editor, for Rules of Engagement, by William Langewiesche, November.

The Atlantic Monthly:  James Bennet, editor, for Declaring Victory, by James Fallows, September.

Best Life:  Stephen Perrine, editor-in-chief; David Zinczenko, editorial director, for Our Oceans Are Turning Into Plastic…Are We? by Susan Casey, November.

New York Magazine:  Adam Moss, editor-in-chief, for On the Rabbi’s Knee, by Robert Kolker, May 22.

The New Yorker:  David Remnick, editor, for three articles by Seymour M. Hersh, The Iran Plans, April 17; Last Stand, July 10 & 17; The Next Act, November 27.

FEATURE WRITING

This category recognizes excellence in feature writing.  It honors the stylishness, flair and originality with which the author treats his or her subject.

WINNER GQ:  Jim Nelson, editor-in-chief, for The Other Side of Hate, by Andrew Corsello, July.

Esquire:  David Granger, editor-in-chief, for Sgt. Wells’s New Skull, by Brian Mockenhaupt, April.

Esquire:  David Granger, editor-in-chief, for The Loved Ones, by Tom Junod, September.

The New Yorker:  David Remnick, editor, for Prairie Fire, by Eric Konigsberg, January 16.

The Paris Review:  Philip Gourevitch, editor, for In the Sandbox, by Glyn Vincent, Spring.

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.

WINNER New York Magazine:   Adam Moss, editor-in-chief, for Karl Lagerfeld, Boy Prince of Fashion, by Vanessa Grigoriadis, February 13.

Cincinnati Magazine:   Jay Stowe, editor, for Is Bill Cunningham a Great American? by Kathy Y. Wilson, November.

National Geographic:   Chris Johns, editor-in-chief, for Murdering the Impossible, by Caroline Alexander, November.

The New Yorker:   David Remnick, editor, for He Knew He Was Right, by Ian Parker, October 16.

Vanity Fair:   Graydon Carter, editor, for A Face Only a President Could Love, by Todd Purdum, June.

ESSAYS

This category recognizes excellence in essay writing on topics ranging from the personal to the political.  Whatever the subject, it honors the author’s eloquence, perspective, fresh thinking and unique voice.

WINNER The Georgia Review:  Stephen Corey, acting editor, for Russell and Mary, by Michael Donohue, Fall/Winter.

Foreign Policy:  Moisés Naím, editor-in-chief, for The First Law of Petropolitics, by Thomas L. Friedman, May/June.

New Letters:  Robert Stewart, editor-in-chief, for The Beautiful City of Tirzah, by Harrison Fletcher, Winter.

The New Yorker:  David Remnick, editor, for Alice, Off the Page, by Calvin Trillin, March 27.

Smithsonian:  Carey Winfrey, editor-in-chief, for Living with Geese, by Paul Theroux, 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.

WINNER Vanity Fair:  Graydon Carter, editor, for three columns by Christopher Hitchens, Childhood’s End, January; The Vietnam Syndrome, August; Oriana Fallaci and the Art of Interview, December.

Discover:  Corey Powell, executive editor, for columns by Bruno Maddox, Blinded By Science: When first we clicked, April; Blinded by Science: Who’s freaky now? October; Blinded by Science, Birding Brains, December.

Field & Stream:  Sid Evans, editor-in-chief, for three columns, by Bill Heavey, A Sportsman’s Life: Why Knot?, June; A Sportsman’s Life: Death and Fishing, August; A Sportsman’s Life: Dog Years, November.

Newsweek:  Jon Meacham, editor, for three columns by Fareed Zakaria, Iraq’s Dark Day of Reckoning, October 16; There’s One Last Thing to Try, October 30; Don’t Punt on the Troops Issue, November 20.

The New Yorker:  David Remnick, editor, for three columns by James Surowiecki, Printing Money, April 3; Through the Roof, May 8; The Fatal-Flaw Myth, July 31.

REVIEWS AND CRITICISM

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

WINNER The Nation:  Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher, for three reviews by Stuart Klawans, Down These Mean Streets, October 23; The Tracks of My Tears, November 20; Coming to America! December 4.

The Atlantic Monthly:  James Bennet, editor, for three book reviews by Sandra Tsing Loh, Rhymes With Rich, May; Cheap Thrills, July/August; The Drama of the Gifted Parent, October.

GQ:  Jim Nelson, editor-in-chief, for three columns by Alan Richman, 2nd City No More, June;  Meals of Fortune, September; Yes, We’re Open, November.

Harper’s Magazine:  Lewis H. Lapham, editor, for Blood and Time, by Roger D. Hodge, February.

The New Yorker:  David Remnick, editor, for three reviews by Alex Ross, American Sublime, June 19; The Storm of Style, July 24; Fervor, September 25.

MAGAZINE SECTION

This category recognizes excellence of a regular department or editorial section of a magazine, either front- or back-of-book and composed of a variety of elements, both text and visual.  Finalists are selected based on the section’s voice, originality, design, and packaging.

WINNER New York Magazine:  Adam Moss, editor-in-chief, for its Strategist section, June 12, July 24, December 11.

Condé Nast Traveler:  Klara Glowczewska, editor-in-chief, for its front-of book section Word of Mouth, May, August, October.

Esquire:  David Granger, editor-in-chief, for its This Way In section, June, November, December.

Esquire:  David Granger, editor-in-chief, for its front-of-book section Man at His Best, October, November, December.

Field & Stream:  Sid Evans, editor-in-chief, for its section Sportsman’s Notebook, September, November, December.

 SINGLE-TOPIC ISSUE

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

WINNER Departures:  Richard David Story, editor-in-chief, for The Latin Issue: South America 2006, October.

Backpacker:  Jonathan Dorn, editor-in-chief, for The Survival Issue, October.

The Believer:  Heidi Julavits, Ed Park, Vendela Vida, founding editors; Andrew Leland, managing editor, for The 2006 Music Issue, June/July.

Columbia Journalism Review:  Mike Hoyt, executive editor, for Into the Abyss: Reporting Iraq 2003-2006, November/December.

Newsweek:  Mark Whitaker, editor, for AIDS at 25, May 15

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.

WINNER New York Magazine:  Adam Moss, editor-in-chief; Luke Hayman, design director, for April 3, April 17, November 6 issues.

The Believer:  Heidi Julavits, Ed Park, Vendela Vida, founding editors; Andrew Leland, managing editor, for June/July, September, December/January issues.

Gourmet:  Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief; Richard Ferretti, creative director; Erika Oliveira, art director; for September, October, December issues.

GQ:  Jim Nelson, editor-in-chief; Fred Woodward, design director, for March, April, July issues.

Outside:  Hal Espen, editor; Hannah McCaughey, creative director, for January issue; Christopher Keyes, Editor; Hannah McCaughey, creative director, for July, November issues.

Seed:  Adam Bly, founder & editor-in-chief; Adam Billyeald, deputy art director, for June/July, November, December/January 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. 

WINNER National Geographic:  Chris Johns, editor-in-chief; David Griffin, senior editor, photography; Susan A. Smith, deputy director, photography, for May, November, December issues.

Country Home:  Carol Sheehan, editor-in-chief; Mary Emmerling, creative director; Shelley Caldwell, art director, for February, April, June issues.

Gourmet:  Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief; Richard Ferretti, creative director; Erika Oliveira, art director; Amy Koblenzer, photo editor, for September, October, December issues.

Martha Stewart Living:  Martha Stewart, founder; Margaret Roach, editorial director; Eric A. Pike, creative director; James Dunlinson and Joele Cuyler, art directors; Heloise Goodman, photography director, for January, July, December issues.

W:  Patrick McCarthy, chairman and editorial director; Dennis Freedman, creative director; Edward Leida, group design director; Bridget Foley, executive editor; Julie L. Belcove, deputy editor; Nathalie Kirsheh, art director; Nadia Vellam, photo editor, for June, September, November issues.

PHOTOJOURNALISM

This category recognizes the informative photographic documentation of an event or subject in real-time. Although photo essays accompanied by text will be eligible, they will be judged primarily on the strength of the photographs.

WINNER The Paris Review:  Philip Gourevitch, editor, for Kibera, by Jonas Bendiksen, Winter.

Aperture:  Melissa Harris, editor-in-chief; Yolanda Cuomo, art director, for Silhouettes: Muslim Women of the Middle East and Afghanistan, by Caroline Mangez, photographs by Alexandra Boulat, Winter.

National Geographic:  Chris Johns, editor-in-chief; David Griffin, senior editor, photography; Susan A. Smith, deputy director, photography, for The Heroes, The Healing, by Neil Shea, photographs by James Nachtwey, December.

The New Yorker:  David Remnick, editor; Elisabeth Biondi, director of photography, for The Waste Land, by Robert Polidori, January 9.

Vanity Fair:  Graydon Carter, editor; David Harris, design director; Susan White, photography director, for The Vietnam Syndrome, by Christopher Hitchens, photographs by James Nachtwey, August.

PHOTO PORTFOLIO

This category honors creative photography and photo illustration. Although photo essays accompanied by text will be eligible, they will be judged primarily on the strength of the photographs.

WINNER City:  John McDonald, editorial director and publisher; Fabrice G. Frere, creative director and COO; Adriana Jacoud, art director; Sarah Greenfield, photo editor, for White Heat (begins p. 86), photographed by Horacio Salinas, April.

City:  John McDonald, editorial director and publisher; Fabrice G. Frere, creative director and COO; Adriana Jacoud, art director; Sarah Greenfield, photo editor, for Penitentiary (begins p. 102), photographed by Kenji Toma, March.

Details:  Daniel Peres, editor-in-chief; Rockwell Harwood, creative director; Liane Radel, photography director, for How TV Became Hollywood’s Leading Man, photographed by Michael Thompson, August.

Vogue:  Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief; Grace Coddington, creative director; Charles Churchward, design director; Danko Steiner, art director; Ivan Shaw, photo director, for Teen Queen, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, September.

W:  Patrick McCarthy, chairman and editorial director; Dennis Freedman, creative director; Edward Leida, group design director; Bridget Foley, executive editor; Julie L. Belcove, deputy editor; Nathalie Kirsheh, art director; Nadia Vellam, photo editor, for Welcome to the Motor City, by Bruce Weber, September.

FICTION

This category recognizes excellence in magazine fiction writing.  It honors the quality of a publication’s literary selections.

WINNER McSweeney’s:  Dave Eggers, editor, for Wild Child, by T.C. Boyle, April; To Sit, Unmoving, by Susan Steinberg, July; The Strange Career of Dr. Raju Gopalarajan, by Rajesh Parameswaran, September.

The New Yorker:  David Remnick, editor, for Once in a Lifetime, by Jhumpa Lahiri, May 8; My Parents’ Bedroom, by Uwem Akpan June 12; Something That Needs Nothing, by Miranda July, September 18.

Playboy:  Hugh M. Hefner, editor-in-chief; Christopher Napolitano, editorial director, for Suicide Watch, by Joyce Carol Oates, May; The Bad News, by Margaret Atwood, July; Willa, by Stephen King, December. (All stories available here)

The Virginia Quarterly Review:  Ted Genoways, editor, for Ships in High Transit, by Binyavanga Wainaina, Winter; Wake, by Kevin A. González, Spring; Shepherdess, by Dan Chaon, Fall.

Zoetrope: All-Story:  Adrienne Brodeur, Francis Ford Coppola, founding editors; Michael Ray, editor, for The Boys at the Lab, by Margaret Atwood, Fall; El Ojo de Agua, by Susan Straight, Spring; Our Lady of Paris by Daniyal Mueenuddin, Fall.


GENERAL EXCELLENCE ONLINE

This category recognizes outstanding magazine Internet sites, as well as online-only magazines that have a significant amount of original content.  Sites must also convey a distinct editorial identity and create a unique magazine environment on the Web.

WINNER Beliefnet.com (www.beliefnet.com):   Steven Waldman, co-founder and editor-in-chief

BusinessWeek.com (www.businessweek.com):   Stephen J. Adler, editor-in-chief

ESPN.com (www.espn.com):   John Papanek, senior vice president and editor-in-chief, ESPN New Media

People.com (http://www.people.com):   Mark Golin, editor

Slate (http://www.slate.com):   Jacob Weisberg, editor

INTERACTIVE SERVICE

This category recognizes an outstanding service feature on the web. The practical advice or instruction presented should either help users improve the quality of their personal lives, or should help them enjoy recreational interests. The category honors a site’s creative use of multimedia technology, user involvement, personalization and/or community tools, and must go beyond the simple display of text or images on a screen.

WINNER BusinessWeek.com B-School Channel:   Stephen J. Adler, editor-in-chief

The Chronicle of Higher Education Careers:   Phil Semas, editor-in-chief

Epicurious.com – Epi to Go 2.0:   Tanya Steel, editor-in-chief

nymag.com – Grub Street:   Adam Moss, editor-in-chief, New York; Kelly Maloni & Ben Williams, co-editors, nymag.com

Slate – Slate Green Challenge:   Jacob Weisberg, editor

INTERACTIVE FEATURE

This category recognizes an outstanding editorial web feature focusing on news, entertainment and other subjects that do not offer practical instruction. The category honors a site’s creative use of multimedia technology, user involvement, personalization and/or community tools, and must go beyond the simple display of text or images on a screen.

WINNER nymag.com – “Show & Talk” fashion week blog:   Adam Moss, editor-in-chief, New York; Kelly Maloni & Ben Williams, co-editors, nymag.com

Mother Jones  “Lie by Lie”: Monika Bauerlein and Clara Jeffery, editors-in-chief

National Geographic Interactive Edition – Antarctica: Chris Johns, editor-in-chief
   

Nerve Film Lounge: Michael Martin, editor-in-chief
 

Newsweek.com – “The Boomer Files”: Deidre Depke, editor