With a record number of entries this year, the National Magazine Awards, also known as the Ellies, are considered a major benchmark for US publications. Because of the publicity that the awards generate, editors regard the annual ceremony as both an honor and a means to test their editorial mettle against competitors.
Chris Johns, editor-in-chief of National Geographic, which won a general excellence award for publications with a circulation of more than 2 million, says the awards are "terribly important." ...