New edition just arrived and it looks good - The Runaways, Tony Visconti and Mr H on Writing a Super-Hit. It arrived just after I had read a blog in Surrey Life (who knew?) which mentioned the blogger's encounter with our editor. He opines that he and Mr Ellen concur that:

•The magazine will always have its place in the world, even if that place becomes increasingly niche (we may be witnessing the death of the mass market, but that's not the same as the end of magazines).

•Where the speed of the internet often leads to feeding frenzy analysis, a well cultivated magazine can bring thought through three-dimensional reporting. The focus is on quality here, rather than quantity.

•The internet is an incredibly important, potentially brilliant and complimentary part of a wider magazine experience - a place for readers to mingle, share common ground and become part of the club. Used well, it could help to secure the future of a magazine.

The blending of the physical with the cyber and the audio - and, inceasingly, the social - is a major part of why I like it here. The magazine may be the raison d'etre but the totality of the experience is what gives me a warm glow.

Does your new cover illustrator do beards, by the way?