by Vera H-C Chan

No matter how media evolves, the magazine's slippery, sensual, glossy appeal still beguiles. Yet an excruciating editorial science (of sorts) goes into the making of a cover, designed to draw eyeballs at the old-fashioned newsstand.

The American Society of Magazine Editors will host its awards ceremony for the most eye-catching covers of 2008. Will a cartoon of contentious bedfellows Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama reaching for a 3 a.m. phone call win the News Cover category? Could Latina's gold-hued, come-hither photo of Jessica Alba beat out a mud-splattered George Clooney and contemplative Willie Nelson? Shall a strange blend of Iranian politics and a Larry Craig restroom stall reference steal the biggest title of all?

Check out all the covers at the ASME site.