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New York's Top Media Events 2009

National Magazine Awards
National Magazine Awards
Photo: Steve Friedman © 2008

1. National Magazine Awards
National Geographic took home three awards, including a prize for general excellence, at the 2008 Ellies, presented by the American Society of Magazine Editors. The ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center drew 1,000 guests, and finalists were feted the night before with a reception at the New York Public Library. The 2009 awards will be distributed April 30.

2. National Book Foundation’s National Book Awards
The 59th edition of this prestigious literary prize was handed out at a new location in November 2008: Cipriani Wall Street. A week of festivities surround the ceremony, including a reading by all the finalists the night before at the New School’s Tishman Auditorium.

3. Time 100 Gala
For the year’s ultimate hobnobbing party, the news magazine assembles a diverse list of the world’s most influential people and invites them to celebrate themselves. In May 2008, John McCain, Lance Armstrong, Tina Fey, and Martha Stewart were among the guests walking the red carpet at Jazz at Lincoln Center for the fifth annual gala. The 2009 event is set for May 5.

4. The New Yorker Festival
In 2008 this gathering of writers, artists, and intellectuals brought big names like Clint Eastwood, Salman Rushdie, and Oliver Stone to venues such as Town Hall, Hiro Ballroom, and the Frick Collection. The festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2009 by expanding to 10 days, October 9 to 18.

5. Matrix Awards
Female media leaders are feted at this event hosted by New York Women in Communications. Padma Lakshmi was M.C. at the 2008 event, where honorees included Gourmet editor in chief Ruth Reichl and ABC News anchor Robin Roberts. The 2009 awards will be held April 27 at the Waldorf-Astoria.

6. The Magazine Lifetime Achievement Awards
Former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown and Hachette Filipacchi C.E.O. Jack Kliger were honored at the 2008 edition of this joint production between the American Society of Magazine Editors and the Magazine Publishers of America. For the January 29 event, the awards moved to the Plaza’s grand ballroom.

7. Peabody Awards
Each year, the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism honors an undetermined number of television programs with these prestigious honors for excellence. The Colbert Report, Planet Earth, and 30 Rock were recognized in 2008; the awards will next be held May 18 at the Waldorf-Astoria.

8. The Webby Awards
The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences presents these awards for online excellence. More than 700 guests attended the June 2008 ceremony at the Museum of American Finance, where, true to the event’s quirky spirit, winners Stephen Colbert and will.i.am were limited to five-word acceptance speeches.

9. Glamour Women of the Year Awards
This event recognizes inspiring women and Glamour advertisers. Among those accepting awards in 2008 were Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Nicole Kidman, as well as unheralded heroes such as Nujood Ali, a 10-year-old Yemeni child bride who won a historic divorce. A crowd of 2,500 packed Carnegie Hall, where the always-tear-jerking awards will return November 9.

10. Literacy Partners’ “Evening of Readings” Gala
New York Post columnist Liz Smith and Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcome more than 600 to Lincoln Center for this annual evening of readings benefiting Literacy Partners, a non-profit that teaches adults to read. This year’s May 11 gala will be followed by dinner on the promenade of the New York State Theater.

11. PEN Literary Gala
Toni Morrison was honored at the 2008 edition of this international literary organization’s gala. The black-tie event at the American Museum of Natural History was hosted by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour and attended by 500. The 2009 gala is set for April 28.