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It's gotta be awkward when the editor you've been trying to ease out is the menschy star of the National Magazine Awards. So what do you do, Time Inc. EIC John Huey, to square that circle? Enthusiasm! Over-the-top, shouting enthusiasm:

May 10, 2006
To: Time Inc. Staff
From: John Huey
Re: BIG DAY FOR TIME INC.!

WELL, JIM KELLY AND TEAM HAVE DONE IT! THEY'VE BROUGHT HOME THE FIRST ASME GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR TIME IN 21 YEARS.

OF COURSE, WE'VE ALL KNOWN THAT TIME HAS BEEN GENERALLY EXCELLENT FOR A LONG TIME, BUT IT WAS SPECTACULAR TO SEE JIM UP THERE ON THE STAGE HOLDING THE PROOF IN HIS HANDS.

IT IS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO A MAN WHO WAS SITTING IN THE PILOT'S SEAT AT TIME ON THE MORNING OF 9/11/01, AND HASN'T MADE A MISSTEP SINCE. AND, AS HE NOTED IN HIS ELOQUENT AND MOVING ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, A FITTING TRIBUTE TO HIS TIRELESS AND MOST EXCELLENT TEAM OF JOURNALISTS AND MAGAZINE MAKERS.

The memo continues after the jump, where you can behold "THE POWER OF ITS BRAND."

TIME HAS DISTINGUISHED ITSELF WITH COVERAGE OF THAT TRAGEDY AND OF THE SUBSEQUENT UPHEAVALS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ. ITS COVERAGE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WAS SUPERB. ITS NEWSBREAKING AND SHARP ANALYSIS OUT OF WASHINGTON HAVE FUELED BOTH THE MAGAZINE AND TURBOCHARGED ITS WEBSITE.

ALSO, LAST NIGHT, TIME WON THE SINGLE ISSUE AWARD FOR ITS COVERAGE OF KATRINA, YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHAT TIME DOES BEST.

YES FOLKS, AFTER 83 YEARS ON THE SCENE, TIME-THE MOTHER OF ALL NEWSMAGAZINES-CAN STILL ROCK THE WORLD WITH THE STRENGTH OF ITS REPORTING, THE GLORY OF ITS PHOTOGRAPHY, AND THE POWER OF ITS BRAND. AND YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT EVERYONE AT TIME IS COMMITTED TO THE IDEA THAT IT WILL REMAIN AS RELEVANT TO THE WORLD IN THE 21ST CENTURY AS IT WAS IN THE 20TH.

ALSO AT TIME INC., IN THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR DEPARTMENT, DAVID CLARKE-BARELY ARRIVED ON OUR SHORES FROM THE U.K.—WON GENERAL EXCELLENCE FOR HIS SPECTACULARLY REDESIGNED GOLF MAGAZINE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL. I'M SURE WE ALL SHARE IN OUR COLLEAGUES' SPECIAL RECOGNITION LAST NIGHT.

J. H.

This ought to buy Jim a few months, at least.