George to be on the cover of Newsweek soon?

From NY Post

[this is from an article about the planned revamb of Newsweek]

Media buyers who have gotten a look at Tina Brown's new prototype for Newsweek say it will be a sweeping overhaul.

George Clooney was on the cover of the prototype that one media buyer saw. Even though it was taking a look at Clooney's political leanings, it made the ad executive think that Brown was pitching the celebrity coverage that she embraced when she was running Vanity Fair in the '90s at Condé Nast.

The media exec was nevertheless impressed. "The bar was set pretty low by Jon Meacham and Tom Ascheim," said the media executive. "I think this is a big step in the right direction."

The magazine is also going to move to heavier stock on the cover and inside, "not the tissue paper that they are putting it out on now," said the media person.

"I think the Newsweek name has authority and credibility with readers still," said the media buyer.

Also in the cards, some sources say, Newsweek is mulling a switch in delivery time and will emulate Time and switch to Friday delivery. Time switched three years to Fridays while Newsweek continued with its Monday morning arrival time.

A Newsweek spokesman insisted that Newsweek will not change delivery date to newsstands.

The redesign can't come soon enough, The issue that hit this week had only three full- page ads.

Time is also planning on make some changes. Managing Editor Rick Stengel and Executive Editor Nancy Gibbs were showing off some of the changes that will be hitting this week.

The "well" -- the body of main features -- will remain the same. Among the other change, the Briefing section up front will begin immediately and have short punchy news items and will incorporate a two-page spread featuring the best picture of the week. The "Washington" section has been changed to "Nation" to open it up beyond the Beltway.

The last sweeping redesign was three years ago.