The Walrus is/is not cutting back on entries to National Magazine Awards

[UPDATE: According to the editor of The Walrus, Ken Alexander, the magazine is actually going to make more entries to the Magawards than last year. In a note he said the following:

Your blog posting about "The Walrus" and the NMAs was sent to me. Sticking to budgets is always important, of course, but because the staff here feels that were so many worthy pieces published in 2007, we agreed before Christmas to make more NMA submissions this year than last year. (We're in the process now of sending notes of congratulations to contributors on whose behalf we are making submissions.) I agree with you that supporting Canadian writers and artists in this way is essential, and that the NMA foundation is doing terrific work.[END UPDATE]

Word is that contributors to The Walrus are being told that money is tight and the magazine is cutting back on its entries to the National Magazine Awards this year, but urging the individuals to enter on their own. Last year, the magazine got 51 nominations and won 6 gold medals. It's not known how many entries it made, but it would have been more than that. This is unhappy news for the magazine, for the contributors and for the Magawards themselves, which relies upon entry fees to pay at least part of their expenses. The deadline for entries is January 9.