Joyce Wadler really does want out of her gossip job at the Times. She writes:

It takes stamina, drive and a love of film and theater to be a gossip reporter, as well as the ability to run like the wind. And of course, you must have the maturity to understand that when someone's personal publicist rudely blows you off, with a thumb's down or a sniff or a walk by, it isn't because they hate you; it's because they hate what you write.

She has a lovely pop-quiz about hateful press agents and dingbat celebrities today; the items are nowhere near blind.
Do You Have What It Takes for a Career in Gossip? [NYT]