First they gave Mary-Kate Olsen a Times byline, but I did not speak out because I was not a Times reporter. And now, Angelina Jolie is writing for the Washington Post.

Washington Post staffers got a memo from their bosses today about how "every story must earn every inch" that it occupies in the paper, and outlining a new set of brevity guidelines. But did WaPo's special Caring About Darfur correspondent Angelina Jolie adhere to these new rules in her column today?

Well, the memo does caution against "saddling readers with too much recapitulation and background," and we do feel like we've heard Angie's whole "The death toll has passed 200,000; in four years of fighting, Janjaweed militia members have driven 2.5 million people from their homes, including the 26,000 refugees crowded into Oure Cassoni" spiel before.

On the other hand, the memo also trots out chestnutty old "Show, don't tell," and we think Angie's nailed that one. "I can see on workers' faces the toll their efforts have taken." It's like we're right there with her in Chad or wherever! Hey, that rhymes with Brad. Wonder what he's up to?

Justice for Darfur [WaPo]
Earning Every Inch At the Washington Post [Slate]