Regent Media Boss Accused of $90 Million Ripoff

In your crystalline Thursday media column: Regent Media has even bigger money troubles than usual, News Corp is doing well, the new Newsweek is floating around, another Egypt journo-terror roundup, and rumored layoffs at Forbes.

• Stephen Jarchow (pictured), the head of Regent Media—which (combined with Here Media) owns Out, The Advocate, and a slew of other gay titles—has been accused of creating "fake movie licensing and distribution deals" in order to secure $90 million in bank loans. This Courthouse News story describes Jarchow's alleged scheme. Odd, since the company can't afford to pay its freelancers.
• News Corp's fourth quarter profit was up, and WSJ publisher Les Hinton told employees that at Dow Jones, "Total revenue rose 7% in the three months ended Dec. 31. Circulation revenue jumped nearly 14% companywide, and advertising revenue rose 10%."
• Newsweek executives "are about to start showing a prototype of Tina Brown's redesign of the magazine to ad buyers," according to Mediaweek. First person to leak us a copy receives a special, secret prize.
• Here's the longest list we've seen yet of journalists who have been attacked, menaced, arrested, or otherwise fucked with/ fucked up in Egypt.
• We hear Forbes laid off (correction: three staffers fled for greener pastures!) at least three editorial staffers yesterday. Know more? Email me.

[Photo: Getty]