media
Fox Anchor Gets Feisty Over Democratic Invocation of "Fair and Balanced" Tagline
Foster Kamer · 10/25/09 07:00PMHugh Hefner's Old Penis Gets The Sunday Media Treatment
Foster Kamer · 10/25/09 05:30PMScientology Leader Can't Handle the Heat On Xenu, Storms Out on Martin Bashir
Foster Kamer · 10/25/09 11:45AMABC's Nightline ran a special on Scientology this weekend. It was typically strange and disconcerting, but nothing necessarily new. Except: What could provoke their spokesman to storm off the set of an interview? We get to learn. Paging Lord Xenu.
Fallen Portfolio Editor Joanne Lipman's Self-Serving Feminism Screed: 9/11, Sissies, Etc.
Foster Kamer · 10/24/09 09:30PMMore Layoffs Hit Conde Last Night: Women's Wear Daily
Foster Kamer · 10/24/09 12:30PMcityfile · 10/23/09 03:31PM
• The job cuts at Condé Nast continue. (Apparently laying off everyone at once would have just been too easy.) Yesterday it lowered the boom at Vanity Fair and GQ, although VF editor Graydon Carter managed to shield his eyes from carnage since he'd jetted off on vacation earlier that morning. [NYP, WWD]
• News Corp. appears to be the front-runner to buy the Travel Channel. [NYT]
• NBC has picked up Community, Parks and Recreation, and Mercy for the full season. It's also signed Adam Carolla and Don Cheadle to each do a show.
• Last night's premiere of The Jeff Dunham Show set a new record for Comedy Central, which, if you've seen Dunham, is a sad statement indeed. [Wrap]
• Silliest rumor of the day: Politico reported this morning that friends were urging Fox News chief Roger Ailes to run for president in 2012. But that's not going to happen, of course, so a few hours later Politico posted Ailes' denial.
• The first official portrait of the Obamas was taken by Annie Leibovitz. [VF]
• A few early predictions for Best Picture, if you're interested. [LAT]
Maxim Layoffs
Hamilton Nolan · 10/23/09 01:43PMA tipster tells us Maxim fired three people in the art and photo departments today.
Fox Reporter to Host Totally Balanced Anti-Health Care Reform Event
Pareene · 10/23/09 01:02PMMore Layoffs Coming at Forbes?
Hamilton Nolan · 10/23/09 12:44PMGraydon Carter Jets to Bermuda While Layoffs Hit Vanity Fair?
Hamilton Nolan · 10/23/09 09:34AMNew York Magazine Staying in the Family
Hamilton Nolan · 10/23/09 08:56AMcityfile · 10/22/09 03:43PM
• The New York Times Co. reported a $35.6 million loss for the third quarter as ad revenue plunged 30 percent. But it was better than what Wall Street analysts were predicting, so the stock shot up 22 percent today. [NYT]
• New York magazine's chief says there are no plans to sell the magazine following last week's death of owner Bruce Wasserstein. [AdAge]
• Newsday plans to charge $5 a week to access to its website. [NYT, [E&P]
• Fortune is cutting back on the number of issues it publishes. And Time Inc., Fortune's publisher, is planning another round of job cuts. [WSJ]
• On the same day Sarah Palin's memoir is published, the Nation will release Going Rouge, an identical-looking book that mocks the ex-governor. [Politico]
• As if losing billions of family money wasn't enough of a punishment, France says it plans to put Warner Music chief Edgar Bronfman Jr. on trial for insider trading in connection with the 2000 merger of Vivendi and Seagram. [NYP]
Shaming Media Companies Into Submission Since 2002
Hamilton Nolan · 10/22/09 01:30PMNew York Times Hires Gang Who Killed Chicago Tribune to Kill Tribune
John Cook · 10/22/09 01:02PMArthur Sulzberger: Employee Dedication, and Layoffs, Are Moving NYT in 'Right Direction'
Gabriel Snyder · 10/22/09 11:39AMAOL and Time Inc CEOs Meet to Discuss Merger?
The Business Insider · 10/22/09 09:24AMNew York Times No Longer in the Advertising Business
Hamilton Nolan · 10/22/09 08:14AMThat Gay Mobster Totally Did Not Mean to Come Out
John Cook · 10/21/09 04:47PMcityfile · 10/21/09 03:01PM
• Both Google and Facebook are getting into the music biz, apparently. [NYT]
• ESPN's Steve Phillips has a pretty messy sex scandal on his hands. [NYP]
• Condé Nast's latest effort to branch out: It's starting discount travel site called Jetsetter in partnership with Gilt Groupe. Meanwhile, this week's Observer recaps Condé's recent problems and reflects on the good 'ol days. [NYT, NYO]
• People's decision to pay big bucks for exclusive pics of kidnapee Jaycee Dugard sure paid off. The issue sold 2 million copies last week. [WWD]
• Who will be the next editor of BusinessWeek? Jon Friedman thinks former Portfolio editor Joanne Lipman would be a "fine choice." And she may be, provided Bloomberg is looking to destroy what's left of the magazine. [MW]
• Michael Steele is now (officially) Us Weekly's editor-in-chief. [NYT]
• How many people despise cable news clown Glenn Beck? Enough that the network has hired a bodyguard to follow him everywhere he goes. [P6]
• Yet another book "by" Michael Jackson may be coming soon. Super! [Crain's]