And so the cruel hand of fate dishes a load of shit to Times reporter Judith Miller. Miller has now been held in contempt of court and faces up to 18 months in jail for failing to reveal her sources regarding the leaked identity of a CIA operative. We kinda saw this coming, of course, and frankly, we support anyone going to jail over the refusal to identify sources. Good journalism and whatnot. Nevertheless, now we get to make fun lists:
· Absolute Publishing steals Andrew Essex from his number two spot at Details. Essex will help Absolute plan a high-end magazine launch for next spring, because heaven knows we really need another one of those. [NYP]
· Newsday settles circulation scandal issues with 1/3 of its advertisers, all with a deftly-performed blow job. [Newsday]
· The American youth still hasn't learned that mainstream journalism is a crock, but they are avoiding newsprint like the plague. [Coloradoan]
· Newsflash: service journalism totally sucks nowadays. We're desperate for some ill-informed advice on how to do something, anything! [Knight-Wallace]
Yesterday we published a list of Gotham magazine's most eligible bachelors with the knowledge that some of the men were openly gay but playing it straight. We don't really care whether Gotham intentionally left out the status of these gentlemen or just tried to appeal to a broad audience (we're hoping for the latter, of course, but the evil version is more fun). We left it to you to declare the more dubious listees; your guesses after the jump.
Today's a big day for "serious journalism" (oxymoron, yeah, we know), as a federal judge will be deciding the fate of Judith Miller, the Times reporter who has refused to testify regarding her sources in the leaked identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Either Miller will deflect heat pending an appeal, or she'll be held in contempt of court and face possible jail time or, at best, a fine.
The media machine of Conde Nast has scooped up another victim, the circulation-impaired YM magazine. We're also hearing that the teen magazine will fold after January and subscribers will automatically begin receiving the evil Teen Vogue. My God, have they no mercy on our youth? The fiendish memo announcing S.I. Newhouse's latest victim after the jump.
UPDATE: Word is that YM learned of their fate from New York Post business reporter Keith Kelly, who called the mag's offices and asked an editor how it felt to be laid off. Tasteful, indeed.
Single ladies, your bible has arrived: the October issue of Gotham is on the newsstands and, if you can get past the hideous cover shot of Kevin Bacon, you'll find their list of Manhattan's 100 most eligible bachelors. It's addled with the typical investment bankers, mini-moguls, realtors and...interior designers? Gee, that seems a little off. Actually, we KNOW not all of these boys are playing on their purported hetero team (with the exception of the few who admiringly speak of an ideal "partner"). As one insider noted, "Half the guys are of the confirmed variety, which isn't noted anywhere. Manhattan golddiggers are about to get punk'd."
Howard Stern announced that he's taking his show to Sirius Satellite Radio (in January of 2006, when his current radio contract is up), where he won't have to worry about FCC fines every time he says "anal sex" or spanks a stripper with an assortment of deli meats. Oh, yeah, he's also getting an unbelievable pile of money for attempting to carry satellite radio on his back, as Variety reports the five-year deal is worth $500 million (including the show's budget and its other expenses). No, we're pretty sure that's not a typo, since the Var article mentions the figure twice. Finally, Stern will be fairly compensated for asking Jennifer Aniston if she's ever made out with a woman.
Our hearts went out to Boldface Names stringer Lily Koppel last week when, after a bout of nastiness from I Heart Huckabees director David O. Russell, she was forced to leave a Q&A session on the Columbia campus. This week, however, she's really won us over with her chilling report of a Hemingway Preservation Foundation event at Elaine's in which James Gandolfini gets slightly lecherous with the dainty legger. The concept of a man of Gandolfini's ilk flirting with anyone is disturbing at best, but her account is genius. We won't sleep for weeks but, after penning this gem, we're guessing Lily won't either.
New York magazine sits down with designer Philippe Starck and real estate-progeny Sam Nazarian to discuss their hotel networking plan and, in the process, we learn that Starck and Nazarian are really doing charity work:
When the Washington Post revealed focus group results suggesting young people aren't necessarily fans of newspapers in their traditional form, editors presumably broke out in cold sweats while simultaneously humping their internet outlets. Editor & Publisher's new online editor, Jesse Oxfeld, weighs in on why online editions are preferred:
Sometimes, we just like to check out domain names. Often, these domain names have to do with "media elite." And even more often, our trolling around the internet for interesting domains yields little or no result. But not today, trembling readers—today we've hit the apocalyptic goldmine when looking for Tina Brownage. Earlier, the above image was available on what looks to be our beloved beelzebub's website (some smarty-pants has since taken it down, but we're on to you!), which means Topic A is here to stay. Now, how long until Tina starts a blog?
Topic A With Tina Brown
Daily News columnists Rush and Molloy have a curious blurb today about Times Arts editor (and occasional New York contributor) Ariel Kaminer. Apparently, Kaminer's comments on a draft from National Book Award-winner Andrew Solomon were so kind that an email copy made it all the way to the gossip desks, thus prompting them to run an Ariel-Kaminer-Is-Super-Nice-type of item.
The New York Times launched their new Sunday Arts section yesterday and, since evil Gawker Media overlord Choire is out of the office today, I'll go ahead and say it: that sellout bitch turned the Arts section into a big list of what not to see. A total recluse who can't even leave the house is going to tell us how to spend our time and money? Brilliant. Visually, the section employs a nouveau "white space" aesthetic, but we're thinking a bunch of art-school drop-outs really just sold their concept by pushing chunky fonts as "young" and "modern." It's clippy! It's blurby! Kind of like Entertainment Weekly, but not as easy to read in the bathroom.
Last week, Fox News ran an article in which Kerry was quoted as saying things after the debate such as, "Didn't my nails and cuticles look great? What a good debate!" (The quotes have since been removed from the article) Shortly thereafter, Fox News went all Dan Rather on us and admitted that the quotes were just exercises in creative writing:
That small retching noise you hear is the future of the art world, prominently displayed in this weekend's Times magazine modeling Chloe and Cavalli. But don't loathe these "young Medici types" and their "grueling" fall schedule of galas and openings; they're working damn hard to represent young patronage with disaffected heiress-stares whilst creatively pairing Posen with complimentary pieces by Rothko. Thank God someone is glamming up the art scene—without these ladies in Louboutin, art is so...ugly.
Patron Sweethearts [NYT Mag]
What can we say? There was no mention of Richard Avedon on last night's "Topic A," just John Kerry this, John Kerry that. At least Tina—with a new haircut?—seemed pleased by the Senator's debate performance. And when Tina's happy, Henry the Intern is happy. After the jump, he reports on Tina's undying love for Bob Dylan and Rush Limbaugh.
Okay, we get it, you're straight.
When it's all shitty outside, the AM New York hawkers go inside the subway stations to bug you with their free papers. Why do they stay safe and warm when rival freebie Metro's distributors have to brave the elements? The Post reports that AM distributors have been carrying around letters on MTA letterhead giving them permission to enter the subway stations. Hmm, too bad the MTA says these letters are completely fake. Put another notch on on the Tribune totem pole of shame—these guttersnipes not only own naughty AM, but also the beleagured Newsday.
Today's New York Times informs us that, with the rise of these crazy mobile phone thingies, area codes are not necessarily indicative of where you're calling. You know your friend with the 212 area code? Yeah, they might actually be in Jersey! You just don't know! See, that's the thing with mobile phones: they're mobile. So very confusing, we know, but at least we have the Region section to help us out. Next week in the Times: Those e-mails that promise to increase your penis size may not be on the up-and-up.
Area Codes, Now Divorced From Their Areas [NYT]
