mediabistro.com: FishBowlLA http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/?c=rss Copyright 2009 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:48:59 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.121 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss LA Weekly Gets Defensive About Neon Tommy Report Earlier this week, the USC student-run online publication Neon Tommy published a profile of LA Weekly editor Drex Heikes. The story was not unflattering, and I was impressed by Heikes' candor about many of the issues facing the paper. He openly acknowledged how grim things had become:

"Sometime in the winter, spring, it bottomed out," Heikes said gravely from his new desk at the Weekly's Culver City headquarters. "I wasn't here, but from what I understand, there were sparks on the pavement. The shocks were gone. There was just nothing left."

Of course Heikes is cocksure he can turn the place around. His assessment is ballsy and honest, and who wouldn't appreciate that? Well, LA Weekly staffer Dennis Romero, for one. Today he wrote a blog post titled, "For The Record: Setting Things Straight Regarding Neon Tommy Report On LA Weekly." And to be fair, the Neon Tommy story contained a glaring factual error. It reported an editorial staff of six, when it is in fact about three times that. But Romero is more eager to contradict his editor's acknowledgment of problems at the paper - or to blame them on the former staff.

Tommy's gives some ink to the notion espoused by the Weekly's critics -- mostly former employees -- that the paper has seen better days and is need of rescuing or, in the parlance of the Neon ones, that it needs saving -- a "Herculean task."

(The headline of the Neon Tommy story was "Heikes' Herculean Task: Save The L.A. Weekly.")

Herculean is not the word. Once we dust off the notepads that were rarely used by some of the Weekly's columnists of yesterday, it'll be like shooting fish in a barrel.

His attacks on the pre-New Times LA Weekly come in unbelievably broad strokes that are not only unfair but inaccurate. For every desk-bound opinion columnist like Harold Meyerson, there was a hard-hitting reporter like David Zahniser whose notebook was never, ever dusty.

As one of the former staffers being slammed indiscriminately by Romero, I'm admittedly a little peeved. I'm gonna take a walk around the block, punch a wall, listen to some Joan Jett - but I'll be back. And I've got a few things to say.

]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

]]> http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/newspaper_deathwatch/la_weekly_gets_defensive_about_neon_tommy_report_143887.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/newspaper_deathwatch/la_weekly_gets_defensive_about_neon_tommy_report_143887.asp?c=rss Newspaper Deathwatch Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:48:59 -0800 Mediabistro Blog-Family Roundup mediabistro_logo.jpg
  • Vladimir Nabokov's unfinished novel in Playboy - GalleyCat

  • AP reaches payroll cut goal - MediaJobsDaily

  • Brian Williams receives Cronkite Award - TVNewser

  • AOL still hiring journalists as it cuts staff - FishbowlNY

  • Biz Stone on paywalls: Can't put the genie back in the bottle - BayNewser

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]> http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/tangled_web/mediabistro_blogfamily_roundup_143894.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/tangled_web/mediabistro_blogfamily_roundup_143894.asp?c=rss Tangled Web Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:16:27 -0800 Ellen Reacts To Oprah's Announcement Ellen Degeneres reacts to the news of the end of the Oprah show.

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]>     http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/idiot_box/ellen_reacts_to_oprahs_announcement_143879.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/idiot_box/ellen_reacts_to_oprahs_announcement_143879.asp?c=rss Idiot Box Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:44:05 -0800     FBLA's Top 5 Stories Yesterday
  • Carrie Prejean Ready To Sue Pornographers If They Release Sex Tape

  • Model Maggie Rizer's AIDS Film Shuts Down/Can Step-Money Kerry Save It?

  • Hey LAT, Is There Nothing Else to Have an Opinion About?

  • Will Ferrell Tops Forbes' 10 Most Overpaid Stars

  • Oprah Done In 2011

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]> http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/tangled_web/fblas_top_5_stories_yesterday_143815.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/tangled_web/fblas_top_5_stories_yesterday_143815.asp?c=rss Tangled Web Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:13:16 -0800 OC Register and FBLA Crossover OCregprofit.png
    One of your hard-working FBLA editors made the opinion section of the OC Register.

    Full story is here.

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]>     http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/newspapers/oc_register_and_fbla_crossover_143810.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/newspapers/oc_register_and_fbla_crossover_143810.asp?c=rss Newspapers Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:55:57 -0800     Fox 11's Mark Thompson Discovers Divorcees at Strip Clubs, Investigates Fully

    "They're curing their heartache with big doses of man medicine," reports Mark Thompson. "Smokin' hot firemen... sizzling old west cowboys... steamy bare-chested soldiers... and hot cops, in and out of uniform. The kinds of guys that really get these women's horns up."

    A very thorough and objective investigation of a strip club. Is that man sweat we smell or an Emmy?

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]>     http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/idiot_box/fox_11s_mark_thompson_discovers_divorcees_at_strip_clubs_investigates_fully_143808.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/idiot_box/fox_11s_mark_thompson_discovers_divorcees_at_strip_clubs_investigates_fully_143808.asp?c=rss Idiot Box Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:42:58 -0800     Oprah Done In 2011 2001oprah0.jpgHarpo, the production company behind Oprah Winfrey's talk show, sent a memo to staff today announcing the end of the program. "The sun will set on the 'Oprah' show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011," explained Harpo president Tim Bennett. Oprah will make an official announcement live on her show Friday.

    Read the full text of the letter - found at TMZ - after the jump.

    ]]> continued...

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]>     http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/idiot_box/oprah_done_in_2011_143768.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/idiot_box/oprah_done_in_2011_143768.asp?c=rss Idiot Box Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:49:33 -0800     Mediabistro Blog-Family Roundup mediabistro_logo.jpg
  • Who's not staying at Bloomberg's BusinessWeek - MediaJobsDaily

  • Woman uses Facebook to track down attacker - WebNewser

  • AP layoff update: Four bureaus closed, says union - FishbowlNY

  • Walmart.com CEO denies "predatory" book pricing - GalleyCat

  • Wired creating an eReader version of the magazine - BayNewser

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]> http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/tangled_web/mediabistro_blogfamily_roundup_143751.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/tangled_web/mediabistro_blogfamily_roundup_143751.asp?c=rss Tangled Web Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:56:07 -0800 Will Ferrell Tops Forbes' 10 Most Overpaid Stars will ferrell I.jpg
    According to Forbes, citing the stinker Land of the Lost, Will Ferrell movies earned an average of $3.29 for every dollar he was paid. Compare that with Michael Cera who made the magazine's "Hollywood's 10 Best Actors For The Buck" list whose movies earn $102 for each dollar he's paid.

    The only actress on the list this year is, no surprise Drew Barrymore. And yes, Tom Cruise is number six and Jim Carrey is number ten.

    Read the whole story here.

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]>     http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/show_business/will_ferrell_tops_forbes_10_most_overpaid_stars_143737.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/show_business/will_ferrell_tops_forbes_10_most_overpaid_stars_143737.asp?c=rss Show Business Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:12:50 -0800     Fox News Accidentally Promos 'Going Rouge'

    "Going Rouge" is a book written by editors at The Nation. "Going Rogue" is a mavericky, romp through why everybody but Sarah Palin is "making stuff up."

    It can get confusing.

    Via The Nation

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]>     http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/idiot_box/fox_news_accidentally_promos_going_rouge_143725.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/idiot_box/fox_news_accidentally_promos_going_rouge_143725.asp?c=rss Idiot Box Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:25:57 -0800     Jon Fine Leaves Business Week jonfine.png

    Business Week columnist Jon Fine just announced via Twitter that he won't be returning. Fine's wife is the founder of Mediabistro Laurel Touby.

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]>     http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/in_n_out/jon_fine_leaves_business_week_143723.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/in_n_out/jon_fine_leaves_business_week_143723.asp?c=rss In N Out Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:18:28 -0800     FBLA's Top 5 Stories Yesterday
  • Bill Barol Has Big Questions and a Pilot Web Series

  • Hey LAT, Is There Nothing Else to Have an Opinion About?

  • FBLA Got an Interview With Sarah Palin and So Can You

  • Skeptic Michael Shermer is Blogging at True/Slant

  • San Diego Union-Tribune Demonstrates A Strong Need For Copy Editors

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]> http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/on/fblas_top_5_stories_yesterday_143714.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/on/fblas_top_5_stories_yesterday_143714.asp?c=rss Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:12:56 -0800 Jon Stewart Interviews Lou Dobbs The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10cLou Dobbswww.thedailyshow.com
    Daily Show
    Full Episodes    		Political HumorHealth Care Crisis

    This is a pretty stunning interview with the recently fired/retired Lou Dobbs.

    "Your views however abhorrent and wrong have always been consistent," says Jon Stewart through a smile.

    The other clips are here.

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]>     http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/journos/jon_stewart_interviews_lou_dobbs_143689.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/journos/jon_stewart_interviews_lou_dobbs_143689.asp?c=rss Journos Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:25:49 -0800     Ira Glass On Ruth Seymour From a piece about Ruth Seymour in today's LA Times:

    In 1996, KCRW was the first station to carry "This American Life" outside of its home base, Chicago's WBEZ. Host Ira Glass said of Seymour, who was an early supporter of his program, "I think she has a real instinctive gut confidence as a programmer that's rare in public broadcasting. That's why the station is so successful."

    She even had a hand in re-naming the show, originally called "Your Radio Playhouse."

    "She was very insistent that it was a terrible title," Glass said. "If not for Ruth, we still might have the other title."

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]>     http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/radiodispatched/ira_glass_on_ruth_seymour_143654.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/radiodispatched/ira_glass_on_ruth_seymour_143654.asp?c=rss Radio-dispatched Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:46:32 -0800     Carrie Prejean Ready To Sue Pornographers If They Release Sex Tape 190miss-california-carrie-prejean.jpg
    Vivid Entertainment has acquired the solo sex tape Carrie Prejean made for a boyfriend, and hopes to distribute it commercially. The porn company has offered the former Miss California $1 million for the rights to release the film, but despite her refusal, there seems to be some concern the footage will hit the market just the same. Prejean's lawyer has sent a letter warning Vivid that they will be sued if they release the tape. Excerpt from XBiz.com:
    "[W]e are writing at this time to inform you that the unauthorized use of any videotapes or photographs of my client will result in her suing for invasion of privacy, including misappropriation of her likeness for a commercial purpose, as well as public disclosure of private facts," Prejean's attorney wrote to Vivid co-chairman Steve Hirsch. "She will also sue for intentional infliction of emotional distress and seek full consequential and punitive damages."

    It's odd to agree with the bigoted beauty queen about anything, but we are totally with her on this one. Releasing the tape would be a disgusting violation of privacy.


    Formerly of FBLA:
    More Carrie Prejean Sex Tapes?

    ]]> New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

    ]]>     http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/show_business/carrie_prejean_ready_to_sue_pornographers_if_they_release_sex_tape_143656.asp?c=rss http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/show_business/carrie_prejean_ready_to_sue_pornographers_if_they_release_sex_tape_143656.asp?c=rss Show Business Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:18:10 -0800