About a month ago, Miles Smith, a weekend producer at WJLA, left his job. And Friday was Steve Friess‘s last day with Politico Pro. The couple is relocating to Ann Arbor, where Miles (pictured at far right) will return to school and Friess will resume his freelance writing career.

We’re thinking their respective office meetings in the last year made for interesting pillow talk. As is common knowledge, Robert Allbritton sold WJLA to Sinclair Broadcast Group.

See his heartfelt memo, including the revelation that he and his partner plan on becoming fathers. Read more

A lot of us have been there.

Respond or don’t respond to a tweet that makes you want to drive your fist through the computer screen. Or maybe just cuss a little too much. Many think ignoring is the way to go, and they’re probably right. But some in the news business can’t always go that route.

CNN’s Piers Morgan appears to enjoy mixing it up with his gun-toting foes. An example: “Hey @piersmorgan , saw my neighbor walk in his front door with an AR-15 yesterday. Glad I have him for a neighbor!” a follower wrote. Piers retweeted by didn’t respond. But on Sunday he replied to a raunchy tweet that involved the t-word. Judging from the reaction, followers were neither surprised nor came down on him for it. His response appeared to only fuel the fire and trash talk.

Some weren’t pleased Piers even responded. But see how the bulk of fans reacted… Read more

Earlier today we published a story highlighting the marked increase of women in leadership roles at Politico. The publication, clearly founded by two males, has been dogged since it began in 2006 over the heavy presence of males in top roles. Insiders have said repeatedly that the reports were overblown. But that didn’t stop WaPo‘s Erik Wemple from highlighting the startling numbers of women who have left over the years. Or TNR from recently questioning VandeHarris over the reputation of “overt sexism” at the news outlet.

As we reported earlier today, as some top male editors are leaving the publication, they’re being replaced by women. Before this, women had already assumed top roles. We asked if this, as well as a number of other females in high-ranking roles, is a concerted effort to beat the bad rap.

Editor-in-Chief John Harris told FishbowlDC, “To be clear, I don’t  believe in our many years as editors and reporters either Jim or I were ever ‘accused of being anti-women.’ It is true that due to the circumstances of our launch we were for a time kind of top-heavy with men in ways that did not reflect our vision for POLITICO. By no means are any recent moves a reflection of some sort of ‘concerted effort’ on gender grounds. Instead, they flow naturally from our determination to get the most talented and ambitious people in jobs where they can have the most impact on our newsroom, on our business, and for our readers.”
Read more

Politico is slowly but surely putting together its magazine team. Run by Susan Glasser and Blake Hounshell, both of whom recently arrived from Foreign Policy magazine, they’ve hired on Jason Zengerle from New York Magazine and GQ. Zengerle previously wrote for The New Republic.

In addition, Glenn Thrush, the White House reporter known for his feisty arguing on Twitter, is moving over to the magazine beat. If Politico Editor-in-Chief John Harris gushed any more about him, his head even in his infamous fedora, might not fit through the door. He calls him “one of our most brilliant reporters and writers” and says the “move is a natural for Glenn, whose greatest strength may be his ability to understand the ways that human character animates Washington and its large political and policy debates. Glenn is as gifted as any writer I have known at bringing this to life in vivid ways, and we are extremely enthusiastic about his new assignment.”

See the memo… Read more

Are women on the rise at Politico? If you recall, in a recent interview with TNR, Executive Editor Jim VandeHei and Isaac Chotiner got in a verbal dust-up on the matter when Chotiner uttered the phrase “overt sexism” and suggested that Politico has a female problem. “I think women would find the premise deeply condescending,” VandeHei shot back at him, saying no one who presently works at Politico would make the charge. And the facts are what they are. Even if you argue this may just be for appearance sake, there are a lot of females in high-ranking roles.

In recent months Politico has been a steady procession of men out of leadership posts. With what looks to be a substantial overhaul of Politico management, the winners are all women. Tim Grieve, who had repeatedly been accused of treating women unfairly, is out and now at National Journal, where his new colleagues say he couldn’t be nicer; Craig Gordon, the highest ranking male outside of VandeHarris is gone as of today — he’s off to Bloomberg News, where he’ll be Deputy Managing Editor. Females in high-ranking roles at Politico include Susan Glasser, who they’ve hired to run a longform magazine project and one their newest hires, Denise Kerston Wells, who they snagged from Washingtonian, to be a senior editor for the longform project. Danielle Jones, meanwhile, is the highest ranking woman in editorial who beat out Gordon and Grieve for job, Kim Kingsley is the COO and Rachel Smolkin, who will take over for Gordon.

We asked Politico Editor-in-Chief John Harris if this has been a concerted effort combat the rap and put women in top roles and will report back if he replies.

See the extremely complimentary memo from Politico on Gordon as well as Bloomberg‘s announcement… Read more

“He’s a pioneer.” – BuzzFeed Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith on New York mayoral hopeful Anthony Weiner, who he’s interviewing for “BuzzFeed Brews” tonight in New York City for 45 minutes. Asked what new things we’ll learn tonight, if anything, Smith told MSNBC’s “The Daily Rundown” this morning, “That’s kinda up to Anthony. I think there are a lot of questions…about how his email-mate is enjoying her 15 minutes.” He’s referring to Sydney Elaine Leathers, who recently shot a masturbatory porn video. Valid Q: Will Weiner ever watch it?

Cantankerous Jay Rosen compares FNC’s Ed Henry to a dog

“Ed Henry is hilarious! So transparent. Like a cellophane puppy dog desperate for a pat on the head. (If you’re watching WH press conference)” — Blogger, prof and fantastically smug Jay Rosen.

Politico Playbook Publish Time: 8:48 a.m.

Journo vexed by computer mishap

“Not good tech backup plan: LONG wait at @westelmgeorgetown. Internet down. No plan for when this happens?” — Politico‘s Anna Palmer.

Convo Between Two Journos

This morning’s conversation is between WaPo’s Clinton Yates and nbcwashington.com Contributor Chuck Thies.

YATES: I just don’t consider phone use selfish.

THIES: @clintonyates, YOU don’t. But if it diminishes the experience of a nearby moviegoer, it is polite to refrain. #MyFartsDontSmell

Travel Bitches

“@united flight delayed due to lack of ice and beverages. It’s a 75m trip. Who the f cares? Can’t wait for @USAirways to join OneWorld.” — Reason Magazine’s Preston Cornish.

The Adviser

“Seriously @KrisJenner? You might wanna chill on this one when @KimKardashian’s claim to fame is a sex tape. Just keep it moving.” — TV One morning host and syndicated columnist Roland Martin.

Three D.C. media types were out on the town at a bar on P Street Thursday night and thankfully ran into this, our Hot Mess of the Week. Please journos, don’t try this, even while off the clock.

Read more

Politico‘s Patrick Gavin has a story out this afternoon with splintering views on what effect a Hillary Clinton documentary will have on the news divisions of CNN and NBC.

CNN’s Candy Crowley tells him the network’s decision to commission a doc, even by an outside group, will still make things tough in terms of perception that they are somehow in Clinton’s pocket. Crowley told Politico:

“You can say all you want, this is a commissioned documentary from people who are not in the employ of CNN. It’s not me. It’s not Wolf Blitzer. It’s not John King. It’s an outside documentary group. But we’re with CNN and so this is not a story where the nuances are well-received, particularly by Republicans.”

Probably not a shocker that FNC’s Chris Wallace takes an opposing view from Crowley and thinks Republicans have a point.

Read the story.

Former Politico reporter Dave Catanese, who now runs TheRun2016, has entered into his first syndicate agreement. He wouldn’t get into the exact numbers, but sufficed to say it’s a monthly contracted fee for content.

It is with YellowHammerNews, which is based in Homewood, Ala. The non-exclusive agreement transpired earlier in the month. YellowHammerNews is a conservative news and politics site founded by Cliff Sims, whose work has appeared the The Daily Caller and its sometimes arch nemesis Politico.

“I’ve received some interest from local websites and bloggers who are interested in national content and want to syndicate my content,” Catanese told FishbowlDC, explaining that more progressive and mainstream sites are also considering entering into similar agreements. “Essentially we agreed to a contract where they can syndicate TheRun2016 content on their own site.  We’re taking baby steps, but the idea is to try to expand this type of syndication agreement into other states — and am in that process right now.”

Cantanese stresses that TheRun2016 does not lean conservative.  “The content on my site will not be partisan — and I think taking even a cursory look at it bears that out,” he said. “TheRUN2016.com is dedicated to providing analysis on candidates in both parties and I don’t come from an ideological perspective.”

“They are creepy creeps who don’t know they got a problem.” — CNN Contributor Ana Navarro on “New Day” this morning regarding New York mayoral hopeful Anthony Weiner and San Diego Mayor Bob Filner remaining in their respective race and political position.

She has a point.

“Anybody that says ‘TMI’ to me on twitter is failing at the internet.” — Daily Beast columnist and “Raising McCain’s” Meghan McCain. But can she maybe cut down on the exclamation points? “I’M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT’S SO COOL!!!! So proud (tomorrow is the last day of filming, emotions are at an all time high)!”

The Media Observer

“By my count, Pres Obama has held 123 press availabilities since taking office of which 24 were formal, solo WH news conferences.” — CBS White House Radio Correspondent Mark Knoller.

Forget happy hour. Try anchovies!

“Certain days can only be fixed with anchovies at 2 Amys.” — Washingtonian Style Editor Kate Bennett.

The Media Observer

“Wolf Blitzer right now doing some hard reporting on ‘BEYONCE’S NEW DO.’” — Mother Jones Washington Bureau’s Asawin Suebsaeng.

Politico Playbook Publish Time: 6:17 a.m.

Convo Between Two Media Types

This morning’s conversation is between NBC’s Andrew Rafferty and Tim Murphy, executive director of America Rising PAC and former Huntsman and GOP flack.

RAFFERTY: When I told @anthonyweiner I was covering his campaign he told me to “You gotta get a hobby””

MURPHY: May I suggest chatroulette?