The Daily Beast‘s Robin Givhan: “Newt Gingrich: the long goodbye as pompous lecture.”

Politico’s Glenn Thrush: “This reminds me of that scene in Airplane where this guys keeps talking and all his seat mates start committing suicide.”

Politico‘s Reid Epstein: “Just fyi, the Gettysburg Address was 271 words.”

CNN’s Mark Preston: “Newt Gingrich just suspended his presidential campaign and now he is talking about his moon colony proposal.”

Reuters‘ Sam Youngman: “Somewhere Romney is saying, ok, that’s enough, Newt.”

Politico‘s Darren Goode: “I’m now officially drunk. #drinkinggame #Newt”

WaPo‘s Chris Cillizza: “Newt is, gulp, likable in this press conference. No?”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Playbook, HuffPost Hill, and RCP, take note:  a new daily email newser is creeping into your space as well as the inboxes of Washington’s top wonks and influencers.

Over the past few weeks, veteran producer Michelle Jaconi and CNN Political Director Mark Preston have quietly begun circulating their 5 p.m. “Gut Check” to colleagues, deal makers and choice recipients at the White House and on Capitol Hill.  Defined as “a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle,” Gut Check appears to be the evening answer to Politico Mike Allen’s morning distribution. Preston and Jaconi’s pub provides politicos and the people who love them, a two-minute analysis of the day in politics, a rundown of stories leading competitive websites, top tweets, monumental moments from the campaign trail, breaking news and other tasty tidbits to satisfy the Beltway’s inquiring minds.

FishbowlDC hears an automated signup form for CNN’s Gut Check is in the works but early adopters have to request an ‘add’ the old fashioned way – by emailing gutcheck@cnn.com or checking it out each evening on CNN’s political ticker blog.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Mark Preston becomes CNN Political Director.  In this role, a release states, “Mark will be CNN’s primary contact with political campaigns at both the state and national level. His work is integral to organizing critical CNN events such as presidential debates and forums.  He will help set editorial direction for CNN’s programs during the election season, including primary and election nights. Mark is also one of the great political reporters in Washington and we will continue to lean on Mark’s reporting and analysis both on TV and online throughout the coming campaign.  Mark will report to Eric Sherling.”

Paul Steinhauser, meanwhile, becomes CNN Political Editor and supervising producer of the CNN Political Unit.  “He will be responsible for overseeing CNN’s political newsgathering operations. As the leader of the political beat, Paul will be responsible for assigning and managing CNN’s political coverage team including correspondents, producers, desk editors, polling, research, and the CNN Political Ticker. Paul’s proven leadership and keen political analysis will be invaluable as CNN heads into this historic election year. Paul and the Political Unit will report to Edith Chapin.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Coincidence? We think not. Last night FishbowlMatt and I were texting about a variety of hot topics when he entered the Chipotle and saw this.

Deep Thoughts…

“Sun. Grass. Newspapers. People. A family of teeny mice tiptoe through the shrubs in their own private world. #sittingstill #whatching” — National Geographic Contributing Editor Carl Hoffman.

Luke and Maureen off to see Bruce

“On my way to see Springsteen with Luke. Wrote Newsweek cover story on Bruce exactly 36 years ago this coming week.” — Vanity Fair Correspondent Maureen Orth. (The late Tim Russert‘s favorite musician was Springsteen. The musician gave a surprise performance at Russert’s memorial service in 2008.)

The Political Consultant

“Sen. @DavidVitter uses Twitter to congratulate individual Republicans for winning in Saturday’s La. Election #notnecessary” — CNN Senior Political Editor Mark Preston.

Flashback

“Mechanic told me today my car failed inspection. He had a look of disappointment as I tried to explain what happened #highschoolflashbacks” — The Hill‘s Managing Editor Bob Cusack.

TWT Senior Op-ed Writer Emily Miller‘s reaction to ex-Gov. Mark Sanford being hired by Fox News: “WTF?”

Really?

“I’m so tempted to ad-lib but I won’t.” — TIME‘s Mark Halperin on this morning’s “Morning Joe.” After calling President Obama “kind of a dick” on national TV we’d think Halperin wouldn’t even think about ad-libbing. This involved a reenactment of Texas Gov. Rick Perry‘s interview to Parade Magazine. Willie Geist played Perry. Halperin played the interviewer.

Happy 24th wedding anniversary to WaPo‘s Karen Tumulty.

ABC’s Klein welcomes baby into world

“A warm welcome to Max Rubin Klein (9lb 8oz!). Future slugger? Congrats to parents Laine and @rickklein and big brother Jack.” — ABC’s Jonathan Karl.

Reminder: TMZ’s Harvey Levin talks to GWU students and then he’s off to the National Press Club for lunch.

If you’re up…

Call Trail Mix blogger Craig Crawford on C-SPAN starting at 7:45 a.m.

Democrats: (202) 737-0001
Republicans: (202) 737-0002
Independents: (202) 628-0205
Outside U.S.: (202) 628-0184

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

CNN Senior Political Editor Mark Preston: “Just watched 13 and counting fishing boats leave #Hatteras aboard ferry from #Ocracoke.”

Liquid weekend

“Margarita. Sun. Water. Stir. Serve.”– LAT and Chicago Tribune writer James Oliphant in a weekend tweet.

The judge has spoken: Nir Rosen

“How sad to call yourself a journalist and cover a royal wedding.” — Lefty journo Nir Rosen in a weekend tweet. This stellar critique coming from a man who, back in February, promised to get off Twitter after he made admittedly tasteless remarks about CBS’s Lara Logan being sexually assaulted in Egypt. Among other things he wrote, “It would have been funny if it happened to Anderson [Cooper] too.” How soon Rosen forgets saying, “I feel like shrinking now.” What’s he have against royal wedding coverage?

Ezra marvels at Britney’s career trajectory

“Sort of amazed that Britney Spears is still around and making hits. Has anyone done a great ‘Britney Spears: Survivor’ profile?” — WaPo‘s liberal blogger Ezra Klein in a weekend tweet. He then links to an article by the esteemed TV host Carson Daly, who cries about how sad he is that Britney is “crawling back into the womb” of the record industry. Daly’s show, “Last Call,” airs at 1:35 a.m. ET. First Ez expresses that he loves “Ice Loves Coco,” now this. Whatever metamorphosis is happening, we’re just relieved Klein has expanded his reading repertoire from CJR.

Journo has Metro rage

“Hate the DC Metro and I hate it so much I want to strangle it with my bare hands and destroy its evilness. #metrorage #primalscream.” — Roll Call‘s HOH writer Neda Semnani in a weekend tweet.

It was a long and stormy morning…

“#Boom, thought it was an earthquake in DC … Turned on TV …. Not yet? Just thunder/lightning … Ok. Back to bed.” — Human Events‘ Tony Lee in a weekend tweet.

“Was sleeping soundly until this Wrath of God weather came along & woke me. Yes, I think we need the rain, but at 5:45am on Sunday?!?” — C-SPAN’s Jeremy Art in a weekend tweet.

“Either they’re rehearsing the Fourth of July show on the Mall right now, or our independence is nearly over. #Invasion #Explosives” — WCP‘s Mike Madden in a weekend tweet.

Reporter has new pet peeve

“New airline annoyance: people who play computer solitaire with you over your shoulder.” — WaPo‘s Karen Tumulty in a weekend tweet.

Reporter declares nation sexy

“Happy Birthday America. You are still very sexy for a 235 year old.” — TWT‘s Eli Lake in a 4th of July tweet.

Sweating with Roland

“The thing I hate about the end of the Essence Music Fest is packing wet linen. I partied/sweated hard! #emf2011″ — Washington Watch Host Roland Martin in a weekend tweet.

Inskeep gets down with Prince

“Riding taxi through dark while radio plays ‘Kiss’ by Prince makes you feel you’re in a movie w/soundtrack.” — NPR’s Steve Inskeep in a Tuesday morning tweet.

Rough weekend

“Long weekend+3 power outages=kids bouncing off walls.” — NBC’s Chuck Todd in a weekend tweet.

The Observer

“After watching the “Page One” doc, here’s what I noticed: David Carr – a NY Times reporter – wore a Washington City Paper hat. #wemajor” — WCP Music Critic Marcus Moore in a weekend tweet.

The Critic

“You know it’s a bad day for news when half of @mikeallen‘s Playbook is Jon Huntsman news.” — Mediaite‘s Frances Martel in a weekend tweet.

Strange coincidence?

“Well, that was a first. Woman behind the desk at my gym: ”Pethokoukis?’ Is that an Indian name?’ Namaste!” — Reuters’ Politics and Policy writer Jim Pethokoukis in a weekend tweet. He goes on to say, “Also weird: yesterday I went to an Indian restaurant for the first time in my life.” Pethokoukis is Greek.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Yesterday we claimed that Thursday was the end of DogBowl 2010. But we lied. After the stampede of pictures that we received yesterday, today will be the final day. To answer Roll Call‘s Christina Bellantoni‘s tweet request to run a similar feline contest, the answer has to be simply: No way.  This runs a dangerous slippery slope to birds, pet snakes, gerbils (ick) and so forth. The ferret was a major exception. Yes, we know Politico‘s Patrick Gavin might be into it, but cats have no place in the expression, “If you want a friend in Washington get a…” cat? Just sounds off. Please don’t sic your Cat Fancy Magazine friends on us, either of you. In the meantime, to everyone, enjoy your last day of precious pooches. Next week we’ll award those who caught our eye. And angry Alvin (owned by the Washington Examiner‘s freelance film writer Andy White) you’ve been warned, you’re already in the doghouse. No lobbying will improve your chances unless your behavior improves.

Sincerely,

FishbowlDC Management

We start the day with 6-year-old Neepa from Maryland Patch reporter Amy Kovac-Ashley. The owner writes, “In addition to sitting and staying, she also lies down on command and shakes hands. She’s just basically more awesome than everyone else’s dog. And I’m not biased. I’m a journalist.” Meet Neepa.

> Update #1: “This is Zimm, a Beagle who is just shy of 5 months old and the most popular dog (or person) in my apartment building. He may be the first dog to be named after a Washington Nationals player—Ryan Zimmerman.”  The owner: Lauren Pick, Associate Producer, FNC D.C. Bureau of “Special Report with Bret Baier.”

> Update #2: Reader Joe Hainline (among other things he’s a wedding singer) submits Calvert, whom he says is “hands down the cutest dog in Washington.” Calvert (named after the bridge) is a 2 1/2-year-old Shih Tzu mix of some sort.

> Update #3: Emily the Beagle belongs to Lauren Tate of FNC’s D.C. Bureau. Tate explains, “She was originally dropped off at a shelter somewhere in Ohio having just given birth to a litter of puppies.  Both she and her puppies were abandoned at the shelter.” Emily was saved one day before she was scheduled to be put down.

> Update #4: Nipper is getting antsy. So here she is. Owner is Fran Murphy, a freelance producer for WJLA, Pentagon Channel and WDCW among others.

> Update #5: Bloomberg‘s Lisa Lerer says Athena is “so cute” and also claims the dog high fives. And actually, the photograph below appears to prove as much.

> Update #6: This is Duffy, TBD‘s Steve Buttry‘s (and Mimi Johnson‘s) toy Schnauzer puppy. Mimi writes in, “He’s just 14 weeks old. Currently his main interest include chewing, learning to sit and how to indicate when he needs to go outside. He also harbors a deep and unrequited love for Buttry’s smelly bedroom slippers.”

> Update #7: Say hello to Dishwasher Dog. Real name: Piper. “In addition to helping us do the dishes, Piper has very expensive taste in the shoes she likes to chew.  She can usually be found tiring out other dogs at the S Street Dog Park.” Owners: David and Haley Meadvin: Hayley is press sec. for the U.S. Small Business Administration; David is Prez of Inkwell Strategies, a DC-based speechwriting and communications firm.

> Update #8: CNN’s Mark Preston: “I can’t think of a better way than closing out the week than hanging out with a Guinness…Guinness Preston, of course. Check out the frothy paws.”

> Update # 9: Apparently Winston (who can speak) asked if his owner, Jeffrey Donald, would send his picture in.  Donald writes, “I told him that even though I am a former flack for the House Science Committee and at the Department of Commerce, I wasn’t sure that my current flacking gig at Bethesda’s USEC Inc. met the high standards of this contest. This picture (“Sad Winston”) was his reaction. He grumbled something about staging a write-in candidacy.”

> Update #10: This is Jinx, WAMU’s Patrick Madden‘s new puppy.

> Update #11: Go ahead and delete the other entries, says RNC Director Dave Welch. “Chipper was adopted out of a high kill shelter in West Virginia after he was abandoned by some Disney-like villain.  Chipper has thrived in DC and even dominated snowpocalypse.”

> Update #12: Meet Cali. She belongs to Rebecca Rudman, Comm Director to Rep. Ken Calvert. Rudman writes, “As you can see in the picture, she is hard at work on my desk (which is always a mess)!”

> Update #13: Say hello to Dexter, a Jack Russell Terrier belonging to WTOP reporter Kristi King and NPR.org editor Randy Lilleston . No picture. Watch the video.

> Update #14: Beagles Fred and Hank are at the arch in St. Louis. Owners: Photographer Joan Brady and husband, Jim, former GM of TBD.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Patriotism with a flare

“The national anthem is not about who sings it. Pisses me off. Just sing the damn song.” –The Weekly Standard‘s Stephen Hayes in a Thursday tweet. (And who doesn’t love being angrily ordered to sing the anthem?)

A slice of WH journo life

“Egocentric, eccentric Lester Kinsolving greets Biden with applause, fights with Ann Compton, who tells him shuddup.”
–Politico’s White House correspondent Glenn Thrush in a Thursday tweet.

TV editor enjoys frozen nougat candybar

“I just had a frozen Charleston Chew, but it wasn’t cold.”
–CNN’s senior political editor Mark Preston in a Thursday tweet that is encouragingly non-wonky.

Freddoso Disses Matthews

“Tea Party documentary: When was the last time Chris Matthews did anything worthwhile?” (His story, here, discusses what he calls Matthews’s shoddy journalism.) –Washington Examiner‘s David Freddoso tweets Thursday on MSNBC’s Matthews, who hosted a documentary show earlier this week.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

It’s 11:13 p.m. Tuesday night. There are a slew of political primaries taking place around the country.

And where is CNN?

Slate‘s chief political correspondent and CBS contributor John Dickerson said on Twitter: “On CNN it’s like there aren’t elections tongiht.” And Politics Daily Columnist and Mother Jones Bureau Chief David Corn remarked: “CNN, I like Ed Markey, but would rather hear Blanche Lincoln now. You’re the Best…what on TV?”

CNN’s absence perplexed D.C. journalists late Tuesday night. As elections results were rolling in, CNN’s Anderson Cooper was interviewing Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on the situation in the Gulf with an oil plume in the background. Meanwhile, FNC and MSNBC were fixated on the elections throughout the evening with special live coverage. FNC had anchor Bret Baier at the helm. MSNBC had special late night appearances by hosts Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews. Maddows went live at 11 p.m.; Matthews appeared live at midnight.

Also at midnight, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer did a special “Larry King Live” program on election results already covered by the other networks.

CNN staff covered the elections online during those hours, just not on air. From Blitzer: “I’m getting ready to anchor a one-hour special Larry King Live at midnight ET on all the election results. Get ready!” he tweeted.

Mark Preston, CNN’s newly promoted senior political editor, was on top of the results. “Meg Whitman wins in Calif. and faces Jerry Brown in November in the battle to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,” he said on Twitter. And Sam Feist, CNN’s V.P. of D.C.-based programming, remarked around the same time as Preston, tweeting, “Looks like Whitman and Fiorina headed for big victories in California GOP primaries. Full results: http://on.cnn.com/ayjGCR.”

CNN’s decision on Wednesday political and oil spill coverage was strategic.

From a CNN Spokesperson: “Not only do we cover politics, we’re committed to the oil spill disaster which has affected so many lives. Anderson’s program last night included interviews with survivors from the oil rig explosion. That’s an important story. In addition, during the 10p and 11p (ET) hours CNN had live election updates from Wolf Blitzer. He also hosted an hour-long live special at midnight (ET) as west coast results were coming in.”

> Update: For a clip of Cooper’s program Tuesday night with interviews of survivors of the oil spill, watch here.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

CNN Political Director and V.P. of the network’s D.C. Programming Sam Feist raved about him in a statement, saying, “Mark’s sources in the political world are extraordinary and have led Mark to break story after story after story for CNN.”

After six years at Roll Call, Preston became CNN’s Political Editor in 2005.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

On May 6, PoliTwitch! brings you scribes discussing the journalism profession in the age of social media.

The Panel
Peter Cherukuri, DC Bureau Manager, HuffPost
Patrick Gavin, Politico
Mark Preston, Political Editor, CNN
Jackie Kucinich, Staff Writer, Roll Call
Rachna Choudhry, Policy Manager, National Partnership for Women & Families

Talking Points:
•how social media has transformed the way political news is reported
•how issues and causes make it to the top of the news heap
•how organizations are using online tools to set themselves and their issues apart from those of their competitors, and ultimately garner news coverage

The Organizer
Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Mopwater PR + Media Notes

Register here.

Where: Busboys and Poets Langston Room
2021 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Cost: $35

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Good morning FishbowlDC!

Got a blind item, interesting link, funny note, comment, birthday, anniversary or anything of the sort for Morning Reading List? Drop us a line.

Happy Birthday to CNN’s Mark Preston. What we know and what we’re reading this Tuesday morning…

NEWSPAPERS | TV | MAGAZINES | NEWS NOTES | JOBS

NEWSPAPERS

Boston Globe: The Boston Globe‘s largest union, which represents nearly 700 editorial, advertising and business office workers, overwhelmingly approved a package of $10 million in wage and benefit cuts last night, ending more than three months of tense bargaining and brinksmanship.

From WaPo managing editors Liz Spayd and Raju Narisetti‘s online chat yesterday (h/t Poynter). “Paid wall for the Web site?: There’s a lot of chatter on the Web about moving newspaper’s Web content behind a paid wall. Any chance of that happening at WaPo? Spayd and Narisetti: Nothing imminent though we are constantly evaluating ways to get paid for our content.”

TV

Walter Cronkite‘s voice will stay as the intro to the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

Because of Pres. Obama’s news conference Wednesday night, CNN is shifting the schedule for the first night of “Black in America 2.” On Wednesday, it will air at 9pmET, but will be back on at 8pmET on Thursday.

Black Retort critiques CNN’s “Black in America” here.

CNN’s Campbell Brown spoke about the state of journalism in a recent interview, saying her network is the only one on cable “doing journalism.” Check out the clip on HuffPost.

CNBC’s Trish Regan announced on the air yesterday that she is expecting twins.

MAGAZINES

Newsweek has yet to see a bump from the redesigned mag.

NEWS NOTES

The Examiner‘s JP Freire‘s take on NJ‘s newly launched 3121, an online networking tool designed exclusively for all congressional members and staff.

Politico on Mary Matalin‘s lesser known role in DC… editor-in-chief at Threshold Editions.

Eight questions from the Economist for Slate’s Jacob Weisberg, including: “In the great shake-up that is now occurring in the media do you think anything of value will be lost?” His answer: “There’s a great deal at risk. The financial basis of the leading organisations that perform large-scale systemic news reporting has collapsed, and it’s not clear what, if anything, will replace it. Certain categories of coverage—foreign, local, investigative—don’t look economically viable on a for-profit basis at the moment. This is a political and societal problem as well as a business one because of the vital role that the kind of journalism traditionally performed by newspapers plays in democracy. We need to find new hybrid models to support it.”

HAT TIPS: mediabistro, TVNewser, Politico

JOBS after the jump…

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

“Lovesick”, Alex Wellen‘s new novel, was the reason. Quigley’s Pharmacy was the venue. Love Potion #9 flowed freely. And custom-crafted pill bottles (full of M&M’s) provided sweet remedy.

Attendees included Alex & Kris Wellen, Wolf Blitzer, Edie Emery, Jake Perry, Nancy Trejos, Mark Preston, Jay Newton-Small, Shirley Hung, Christina Sevilla, Lee Brenner, Marc Adelman, Annie Gowen, Rebecca Sinderbrand, Juleanna Glover, Courtney Kube, Mark Paustenbach, Sena Fitzmaurice and Andy Mirsky.

Noticeably absent: Huey Lewis & The News. (#lovesick & @alexwellen)

This post was written by a FBDC guest blogger Kenny Day. Pics also by Day.

More photos after the jump…

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Good morning FishbowlDC!

Got a blind item, interesting link, funny note, comment, birthday, anniversary or anything of the sort for Morning Reading List? Drop us a line.

Happy Birthday to Shawna Thomas and to Garrett Graff, who celebrates tomorrow. Kudos also to Jill Jackson, Brian Haefeli and Mark Preston who also correctly guessed where the C-SPAN bus was parked. We asked you earlier this week what you thought of the latest National Review cover- 92% say just fine, 8% think it’s too much.

Happy Friday! What we know and what we’re reading this morning…

NEWSPAPERS | TV | NEWS NOTES | JOBS

NEWSPAPERS

NYT‘s considering a $5 a month web-access fee, according to Bloomberg.

Ten questions for NYT‘s Bill Keller via Time: “It was partly the insatiable desire for scoops people in the Administration were feeding about the potential threat in Iraq,” said Keller of The New York Times’ coverage ahead of the Iraq War. “But a lot of it was just that we floated along with the conventional wisdom, the worst enemy of journalism.”

TV

Twenty questions from The Hill for Fox News’ Shannon Bream. “Q: What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you on-air? A: How do I narrow that down? I think honestly the worst thing is when you cannot find a word that is incredibly common but for some reason you have a brain freeze. I remember doing a report outside a restaurant about E. coli, and I couldn’t remember the word meat.” More on her reign as Miss Virginia 1990, her resume in local news and outlook for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s hearings next week here.

Congrats to MSNBC’s Willie Geist and his growing family who welcomed baby George William this wee.

NEWS NOTES

The Daily Show‘s John Oliver made a visit to DC this week, taking the opportunity to rip on a few TV newsers, including Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Wolf Blitzer. Check out TWT‘s take here.

Katie Couric, Cindy McCain, Elizabeth Edwards and Kate Gosselin are lined up to attend Maria Shriver‘s annual Women’s Conference this fall.

How did the media do covering the Michael Jackson “saga?” MarketWatch’s Jon Friedman takes a look.

What does Ana Marie Cox really think of Politico? Washington Whispers gets the scoop here.

HAT TIPS: mediabistro

JOBS after the jump…

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.