Click here to receive Mediabistro’s Morning Media Newsfeed via email.

Sources: ESPN Laying Off Hundreds (Deadspin)
ESPN laid off a portion of its staff Tuesday, a network spokesman confirmed to us. How many? ESPN won’t say. A tipster told us earlier that it would be more than 400 staffers. A source at ESPN said that number is a little high, but it appears to be in the hundreds. FishbowlNY An ESPN spokesperson emailed to tell us that they hadn’t cut 400 staffers. When we asked how many were let go, “We’re not getting into particulars but it is fewer than 400″ was all we got back. USA Today / Big Lead Sports According to an ESPN source, the layoffs will come mostly, but “not exclusively,” from tech and sales departments (think regional offices: Denver, Las Vegas, Seattle). ESPN is reviewing its entire studio production department over the next three-to-four weeks, which is about 2,800 employees. It is possible some shows will be cut. These layoffs are part of a Disney-wide process. THR News of layoffs comes less than two weeks after Disney’s media networks segment rose 6 percent to $4.96 billion, with operating income up 8 percent to $1.86 billion. One of the company’s most consistently lucrative properties, ESPN has enjoyed increased affiliate revenue in 2013. Read more

TVSpy: Oklahoma reporters react to covering the tornado.

FishbowlDC: A Daily Caller editor sends emails proclaiming photos of Dick Cheney “dick pics.” RIP puns.

UnBeige: Tim Gunn is going to evaluate products and try not to say “Make it work.”

Bonnier just bought a bunch of motorcycle brands, so now it needs someone to oversee them all. Andrew Leisner is their man. Leisner, most recently the publisher of Cycle World, has been promoted to vice president, group publisher of the new Bonnier Motorcycle Group.

In his new role, Leisner will be responsible for Cycle World, Motorcyclist, Sport Rider, Dirt Rider, Motorcycle Cruiser, Hot Bike, Baggers, Super Streetbike, Street Chopper and ATV Rider.

“Andy is an energetic and inspirational leader who empowers his people — all qualities that make him the perfect choice to lead our new group,” said Eric Zinczenko, Bonnier’s executive VP, in a statement. “His passion for motorcycles, his knowledge of the market, his competitiveness and his ‘need to win’ are the perfect formula for leading this important business unit for Bonnier Corp.”

Launched by music enthusiasts in 1999, The FADER prides itself on giving equal coverage to different genres and has a knack for uncovering up-and-coming artists before they hit the mainstream. And though the editors there tend to favor freelancers who they’ve worked with before, you can get a foot in the door in some of the more freelancer-friendly sections – especially if your pitch has the right hook.

The mag has a determination to highlight breaking artists, emerging trends and seasoned musicians before lightning-quick websites can get their mitts on those stories — an impressive feat considering The FADER‘s writers only do in-person, on-site reporting for features. Artists who got their first mag covers with The FADER include Kanye West, MIA, The Strokes, Drake, Bon Iver, Frank Ocean and more. The magazine also holds the distinction of being the first publication to be distributed as a PDF through iTunes.

For more, read How To Pitch: The FADER.

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Jann Wenner is very satisfied with naming Gus Wenner, his 22-year-old son, the new editor of Rollingstone.com. To quote Elaine, get out.

Below are some quotes from Jann’s interview with Adweek, along with some FishbowlNY analysis. In the talk, Jann explains why he hired his son without mentioning that he hired his son. Nice work.

On Gus’ age:

“He’s worked at Rollingstone.com for the past six or seven months. He’s reporting to people who are really smart. And he’s not doing any reckless things.” Checklist for becoming a top editor of one of the most iconic magazines ever published: 1) Work there for six or seven months. 2) Avoid f*cking up for six or seven months. You’re hired!

Read more

ESPN is making some serious cuts. A source told Deadspin that about 400 staffers are being let go. Some of those being laid off have been told they can stay until the end of the week if they want.

One anonymous ESPN staffer who got the axe had been with the company for almost a decade. That person considered the move “Completely out of the blue.” The staffer added, “I was told it was 10 percent across the board, which would be roughly 400. I was told the reason was they needed to make their profit margin and they chose to do that via layoff of staff.”

We’ve reached out to ESPN for comment, and we’ll update when we hear back.

Update (12:53 pm):
ESPN sent the following statement: ”We are implementing changes across the company to enhance our continued growth while smartly managing costs. While difficult, we are confident that it will make us more competitive, innovative and productive.”

Update (3:00 pm):
An ESPN spokesperson emailed to tell us that they hadn’t cut 400 staffers. When we asked how many were let go, “We’re not getting into particulars but it is fewer than 400″ was all we got back. So there’s that.

Yahoo! buying Tumblr is a big deal, so The New York Times went all out with its coverage today. There’s a piece about Yahoo! moving into the old Times building on 43rd Street, but the most noticeable piece is in the Business section. There Times readers can find a giant replica of a Tumblr dashboard, complete with headlines and articles about the acquisition. It’s a cool and creative way to discuss the news.

There’s also a photo in the dashboard of Marissa Mayer laughing with David Karp (Tumblr’s founder and really, really rich dude). Oh, and on A1, the Times ran a piece about how Karp dropped out of school.

He was still home schooled though! So you know, do your homework, kids.

[Image: Tumblr, duh]

The New York Daily News and The New York Post both used the same photo to illustrate the devastation left by the tornado that hit Oklahoma yesterday. Ironically, though the captured moment is extremely sad, the woman carrying the child conveys hope.

If you’re wondering how you can help the tornado victims, here’s a nice roundup.

Read more

Click here to receive Mediabistro’s Morning Media Newsfeed via email.

Fox News: ‘We Will Unequivocally Defend’ Rosen Against ‘Chilling’ DOJ Investigation (TVNewser)
Fox News executive VP of news Michael Clemente released the following statement on Monday to TVNewser with regard to James Rosen being targeted by the Department of Justice: “We are outraged to learn [Monday] that James Rosen was named a criminal co-conspirator for simply doing his job as a reporter. In fact, it is downright chilling. We will unequivocally defend his right to operate as a member of what up until now has always been a free press.” FishbowlNY According to court documents, the DOJ used Rosen’s Justice Department security badge to watch when he came and went from the State Department, acquired a search warrant for his personal emails, and monitored his phone calls with a government advisor suspected of leaking intelligence. The New Yorker / News Desk Rosen was not charged with any crime, but it is unprecedented for the government, in an official court document, to accuse a reporter of breaking the law for conducting the routine business of reporting on government secrets. TVNewser The AP made waves last week after it was revealed that the DOJ targeted the personal and professional phone lines of hundreds of journalists in an apparent attempt to determine who leaked information. Slate They’re going after him not as a witness to a crime — nor as a pressure tactic to get him to give up his source (in this case, the source has already been caught) — but rather, in the words of a Justice Department affidavit, as “an aider, an abettor, and/or a co-conspirator.” In short, as someone who might be indicted under the Espionage Act. This has never happened in this country. (Even in the Pentagon Papers case, several newspapers were served injunctions not to publish stories, but no reporter or editor was ever investigated, much less tried, as a co-conspirator.) If the prosecutors go through with their threat, the entire enterprise of national security journalism — which inherently involves uncovering secrets, to some degree — will be in jeopardy. Politico / Politico 44 White House press secretary Jay Carney wouldn’t comment Monday on the ongoing national security leaks case involving Rosen, after a weekend news report detailing the Justice Department’s surveillance of him. “I can’t comment on an ongoing criminal investigation, nor should I,” Carney said in response to one of several questions on the case, offering a similar answer each time. Read more