FishbowlDC TVNewser TVSpy SocialTimes LostRemote MediaJobsDaily

Tim Armstrong Apologizes for Conference Call Canning

We’re not sure why it took AOL CEO Tim Armstrong two full business days to circulate an internal apology for his on-the-spot firing of Patch creative director Abel Lenz while chairing a Friday August 9 company-wide conference call. But per Romenesko, Peter Kafka and others, that missive has finally been dispatched:

Internal meetings of a confidential nature should not be filmed or recorded so that our employees can feel free to discuss all topics openly. Abel had been told previously not to record a confidential meeting, and he repeated that behavior on Friday, which drove my actions…

On Friday I acted too quickly and I learned a tremendous lesson and I wanted you to hear that directly from me…

Read more

Mediabistro Webcast

Marketing: Influencers and Brand Ambassadors

Marketing: Influencers and Brand AmbassadorsDon’t miss the chance to learn key elements that define successful digital influencers and why partnering with them can help generate sales and major prestige during the Marketing: Influencers and Brand Ambassadors webcast on August 21, 4-5 pm ET. You’ll participate in a live discussion with an expert speaker who will provide insights, case studies, real-world examples of strategies that have worked plus so much more! Register now.

Smashed Awards | PG Version Please | Helping Hand

Lost Remote: MTV plans to saturate social media with items promoting the VMAs, a show dedicated to ruining every Brooklynite’s weekend.

AppNewser: Please read this article about drones that are powered by thought, and then give us the non-scary version of it.

AllTwitter: Don’t tweet about blowing up airports kids.

New York Times Experiments with Trailer for Article [Update]

The New York Times wants you to get exited about an upcoming article titled “The Jockey,” so they’ve put together a trailer for it. The 36-second video doesn’t reveal much about the piece, other than it has something do with a — wait for it… Jockey. And maybe a horse or two.

The piece is penned by Pulitzer Prize winner Barry Bearak, which means it’ll be worth reading. So why do we need a trailer for it? A trailer for an article just seems a bit excessive. Maybe we should’ve published a trailer for this post about a trailer for an article. Next time.

Please note that if the Times had simply added some Inception noises to The Jockey video we would’ve been more into it.

Update (8:35 pm):
The Jockey is now live. It’s very “Snow Fall” in its scale.

Speak to Risk Takers at Entrepreneur.com

Entrepreneur.com

At Entrepreneur.com, editors are looking for forthcoming writers who can inspire and encourage entrepreneurs at every stage of their business.

“We’re really looking to inspire readers and help them grow their business. There’s a lot of questions out there and there’s a lot of uncertainty. So, people really need to feel like they’re coming to an authoritative source,” explained executive online editor Laura Lorber.

Get editors’ contact info and their tips for a successful pitch at How to Pitch: Entrepreneur.com.

Sherry Yuan

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.

Bleacher Report Founder Launches Women-Centric Site

Bryan Goldberg, the founder of Bleacher Report, is bringing his ideas  — love them or hate them — to women. His new site, Bustle, is now live. Goldberg described Bustle as “next generation” about 17 times in an interview with Business Insider, so we guess that’s what it is.

While there’s plenty of B/R inspired content on Bustle (“6 News Stories That (Briefly) Freaked People Out” is the most popular article right now) at least all of Bustle’s writers are paid. And Goldberg explains in a post on PandoDaily that the editorial team  — an all female cast — was collected from “Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Daily Beast, TheStir, Seventeen, and other top publications” so there’s some real talent there.

Goldberg raised $6.5 million to launch Bustle, so you can expect it to stick around. Only time will tell if people will be happy about that.

VICE Chats with Sex Addicts About Anthony Weiner

It takes one to know one? Based on VICE reporter Ryan P. McCarthy‘s recent excursion to a Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) meeting, the answer would seem to be most definitely.

“Mike” (all interviewees were given pseudonyms), a convicted stalker, tells McCarthy that Anthony Weiner has been a frequent topic of conversation at SLAA gatherings. But he feels the doomed politician is more of a “love addict” than sex addict and reveals that many at SLAA have suffered grave consequences as a result of sexting, Webcams and the Internet like.

“Scott” argues that Weiner has yet to cross the critical “River of Denial,” while “Daniel” shares a most intriguing suggestion:

“Weiner should come to one of our meetings, he would be more then welcome here.”

Read more

Gothamist Deputy Editor Goes Semi-Gonzo

Jen Carlson‘s initial plan was admirable. However, it ran into some predictable problems:

My pitch to live 24 hours like Hunter S. Thompson was killed on account of not being able to procure enough cocaine by 3:45 p.m., the time that Thompson would start to binge on the stuff. Also: lawyers, waivers, etc.

Instead, Carlson grabbed some healthier Trader Joe’s sustenance and put together a string of photos documenting Thompson’s late 1950s and early 1960s Manhattan abodes. The fun of an article like this is the comments, drawing out the latest ramblings of HST fans. A couple of our favorites:

LesFleursDuMal: I’ve seen that [E.G. Carroll biography] rundown on HST’s [daily] routine before and also read that it was made up by a journalist who had an ax to grind with Thompson. But even if it’s HALF true, yeah, he did live like a boss.

Read more

Perez Hilton Needs a New PR Rep

It sounds like the unnamed rep for Perez Hilton quoted in today’s New York Daily News @Confidential item is completely out of touch.

Ahead of Hilton’s August 16 NYC visit and media round, the rep told the paper that the gossip writer credits every Internet source that he borrows from. This despite mountains of evidence to the contrary.

Even more disappointing, given the genesis of Hilton’s blogging career, is the suggestion that @Confidential’s interview request was turned down because the columnists would not guarantee a “favorable” article:

“What’s the angle?” his spokesman asked. “He’s moving to New York City for a few months, he LOVES it there. I just want to make sure the article is going to be a favorable article :)

While we didn’t promise favorable coverage, we did say we would be “fair.” Perez’s rep replied with, “that’s a pass.”

Read more

Daily News is a Bit Upset With Stop-and-Frisk Ruling

Judging by today’s New York Daily News cover, its editors aren’t exactly pleased with a judge ruling against the city’s stop-and-frisk policy.

We do have to hand it to the paper. A dated picture of a murder scene along with “Fear over return to bloody bad old days” is sure to get a positive reaction from people who are cool with rampant racial profiling. Unless they’re already dead!

Graydon Carter Extends Contract

The New York Post is reporting that Graydon Carter has extended his contract with Vanity Fair. Carter, who has been the edtitor of the glossy since 1992, signed on for two more years at $2 million a pop.

The only catch with the new contract is that Carter was unable to secure a signing bonus. However, he is being promised an “accommodation” when he finally decides to leave, and we’re betting it isn’t a reservation at the nearest Red Roof Inn. No offense to the Red Roof Inn. Partied there a few times in high school. Not bad.

There was some concern that Carter was going to leave Vanity Fair (the bonus was a sticking point and people worried he was too concerned with his other ventures) but apparently he’s still into the job.

NEXT PAGE >>