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Ellies Upset as New York Cleans Up (FishbowlNY)
The New Yorker left empty-handed at the National Magazine Awards last night, losing in all nine categories in which it was nominated. Atlantic Monthly was shut out as well. The big winner: New York magazine, which was nominated for seven awards and took home five, including general excellence for magazines with circulations of 250,000 to 500,000, and interactive feature, a new category, for nymag.com. NYT: The other general-excellence winners were National Geographic, Rolling Stone, Wired and Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. NYP: Time Inc., the nation's biggest magazine company, which has been racked by turmoil, selloff and downsizings, also emerged as a big loser. WWD: Esquire wins one for C.J. Chivers. AdAge: The judges said New York, which editor Adam Moss led to its first general-excellence award last year, had demonstrated that city books can provide a lot more than event listings and restaurant reviews. Chicago Tribune: In an eclectic and glitzy universe marked by the likes of Vanity Fair and Esquire, bells of a victory tolled Tuesday night for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a rigorously sober publication started by physicists and best known for a depressing clock. DISCUSS: Did New York deserve five Ellies?
Murdoch Has Jones for Dow, But Controlling Family Plans Veto (E&P)
The Bancroft family, which owns a majority stake in the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, is planning to vote against Rupert Murdoch's $60-per-share bid for Dow Jones & Co. — despite speculation that the unsolicited offer was too good to refuse, the company said after markets closed Tuesday. NYT: There have been discussions about some family members buying out others to block the deal. LAT: Murdoch's bold moves typically pay off. Slate: Rupert Murdoch might be good for the WSJ, writes Daniel Gross. LAT: Offer shakes WSJ staff. NY Sun: Dow Jones bid could reshape newspaper industry.
Ex-Newsweek Editor to Join NBC as a Senior Vice President (NYT)
NBC named the former Newsweek editor Mark Whitaker as senior vice president for news, a job that will make him the No. 2 executive in the network's news division. Whitaker, who worked at Newsweek for 25 years, will assume oversight of NBC's daily editorial and newsgathering work under president Steve Capus. B&C: Whitaker will oversee all of the network's news programs and specials, as well as its digital products. Hollywood Reporter: Whitaker will take over some of the jobs that had been done by Alex Wallace before she became executive producer of the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.
China's Muckrakers for Hire Deliver Exposés With Impact (WaPo)
A new kind of journalism that is emerging in response to the Chinese Communist Party's suffocating censorship of media. With no more investment than a computer and a taste for taking risks, several dozen Web-based investigative journalists have set up sites and started advertising their willingness — for a price — to look into scandals traditional reporters cannot touch. CSM: Egypt targets Web-savvy opponents.
Are Book Reviewers Out of Print? (NYT)
To some authors and critics, moves to cut back on newspapers' book reviews amount to yet one more nail in the coffin of literary culture. But some publishers and literary bloggers — not surprisingly — see it as an inevitable transition toward a new, more democratic literary landscape where anyone can comment on books. CJR Daily: The organic link between books and newspapers.
Joost Unveils Web TV Service (Guardian)
Joost, the Web TV company launched by the founders of Skype, rolled out its full commercial service today, offering 150 channels of ad-supported TV online. The Joost service has been running an extended beta trial, or test version, since December 2006 and is now open to the public. Content includes programming from broadcast networks including CBS and Viacom. B&C: Joost signs distribution deal with Turner.
'Geek Riot' Over Pulled Digg Story (Gizmodo)
The power of Web 2.0 is in full effect over at Digg, where users are revolting over Digg's decision to pull a story (that netted over 15,000 "diggs") and reportedly boot a user for posting the HD-DVD AACS Processing Key number, which would allow someone to crack the copy protection on an HD-DVD. The front page of Digg consists entirely of stories flaunting the number or criticizing Digg for its actions.
Washington Editors Hesitant to Publish 'D.C. Madam' Client List (E&P)
As the so-called "D.C. Madam" case unfolds in the nation's capital, with alleged prostitution ringleader Jeane Palfrey claiming a list of thousands of prominent clients, Washington-area editors say they are following the story, but remain reluctant to print such a list, were it available, without serious scrutiny.
Eisner's Prom Queen Seeing Success on Web (Mediaweek)
Less than halfway through its 80-day run, Prom Queen, the daily teen-aimed online soap opera launched by Michael Eisner's new production firm, is showing signs of becoming a modest hit. According to Vuguru, the Eisner-backed Web production firm that is churning out eighty 90-second episodes of Prom Queen in as many days, the short-form series is averaging roughly 200,000 views a day.
Tabloid Quest: Make 'Em Gay (Page Six)
The supermarket scandal sheets will go to amazing lengths to try to "out" even the straightest Hollywood stars, a new tell-all on the tabloid biz reveals. That's the assignment freelance writer Marlise Elizabeth Kast got when editors at Globe asked her to check out their bizarre suspicions that longtime friends Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio were lovers.
Times' Withdrawal From Chummy Galas Leaves Rove Dateless (NYO)
"This is a moment when people already think the press is too cozy with government," said Dean Baquet, New York Times' Washington bureau chief. "And I think these events confirm that." Baquet was on the phone on April 30, nine days after his first-ever trip to a White House Correspondents' Association Dinner — and his last, according to the newspaper's current plans.
Writers Guild Sits on $20 Million (LAT)
The Writers Guild of America, West has $20 million in a trust account in Hollywood which belongs to hundreds of writers, or their estates, whose movies or TV shows were viewed in foreign countries that levy special taxes to compensate authors for the reuse of their work. The guild's failure to distribute such a big stockpile of cash has raised hackles in Hollywood.
Palestinian PM Pushes for Release of Kidnapped British Journo (AP via IHT)
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has sent a series of letters to the kidnappers of a captured British journalist demanding his release, a top aide said Wednesday. Ahmed Youssef, an adviser to Haniyeh, said the letters have sought to "clarify to these people that this issue doesn't serve the interest of our people, and the Muslims."
Record Number of Visitors to Newspaper Web Sites in First Quarter (MediaPost)
According to custom analysis by Nielsen//NetRatings for the Newspaper Association of America, more than 59 million people (37.6 percent of all active Internet users) visited newspaper Web sites during the first quarter of 2007, a record number that represents a 5.3 percent increase over the same period a year ago.
Toos' Junk Food Media Diet (Forbes)
Atoosa Rubenstein: I have spent the last decade eating ... uh ... I mean reading, sweets exclusively. One might even say I'm addicted. Before I drink my morning sugar-free (ironic) Red Bull, I've already gobbled up the New York Post (horoscopes first, Page Six second) and Women's Wear Daily's Memo Pad column. Then, I pretty much subsist on MySpace, with jolts of Perez Hilton when things get too sweet.
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