New York Observer - PRNewser

Orthodox Brooklyn Politician Thinks Blackface Is Hilarious

Patrick Coffee — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:50:30 +0000

For those of you who thankfully don’t know, Dov Hikind is a New York State Assemblyman in our town of Brooklyn who has represented the Borough Park area since 1983 thanks, in large part, to the voters in his district who share his Orthodox faith. Yesterday he hosted a big party for Purim, a holiday derived from a story in the Biblical book of Esther. It was an “open door” party; Hikind encouraged visitors to go a little crazy with their costumes and post the pictures on their Facebook pages.

Today Hikind stands to gain more attention than at any other point in his political career–and the vast majority of it will not be positive. Quite a few people in New York City politics and beyond have expressed their shocked surprise at his decision to attend his own party in blackface, dressed as what he describes as “sort of a black basketball player.”

Hmm…apparently no one told Hikind that blackface was a blatantly racist stage trick used throughout the early 20th century by white performers who embodied cartoonish stereotypes of their black countrymen.

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Does a Stylish Men’s Mag Like ‘M’ Have an Audience?

Patrick Coffee — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:11:55 +0000

When we try to come up with sure-fire ways to make a big impression in today’s scattershot media world, the very first thought that enters our minds always seems to be “Start an upscale men’s fashion magazine!”

OK, not really—but Condé Nast has decided to take that step by re-launching “M Magazine”, a venture run by former New York Observer editor Peter Kaplan. Its first issue hits newsstands today followed by a big question: will anyone read it?

It didn’t work the first time—the title appeared in 1983 and folded during the early 90’s due to poor ad revenue. Kaplan sees the new quarterly as less of a fashion rag and more of a Euro-style intellectual journal—for American men who make over $200,000 a year. It’s very traditional: As Kaplan puts it, “M” is a “magazine to state the love of print” that runs on the power of ads by luxury titans like Versace, Dunhill and Louis Vuitton.

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Revolving Door: Jim Walton to Step Down as President of CNN Worldwide, Elizabeth Spiers Launches Startup, and More

Elizabeth S. Mitchell — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 09:45:10 +0000

According to Ad Age, New York Observer Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Spiers, is leaving to launch her own startup, which will focus on content and commerce in the health and wellness arena. (Ad Age)

According to AdWeek, CNN has announced that Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide, will step down at the end of 2012. While earnings have increased under Walton’s leadership, ratings have dropped. (AdWeek)

Time Inc.’s Lifestyle Group editor Sid Evans has hired food editor Hunter Lewis away from Condé Nast’s Bon Appétit. Lewis will be executive editor at Southern Living, and will oversee food content in print and online. (AdWeek)

According to Business Insider, Anthony Bourdain, host of the Travel Channel‘s “Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations“, is leaving the Travel Channel for his own show on CNN, which will air on Sundays beginning early in 2013. To read an interview in AdWeek about why he is making the move, click here. (Business Insider)

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Time Warner Hires Journalist Richard Siklos

Tonya Garcia — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:24:34 +0000

Journalist Richard Siklos is joining Time Warner as VP of corporate affairs, responsible for external communications and media strategy. Previously, Siklos served as editor-at-large for Fortune, media reporter for The New York Times, and media editor for BusinessWeek. Most recently, he wrote a column for the New York Observer while writing a book about Michael Jackson. Siklos will report to Gary Ginsberg, EVP of corporate affairs and marketing.

On Friday, Comcast announced that Abernathy MacGregor president Adam Miller would be joining the company as a senior adviser.

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Simon Doonan Taking His Snooki Coverage to Slate

Tonya Garcia — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:57:24 +0000

Simon Doonan, the Barneys creative director and New York Observer columnist who recently revealed a possible Snooki scandal, is taking his musings to Slate.

Doonan’s departure adds to the list of editorial staff members who have left the paper in recent weeks. Among them, Alexandra Jacobs who took a job as an editor in the Styles section at the New York Times, and Eliot Brown, who will cover Albany for the Wall Street Journal.

[Image via NYMag.com]

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