Gawker
-
Media Crack
Us Weekly Stands Up for Journalistic Integrity
In your dire Thursday media column: Us Weekly starts a war, America refuses to watch gay broadcasters, "I.D." is the unluckiest magazine name, and North Korea will try the US reporters it snatched: More »
6,344
12
Comment by Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century: Wait, what? If all these artists are donating "rare or exclusive tracks" then they clearly know Paste is in trouble,... 1 Responses | Other threads
-
media
Chicago Tribune Stakes Future On Paper-Blogging
The Chicago Tribune is bankrupt and will lay off 20 percent of its staff on Wednesday. So how is it going to survive? By making its reporters rewrite items from gossip blogs! More »
2,136
By John CookComment by moraliste: It's going to survive from quasilegal taxes on interstate traffic, ie internet sales taxes. Just wait. 1 Responses | Other threads
-
recessionomics
Spanked By the Magazine Priests (And Kinda Liking It)
Us Weekly became the third magazine in a week reprimanded by the American Society of Magazine Editors for impure ads. It's as if Us, Entertainment Weekly and ESPN the Magazine don't care about purity!
More »
11,929
By Ryan TateComment by Murph1908: And I thought it was annoying enough when magazines started putting the table of contents around page 17, with 2-16... 3 Responses | Other threads
-
Media Crack
The Us Weekly-Leann Rimes-PR Firm Wild Conspiracy Speculation
In your outrageously newsy Wednesday media column: a PR conspiracy theory for Us Weekly, updates on Conde Nast layoffs and Interview cheapskate-ness, Steve Bartelstein vanishes, and trade mags start wheezing: More »
8,468
Comment by No Day Like Friday: I really have a hard time believing Rhimes would pay the price of MOTEL ROOM TRYST for publicity. I think the... 2 Responses | Other threads
-
the obamas
Obamas Are America's Last Celebrities
It's weird, isn't it, that the Obamas are still on celebrity mag covers? On this week's Us, there's Michelle and the kids, next to a little sidebar with "fat" Jessica Simpson and lonely Jennifer Aniston. More »
6,301
By PareeneComment by mfnher: What's wrong with Roald Dahl? Do kids not read him anymore? 11 Responses | Other threads
-
us weekly
Us Weekly's Fashion Spinoff An Onion Article Come True
It was a little over three years ago that the Onion lampooned the idea of a highbrow quarterly spinoff of Us Weekly. Now, thanks to the American cult of celebrity, this "joke" has finally come true! The celebrity gossip rag is expanding, via an unnamed new publication, into the slightly more highbrow topic of celebrity fashion, the Wall Street Journal reports this morning. Us owner Jann Wenner is chasing the success of People's StyleWatch, which now publishes 10 times per year and circulates more widely than Vogue. Given the "fashion" choices of many celebrities, that's insane. It's also a singular accomplishment: Time Inc.'s In Style and American Media's Star both launched failed fashion spinoffs. Maybe Wenner thinks he can do better. Or maybe he's just trying to jack up the price he'll fetch when the magazine overlord finally sells off (as long rumored) the Us portion of his empire. Notes the Journal: More »
1,713
By Ryan TateComment by Weegee's bored: Maybe Mary Kate Olsen will become editor in chief. Now there's celebrity fashion. 1 Responses | Other threads
-
us weekly
Us Losing Thousands Of Subscribers Over Palin Cover
Maybe it should have been obvious that the celebrity weeklies were going to politicize as soon as Hillary Clinton and her supporters showed strong resistance, during the primary season, to acquiescing to Barack Obama, thus highlighting the importance of women voters in 2008. But the heightened political importance of the magazines, whose readers are overwhelmingly female, wasn't in anyone's face until this week, when Us Weekly made waves with its controversial "Babies, Lies & Scandal" Sarah Palin cover. The issue, unflattering to Palin, has so far resulted in 5,000-10,000 cancelled subscriptions, MSNBC.com's gossip column is reporting. (Though MSNBC's Courtney Hazlett is close to Us Weekly's rivals; and—see below—the magazine's Janice Min says the losses are overstated.) More »
10,847
By Ryan TateComment by Aaron Altman: If there is ANYTHING magazine editors, columnists, reporters et al should know about this election season, it's that the conventional... 22 Responses | Other threads
-
sarah palin
Palin Coverage Squeezes McCain
Us Weekly released its much-anticipated Sarah Palin issue, resurfacing in it a January incident in which the John McCain running mate laughed along with a shock jock who called her Republican rival a "bitch" and a "cancer" on the state. Us got fresh quotes from the woman in question, a cancer survivor who is still quite pissed about the incident despite a halfhearted apology from Palin. The celebrity weekly also questioned whether the father of Palin's forthcoming granddaughter really wants to have kids. As right-wing bloggers are bitterly noting, the coverage scandalizes John McCain's running mate before the magazine's 12 million readers, mostly the very females Palin was recruited to attract. It's not lost on any of them, either, that Us Weekly owner Jann Wenner is a big Barack Obama supporter. With coverage of Palin's various scandals — the love child, the radio thing, troopergate, etc. etc. — still everywhere, Palin's role in the campaign is being severely restricted, the Wall Street Journal reports in a page-one story today: More »
4,877
By Ryan TateComment by eyekantspel: okay, so Palin is guilty of having laughed in response to a shock jock calling a Republican rival of hers... 13 Responses | Other threads
-
-
journalismism
Learn To Translate Reporters' Lies And Threats!
Us Weekly's lead story right now is a rather substance-free bit on Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo shopping for a birthday present for his girlfriend, pop tart Jessica Simpson. But Us is doing its best to drum up something better; a reporter sent a vaguely ominous letter to Romo's dad encouraging him to talk, because "Jessica Simpson’s side is controlling the media right now." Which is actually very good reporting! Any journalist worth his paltry salary knows how to use veiled threats, scary insinuations, and bluffs (lies) to get reluctant sources to speak up. We've compiled a handy translation guide; how to decode the most common threatening reporter doublespeak, after the jump:
More »
4,806
Comment by photobabe: Yup, they all work. Years ago I was covering a tornado, 6 family members killed, house and cars blown away.... more » | Other threads
-
us weekly
Will Wenner Sell Us Weekly?
Last week Charlie Rose wondered if Conde Nast was trying to buy Rolling Stone. Now Keith Kelly reports that they're actually trying to buy Us Weekly, Jann Wenner's other, more valuable but less cherished property. The "price tag could hit $750 million," according to the Post. Which would give Wenner enough cash to continue running Rolling Stone into the ground for decades to come. Us does seem like a more likely target for Conde Nast, but the high price and the overall print market these days are cause for skepticism. And though Charlie Rose may have gotten it wrong on that particular issue, that interview's main benefit stands: it is still accurate to call Graydon Carter a "self-described pussy." [NYP, Previously]
1,209
Comment by Penscribe: I can't see this as a Conde Nast title. I mean, sure Conde Nast is just like US and loves... more » | Other threads
-
barack obama
Obama: The New Hope Of Celebrity Magazines
In this slow time of year in which there is no news—when even gossip mavens themselves are arguing that celebrity gossip is dead—could Barack Obama be the unlikely savior of the celebrity media complex? The candidate and his wife are on the cover of Us Weekly, and an insider tells us that the gambit "paid off" in terms of sales, even beating out some of the magazine's Britney Spears covers on the news stand. We also hear Obama covers have performed strongly across the board for magazines in more weighty categories. And now Versace is dedicating her new men's collection to Obama. Your next president: almost as significant as Lindsay Lohan. Click through to see five more glamorous BarackOmania covers, wow!! More »
2,540
Comment by ronaldpagan: The GQ and Rolling Stone covers are creepy. He looks typically hot on all the other ones. more » | Other threads
-
the view
Michelle Obama Fist-Jabs All the 'View' Ladies
Michelle Obama, loving and chronically sarcastic wife to presidential candidate Barack Obama, is co-hosting lady show The View today. She opened by terrorist fist-jabbing all her co-hosts! She is smart and funny and friendly and regular, and none of that will stop people from calling her a constantly aggrieved radical or whatever. Though between today's hosting duty and her US Weekly cover, she's obviously on a charm offensive. For the first time in our adult life, we're proud of daytime television and tabloid magazines.
8,727
By PareeneComment by cyberpersephone: "I have to tell you, I'm not that hip." Smart, funny, beautiful and sarcastic. I officially love her. more » | Other threads
-
britney spears
'Us Weekly' Urges You to Please Think of the Children
The celebrity weekly's cover story is actually about how the children of mentally ill famous woman Britney Spears are pretty much doing just fine, it turns out, under the care of people who properly strap them into carseats and wear underpants, but there's no denying the power of that headline. What do they know? Is Us Weekly willing to do whatever it takes to find out what Sean and Jayden know? There are lives on the line, people. The entire celebrity-industrial complex may depend on whatever actionable intelligence can be procured—by any means necessary—from these tow-headed youngsters. How do stars get glam? Who benefits? That's the real question, isn't it—why?—the "how" is just scenery for the suckers. Lufti, Adnan, X17, TMZ, it keeps people guessing like a parlor game, but it prevents them from asking the most important question—why? You're close, Us Weekly. Closer than you think. [Us Weekly]
843
By PareeneComment by Goober_Pea: @sexbot: Julia Robert's older son's hair is the same length (if not longer) than his twin sister's. I just can't... more » | Other threads
-
bloopers
To Grill Or Not To Grill? Mary-Kate Olsen Hung Out To Dry By Press
Is Mary-Kate Olsen a murderess or is she just really good about picking up her cell phone when it rings four times in a row? Contrary to the New York Post's front page today, cops say they have "absolutely no interest" in talking to Olsen about her role in the events the day of actor Heath Ledger's death. The Post's funny print format that can't be fixed on the fly will look silly all day, but the least they could do is update their website, which is still running with a big Olsen-interrogation splash. Of course, they're not the only ones. More » -
us weekly
The celebrity storyline: you choose!
Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are not engaged, Us Weekly reports in a confessional apology for getting the story wrong (twice). They’re getting good at confirming stories, especially when the stories are denials. But then they follow up with a reader poll: “Should Simpson and Wentz get married?” So at least they’re focus-grouping the lies now. [RM]
464
By Nick DentonComment by langtry: (T)hey follow up with a reader poll: "Should Simpson and Wentz get married?" Yet another of those times when I... more » | Other threads
-
defamer
'Us Weekly' Tries To Identify Britney Spears' Darkest Hour
Callously ignoring the eyeliner-streaked exhortations of America's next top reality television star, Us Weekly refuses to release its pit-bull like grip on the neck of the utterly defenseless Britney Spears, continuing its weeks-long, cover-based assault with their new MOMMY'S CRYING! issue. More » -
down time
Have you forgotten that it's Audit Bureau of Circulation time? Whee! People's sales declined, probably because a steady diet of Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears grows tiring after a while; we need some hot new celebrities to hit the rehab circuit and, sorry, Amy Winehouse just won't cut it. Over on the serious side of things, Time takes a massive hit, dropping 17.1% in paid and weekly circulation against the same period last year. A Time spokesperson claims that the drop is a result of the magazine's heroic struggle for transparency—shedding copies distributed to doctor's offices and the like—and that the industry will eventually be forced to follow suit, which sort of jibes with our theory that it's all part of new managing editor Rick Stengel's plan to make sure there are only seven people who read Time, but that those seven people absolutely savor every single word. [WWD]
476
By abalkComment by Colonel Mustard: @LolCait: Next year's PotY will be "Rehab". Just watch. more » | Other threads
-
media
Media Bubble: Tribulations
- Tribune: The Chandler family hits the road, Sam Zell talks to David Geffen, gets veto power on the board, bashes Google. [LAT] More »
-
media
Media Bubble: We Are All Crazy 'Us Weekly' Guy Now
- Is it just us, or do these new Us ads represent the perfect marking point for the world's fatal descent into decadence? More »
-
media
Media Bubble: Yes, There's Another Tribune Story
- Maria Bartiromo: too palsy with her subjects. [NYT] More »
-
media
Media Bubble: Tripped Up
• That Cathy Horyn correction? It was a big "fuck you" to Styles editor Trip Gabriel. [WWD] More » -
media
Media Bubble: We Thought He Was Dead
• Wanna work for Lewis Lapham's new publication, More Soporific Than Ambien Quarterly? Well, don't expect any remuneration or anything. On the plus side, he may let you bum a smoke every now and again. [EH] More » -
media
Media Bubble: Pretty Girl Makes Grade
• Wenner Media buys out Disney's share of Us Weekly. We're not sure why this is important, but the folks at WWD thought it merited an e-mail alerting us to it, so what the hell. [WWD] More » -
media
At 'Us Weekly,' Such a Thing as Free Lunch?
What we're wondering is, what is Janice Min running for? Maybe she has Congressional aspirations? Or seeks sainthood? Or perhaps she just really, really wants quick entrance into ASME's Magazine Editors' Hall of Fame. More » -
media
'Us Weekly' Reports Brangeletus Adoption
Smell that? It's the scent of various bodily fluids, and it's emanating from the Us Weekly offices. Apparently, the entire staff has wet themselves over their latest issue, in which they report that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have adopted an orphaned Ethiopian girl. We're more excited about their clever headline manipulation: Apparently Pitt was merely present while Angelina adopted the baby. Semantic nuances, schmuances — as far as Us is concerned, they adopted that kid together, will raise her together, and together will give her a little baby mohawk. More » -
media
'Us Weekly:' For Publicists, By Publicists!
From left: Us cover from May 30; current July 11 cover. More » -
media
What if 'Us' Were Smart? Would the Universe Collapse?
Ah, if only The Onion were a real newspaper and not a stalwart of satire. Then their latest "news" of Us Weekly editor Janice Min's launch of Us Quarterly would be a wet dream come true. Fantasize with us for a moment: More » -
media
Media Bubble: Janice Min — She's Nothing Like Us!
• Janice Min's new Us Weekly contract is basically done. At $1.2M per year, she'll make as much as — if not a little more than — Bonnie does. Plus her staff doesn't hate her, which has to be worth something. [NYP] More » -
media
To Be a Crouton in That Cobb Salad
We're told that Lisa Dallos, who just quit her post as head of corporate communications at Wenner Media, will be lunching at Michael's today with Stu Zakim, her predecessor at Wenner and now the chief flack for American Media, parent of Star, archrival to Wenner's Us Weekly. Let us know if you catch them impaling voodoo dolls of Jann with their butter knives. More » -
media
Your Handy Guide To Celebrity Weeklies, Which May Or May Not Be Totally Biased
Just when you thought the world was boring, Perez Hilton, the diabolical blogger behind PageSixSixSix, makes the bold statement that all of our glossy tabs are beginning to look the same. Shocking, yes, we know. And just like sisters in a sorority, a pecking order has emerged amongst the sycophantic weeklies: More » -
media
Us Weekly vs. Star: Cover Smackdown
Us Weekly and Star magazine — the Crips and Bloods of glossy tabloidism — had their weekly cover story showdown today and this round goes to... Janice Min! As has been overreported, Us Weekly paid $1 million for exclusive pics of Brad and Angelina's beach stroll (every issue this week comes in a Tiffany box which the newspaper stand guy is required to hand over on bended knee). Meanwhile, Bonnie Fuller's sweatshop had to settle for sadly photo-shopping shots of Angelina and Brad walking on different beaches at different times for their cover (inside they 'fess up that it's a "composite photo"). Stay tuned for next week. We hear BonBon is already taking off her jewelry and lotioning up so she can get all up in Janice's grill. More » -
media
'Life & Style' Baits 'Us' Staffers With Promises Of Wealth, Grandeur
You can't make this shit up. And by "this shit," we mean the recruiting tactics of Life & Style magazine — you know, that one celebrity weekly you use to line the litter box. More » -
media
Lifting And Misquoting: It's Just Like 'Us'!
In the April issue of Allure, Britney Spears gave an interview in which she reflected on her newfound domesticity. Her insight: More » -
media
Editors: They're Just Like 'Pups'!
From this week's Mediaweek story on 'Editor of the Year,' Janice Min: More » -
media
'US,' Seriously
The New York Post's Keith Kelly reports that US Weekly's Janice Min is thisclose to being named AdWeek/Mediaweek's Editor of the Year. More » -
media
The Brad & Jen Book Club
As the snow gently blankets our island with pretty inconvenience, we think now is the perfect time to cozy up in front of the fireplace with our a copy of Brad & Jen: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Golden Couple. Why go out in this weather when you have the love of the Brad & Jen book club to keep you warm? Today, from page 131: More » -
media
The Brad & Jen Book Club
Everyone grab their blankies and apple juice — it's time for today's installment of the Brad & Jen book club, in which we open Brad & Jen: The Rise and Fall of HOllywood's Golden Couple to a random page and select a telling passage. Today's insight comes from page 142: More »
media
New York, 11:52 PM
Fri Jul 10
48 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip Your Editors:
tips@gawker.com
Tipline: 646-214-8138
Editor-in-Chief:
Gabriel Snyder | Email
Contributing Editors:
Valleywag:
Ryan Tate | Email
Media:
Hamilton Nolan | Email
Politics:
Alex Pareene | Email
Investigations:
John Cook | Email
Entertainment:
Richard Lawson | Email
Weekends:
Foster Kamer | Email
Video Editor:
Richard Blakeley | Email
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
