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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!
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janice min
'Us' Update II
That mass protest by Us Weekly subscribers upset by the celebrity magazine's harsh treatment of the Republicans' Sarah Palin? Not quite as mass as all that. [Related, Related] -
us weekly
Dear Janice, You Are Supposed To Be a Uniter, Not A Divider
Us Weekly's (amusingly) gratuitously aggressive coverage of Sarah Palin has triggered a full-blown culture war! We have some of the vicious hate mail to prove it. (From "Juno.com" email addresses, to lend the whole saga a somewhat literary flourish!) That lady Ted Kennedy killed is invoked. So is some language too hot for Peggy Noonan! Some notable specimens and a message for Janice Min after the jump. More » -
journalismism
Does Us Weekly Have A Secret Radical Leftist Agenda?
Is Us Weekly biased? That's what Fox News has been saying all morning in light of that "Sarah Palin, Governor of the Rhythm Method State" cover. But (in stark contrast to so many of the other things we hear on Fox News) we did not want to believe Us Weekly had a political agenda, mainly because, as with Fox News, we like to forget that whoever Us Weekly is targeting at is actually allowed to vote. But in the face of mounting evidence that the network might be on to something we gave the issue a thorough examination, and it pains me to report that Us Weekly is biased. So biased. You could be forgiven for wondering if the whole rag wasn't being bankrolled by a big gay homofag! (If not Hamas!!!) Here readers, the evidence:
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janice min
No Fatties For Us Weekly
"We proved that celebrity-magazine readers were not obese women who spent all day watching TV and smoking cigarettes." [Post] -
scandal
Madonna And Alex Rodriguez
Having put the Obamas on one of last month's covers in despair at the absence of celebrity gossip, Us Weekly finally has a genuine celebrity scoop. In a new issue on newsstands tomorrow, the magazine reports that New York Yankee baseball player Alex Rodriguez has been making late-night visits to Madonna's apartment on Central Park West. (OK! has much the same basic story but highlights the two supposed lovers' gym trysts.) The singer, 49, is said to have consulted a lawyer about divorce from her husband of seven years, film director Guy Ritchie; Alex Rodriguez, known to sports fans as A-Rod, would have been eight years old when Madonna released her first hit, Lucky Star.
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celebrity-industrial complex
Us Weekly Contributor Bill Clinton Ordered To Cut Gross Policy Stuff
"Some of the most celebrity-centric, entertainment-obsessed news media outlets have added a heavy dose of political news to their lineups, taking space normally devoted to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ... The gossip-magazine editors appear to hold the cards most of the time. When President Bill Clinton submitted an essay for publication in Us, it did not pass muster with [Us editor Janice] Min. 'It was the magazine equivalent of watching C-Span,' she recalled, a slight shudder in her voice. 'I was a little mortified to do it, but we kicked it back to the president for a revise.'" [Times] -
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horace mann
Poor Mr. Janice Min
Remember New York's cover story this week about the Horace Mann teacher who was shocked—shocked—to learn that students at that tony prep school exchange bitchy gossip and say terrible things on the Facebook? The alarmed history teacher—who, for his role in publicizing the Facebook fracas was forced to take a sabbatical—is Peter Sheehy, husband of Us Weekly editor Janice Min! So, obviously, this "gossiping about people" thing was totally foreign to him. (J/k! Us is the nice one.) SAD UPDATE: Ok. Former Horace Mann history teacher Peter Sheehy's current gig? "Research intern" for award-winning internet blog Talking Points Memo. No, seriously. [NYM] -
janice min
This Just Happened
Last week, Salon's Rebecca Traister worried that "The Golden Age of Celebrity Gossip" was "grinding to an end" because of "evil geniuses" like Us Weekly editor-in-chief Janice Min. Min did, after all, put The Hills star Lauren Conrad on the cover of her mag. But the Little Girls of America have a message for the Min doubters: "J-Min is right, and you are old, so shut your old face before I shut it for you." I just went to the corner newsstand to buy cigarettes and while I was waiting forever for this one Nigerian dude to buy a stack of phone cards, two Russian girls who looked to be about eight or nine years old showed up. More » -
us weekly
Hollywood For Ugly People
Primary season is so hot right now. Did you see that Will.i.am video? Celebrities are getting into politics, which means we should too! This year, Us Weekly editor Janice Min started covering politicians more or less like she covers celebrities, because that is now the lens through which America interprets everything. (So-called serious political reporting—it's just like Us!) Is it such a stretch? As she tells the New Yorker, "When I was in junior high, I was the annoying kid in the class who always had the answer to whatever current-events quiz was going on. It's definitely a side of me." Min is such a lucky duck to have a job that lets so many sides of her personality come out. [New Yorker] -
camille paglia
The Thinking Woman's Gossip
Fierce Janice Min is determined to distinguish Us Weekly from trashier celebrity weeklies. But this is a bit extreme: recruiting Camille Paglia, the post-feminist intellectual, to pontificate on the self-infatuation of the Clintons. -
tabloid media
'Us Weekly' Online Loses Three Staffers In Two Weeks
"Violet Affleck Has Learned To Sing 'When You Wish Upon A Star'" was an actual headline on Usmagazine.com on November 6th, just 6 days after our sometime Guest Editor Noelle Hancock departed for the greener pastures of Pagesix.com. This was a sign that the site had already started hurting badly; it received two more blows this Tuesday when Us Online west coast blogger Megan Lynn left to join Pagesix.com's burgeoning west coast bureau and Colleen Curtis, who had been overseeing the website, was "mysteriously and abruptly" fired. We don't know much else about the exodus, except that "everyone didn't leave because they hate [EIC] Janice Min because they don't," and that our former Henry the Intern just went to be a Senior Editor there! Also, that one of their headlines this morning was "Angelina Jolie's Stylist Says Those Leather Pants Never Split," so maybe things are looking up, or at least holding steady. -
thanks for the mammaries
'US Weekly's' Ken Baker Was A Nice Guy, Back When He Still Lactated
Yesterday's post on Us Weekly West Coast executive editor Ken Baker, the worst boss in America, drew many comments and a few phone calls from former co-workers. Once upon a time, you see, Ken was a nice, friendly, idealistic Columbia J-school grad with the highest of ethical standards. The only problem was that his nipples leaked breast milk, and also he was impotent and did not desire sex, even with Drew Barrymore, whom he found himself powerless to hit on. Then sometime in the late nineties, he fell in love with a ballerina who did not care that he couldn't get it up, and a co-worker at People directed him to doctor to the stars, Joshua Trabulus, who gave him a magical serum called "testosterone." And that is when the fun began. [Jezebel] -
contracts
Janice Min Is One Rich Lady
Hi, can we get a contract like Janice Min's? Maybe if we promise to run more side-by-side photos of celebrities wearing the same outfits? Or, like, photos of Julia Allison at the deli? She's just like... you? Us? $2.5 MILLION FOR TWO YEARS. Way to hold out, lady. Hold us. We're shaking. More » -
genius obfuscations
Janice Min Dodges, Fakes, Scores
Us Weekly editor-in-chief Janice Min takes to the online pages of Slate today to discuss her decision to have a Paris Hilton-free issue of Us the week that Paris got released from prison (which some sniped was because People had landed the "exclusive" photo shoot and interview with Paris). And true to form, Janice did what she usually does when she's defending her magazine in more august surroundings: She brings up politics and how George Bush is evil and the war in Iraq has become a footnote in the ongoing national soap opera that is Paris Hilton or Britney Spears or Anna Nicole Smith's life! The woman is a genius. More » -
yes, there will be blood vials
'Us Weekly' Totally Hung Up On Angelina Jolie's Past
Hey! Have you heard? Us Weekly is reporting this week that just six short years ago, Angelina Jolie was vaguely Goth, married to Billy Bob Thornton, had a pet rat, and kept a vial of Thornton's blood around her neck. And now, she's all Miss Humanitarian Adoptive Parent 2007! Oh. What's that? You say you've heard this all before? Well. Maybe that's because Us Weekly keeps reminding us! Although we have to admit, that quote about Billy Bob and Angelina having just fucked in the car is pretty classic. (Click to enlarge.) -
the tabloid media
'US Weekly': Deep In Angelina's Womb
Once Janice Min gets her manicure into something, she's not going to let it go. Take the cover of the latest issue of Us Weekly, which proclaims: "The Final Insult: Shiloh Was No Accident! Angelina finally admits she planned to get pregnant while Brad was still married." Oh, snap! The story's not actually as scandalous as that: she and Brad had been together for months by the time they planned to get pregnant, although he was technically not divorced from Jennifer Aniston. Now! Was it tacky for Angelina to remind Jennifer Aniston, yet again, that it sucked getting dumped by Brad Pitt? Yes! But it's also pretty tacky of Us to publish the same story, week after week. More » -
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 »
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janice min
Janice Min: "Paris Hilton Didn't Start Any Wars"
We made Doree venture out this weekend to bask in the presence of Us Weekly's Janice Min. Herewith, her report!
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janice min
Tabloid Editor Concerned About Dumbing Down of Media
Strangely non-evil Us Weekly editor Janice Min is ticked that TV news has gotten all tabloidey:"I wanted to turn on news and watch information about the Scooter Libby trial, and all I could find was wall-to-wall Anna Nicole."
That's how we felt last week when we opened Us and all we could find was an analysis of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget's new FY2008 publication! (With online vidcast component narrated by shirtless Battlestar Galactica star Jamie Bamber!) More » -
us magazine
Remainders: Janice Min Marks Her Territory
- Us Weekly editor Janice Min vs. celeb blogger Perez Hilton. GO! [FishbowlNY] More »
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media
Media Bubble: Tripped Up
• That Cathy Horyn correction? It was a big "fuck you" to Styles editor Trip Gabriel. [WWD] More » -
crazy us weekly guy
Crazy 'Us Weekly' GuyTM Knows that Celebrity Weeklies Are the 'Life Matrix'
In today's edition of Crazy Us Weekly GuyTM — the delightful fellow who speaks to God, is soulmates with Jessica Alba, and just wants us to help him get in touch with Us EIC Janice Min so that he might fulfill his destiny of being #2 at the celebrity weekly — we move away from the creepier aspects of CUWGTM's obsession with Alba and more towards how Min and Us can make his dream a reality. After the jump, excerpts from Parts IV - VI, plus his thoughts on the future.
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crazy us weekly guy
Gawker Now Mocking Mentally Ill In Variety Of Different Media
Some things need very little explanation. Herewith we present Gawker Media Syndicate's first foray into the world of comic strips: "Crazy 'Us Weekly' GuyTM & Janice." Enjoy. More » -
crazy us weekly guy
Crazy 'Us Weekly' GuyTM Buys Engagement Ring at Kay Jewelers
For the past few days, we've been letting you into the world of Crazy Us Weekly GuyTM, a man who communicates with God, is soulmates with Jessica Alba, and can make Us Weekly an even bigger success if we'd just put him in touch with Us EIC Janice Min. When he first emailed Gawker, we stupidly asked for more details, which prompted Crazy Us Weekly GuyTM to send us over 200 pages of intense explanation (plus a handy Excel spreadsheet), all of which we're sharing with you. More » -
us weekly
Crazy 'Us Weekly' GuyTM Explains His Master Plan
Last week, we shared with you an email we received from a gentleman who from here on out we shall refer to as Crazy Us Weekly GuyTM. The man claimed that he communicated with God, his soulmate was a Hollywood actress, and his goal was to be #2 at Us Weekly so that he might present EIC Janice Min with his new "paradigm" for the success of the magazine (additionally, if we put him in touch, he'd bring us along at put us up at the top of the Us masthead as well). Well, shit — we'd LURVE to be the person at Us who scribbles the cute handwritten captions on the Just Like US page ("They drink iced coffee!" "They buy groceries!"), so we decided to take Crazy Us Weekly GuyTM up on his offer to explain his grand plan. More » -
us weekly
After the Bomb, Only Roaches and 'Us Weekly' Will Survive
When you're packing together a double issue and taking the next week off, how do you leave your readers? At the Observer, it's with an incredibly long profile of Us Weekly editor Janice Min. The piece seems to appear apropos nothing new other than that, well, she's back from maternity leave and, dammit, Us Weekly is good. It's the summer — that's a good enough peg, right? More » -
media bubble
Media Bubble: At Least They're Not Corrupting the Integrity of Thursday Styles
• Times to sell ads on front business page. Coming next: white after Labor Day. [NYT] More » -
jann wenner
Papa Was a Rolling Stone: Is Janice Min Pregnant With Jann's Child?
An emailer who we assume must work at Us Weekly posits a compelling theory about the origins of forthcoming Jung Wenner: More » -
video
Laurel's World: On TV With Janice Min
There are certain pieces of video you've always heard about but never actually seen. Perhaps it's Jerry Lawler on Letterman. Or the Newlywed Game episode with "Where's the weirdest place you ever made whoopee?" Or The Star Wars Christmas Special. Maybe, somehow, you've never seen the Ed Ames tomahawk bit on Carson. For us, the white whale has been this clip of Mediabistro doyenne Laurel Touby interviewing Janice Min, the Us Weekly editor. It was made several months ago, during Touby's short-lived tenure as a media correspondent for the NY 360 program on the city's cable network, and it is why God invented YouTube. More » -
media bubble
Media Bubble: With Brownridge Going, Wenner Seeks Someone New to Bully
• Megalomaniacal Jann Wenner is now picking on Us editor Janice Min, which doesn't seem like a smart thing to do. [WWD] More » -
lindsay lohan
Gossip Roundup: Lindsay Lohan Too Cool for School
• Lindsay Lohan hasn't really given much thought to attending college. Surprising, we know, but think about it: She's already got four years of heavy binge drinking under her belt. What could higher education possibly have to offer? [Gatecrasher (2nd item)] More » -
celebrity weeklies
Wenner Spares You Celebrity Magazine Pain
Keith Kelly reports today that the always-popular Wenner Media has abandoned plans to launch a second celebrity magazine, presumably because Us Weekly didn't have the energy to baby-sit a little sister. Overseeing the magazine was part of Us EIC Janice Min's new $1.2 million contract — will Jann have to pry the related compensation from Min's cold, dead hands? Or will he be too busy play-editing Men's Journal to take care of financial housekeeping? More » -
janice min
Janice: The Early Years
Us Weekly editor Janice Min, a Colorado native, was profiled in yesterday's Denver Post. We'll spare you all the boring, usual stuff that Coloradans apparently don't know but you New Yorkers, naturally, do — Janice is tiny, she wears Prada, she's often barefoot around the office, her staff loves her, media people have lunch at Michael's — and instead put the spotlight on her kvelling mother: More » -
aj jacobs
Remainders: What Won't A.J. Jacobs Do?
• Esquire's geeky guinea pig A.J. Jacobs wikis the shit out of himself and his publication. Book deal TK. [News.com] More »



















