News owner Mort Zuckerman is said to have blown his stack over the Sunday story. Editor-In-Chief Martin Dunn then ordered the Tuesday piece, our source said, but no writers would put their names to it.

It is Zuckerman's nominal rival Rupert Murdoch who is always under suspicion of subordinating the editorial voice of his media outlets to his own personal interests and beliefs. He has admitted to doing so with the Post, and Zuckerman was among those who worried he might do the same with the Wall Street Journal.

But Zuckerman, who made his money in real estate before snapping up the News and U.S. News & World Report, is not exactly beloved by his own journalists. A 2007 New Yorker profile noted the high turnover among his editors. And it described the mogul, who has presumptuously given himself the title Editor-In-Chief at U.S. News, as a "conservative-leaning Democrat, who supported George W. Bush in the last election." Those sound like the political beliefs of someone who would take umbrage at a particularly critical article on Sarah Palin.

Or perhaps Zuckerman objected, or at least claimed to object, to the Sunday article on strictly journalistic grounds. The story quoted one National Review columnist, an anonymous operative and longtime Republican campaign consultant Ed Rollins, who most recently worked for McCain rival Mike Huckabee. None of their direct quotes supported the claim made in the headline that Palin might be dropped from the ticket.

But, likewise, the Monday puff piece presented no evidence to support the assertion that Palin is a fundraising dynamo or unconditionally loved by social conservatives. Dunn and Zuckerman should have known it would have looked especially suspicious without any bylines — and word of the clumsy Palin reversal would likely soon leak from a manhandled newsroom.

Speaking of which — if you have any further details, we'd love to hear them. ryan@gawker.com

UPDATE: An alternate explanation: One source said the Monday story was supposed to run Sunday but was held for space. Zuckerman, who has been out of town, didn't order the the Monday story, the source added.

Also, an email tipster said the second story ran only online. Although if it only was for the Web, why not run in Sunday, the same time as the other one?

News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch and News owner Mort Zuckerman have yet to have their first meeting on the deal, but it shouldn't be particularly awkward — as shown in the picture above, the two moguls are comfortable chatting socially, in this case at internet publisher Arianna Huffington's May book party.

More difficult, for sure, will be the merging of the papers' fiercely competitive circulation groups. The Post has lavished coverage on Daily News circulation scandals, and the rivalry trickles all the way down to deliverymen, who have been known to trash bundles of rivals' papers. Perhaps, before any partnership goes through, a study of sectarian rivalries in Iraq is in order, if only as a cautionary example.

[Times]

"Mr. Murdoch spoke on the call with Wall Street analysts and the press after the release of quarterly earnings from the News Corporation, the global media conglomerate he controls. On the call, he said, 'No, I don’t think Cablevision will prevail; just be patient for a couple days.'

"Several weeks ago it appeared that News Corporation had a tentative deal to buy Newsday, based on Long Island, for about $580 million, but two other bidders have come forward.

"Mortimer B. Zuckerman, the owner of The Daily News, matched Mr. Murdoch’s offer, while Cablevision, the Long Island cable operator that also owns Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks and Rangers, was a late entrant but upped the ante to $650 million." [NYT]

Also? Murdoch gave bubonic plague to three of the Seven Dwarves.

"Late Friday afternoon Mr. Zuckerman submitted a bid of $580 million for the Long Island-based newspaper, according to a person briefed on the matter. The bid sets up a potential bargaining battle by the owners of New York’s two tabloids: The Daily News and The New York Post.

"Mr. Zuckerman opted not to submit a higher bid. Instead, he will make the argument to the Tribune Company, the debt-laden parent company of Newsday, that his bid is more attractive because it does not have the potential to fall into regulatory limbo.

"Mr. Murdoch’s offer would almost certainly be scrutinized by the Federal Communications Commission under its new media ownership rule."

In related news... I hope you fall off a curb and crack your stupid hip, Rupe. You old prick. [NYT]

1. Publishing economics. The New York Post's new size, 12 inches high, down from 13½ inches, will make it the size of the Wall Street Journal, folded in two. I'm told this will allow both Murdoch-owned papers to be produced on the same presses. If Murdoch's rumored $580m bid for Long Island's Newsday goes through, News Corporation will achieve even greater savings. A person familiar with the deal said the deal, by combining printing and distribution of the New York Post with another title in the same metropolitan market, would wipe out the $50m in annual losses that the Australian media titan still bears on his beloved New York tabloid. This move would be straight out of News Corporation's UK playbook: there, the media conglomerate transformed the profitability of its UK titles in 1986 by breaking the print trade unions and moving production of The Times, The Sun and other London papers to a heavily fortified print works in Wapping.

2. Influence. Rupert Murdoch may be the personification of the press baron, but he's never had anything like the influence in the US that his array of newspapers and television networks brought in the UK. His solitary US newspaper title, the New York Post, has given Murdoch influence over New York City and State politics, but precious little juice in Washington, DC. Murdoch has never had the access to the White House, even under George Bush, that he had to Number 10 Downing Street during Tony Blair's tenure as UK prime minister. Fox News is powerful, of course, but the cable news network is too reflexively conservative to provide any real influence over the liberals who are likely to run national politics, and appoint regulators, over the next political cycle. By creating a national title in the Wall Street Journal, and taking control of about half the New York newspaper market, Murdoch or his successor should be able to withstand any political effort to break up his empire. Look at the UK: the Labour party, which long sought to curtail News Corporation's media power, has entirely given up; about a decade ago, Murdoch passed the critical threshold beyond which he became untouchable. By creating a similarly interlocking network of television and newspaper operations in the US, he can achieve a similar result on a grander scale—if competition authorities allow.

3. Mortality. Last month, the Australian media mogul turned 77 years old. His motives are hard to divine, but one has to presume that the nightmare would be the breakup of an empire he has spent a lifetime in building, the fate which awaits Time Warner and Sumner Redstone's holdings. News Corporation is the one media conglomerate which makes some sense: the profits are made on sports and entertainment broadcasting; tabloids and quality newspapers provide political protection. That's the formula in the UK, at least. In the US, the richest media market, Murdoch bought New York Post in 1976 and has gradually accumulated television stations over the three decades since, launched a fourth entertainment network and a surprisingly successful cable news channel, Fox News. But it is only now, as proprietors such as the Bancroft family and Sam Zell lose hope in the future of newspaper publishing, that Murdoch has been given the scope in the US to achieve the same concentration he has in the UK. And it is no wonder that Murdoch is in such a rush. These newly available newspapers need a dramatic intervention if they are to make the transition to the internet. Potentially hostile Democrats are about to take control of executive and legislative branches of government. And Murdoch, the last great media mogul, is mortal. The aging press magnate can deny the reality by wearing black polo-neck sweaters on the urging of his much younger wife, but he doesn't have much time to conclude his legacy.

(Citizen Kane's desolate mansion, in the Orson Welles movie based loosely on the life of William Randolph Hearst, the pre-eminent press baron of an earlier age.)

Graydon Carter, Vanity Fair: Carter's clashes with Weinstein were detailed in Ken Auletta's 2002 profile of the movie mogul in the New Yorker, for which Carter supplied some unflattering quotes. But the two made up: Weinstein and his Miramax Books advanced $1 million for a hardcover history of Carter's Spy Magazine, published in 2006 (the party photo at left, featuring Weinstein and Carter, was taken at a launch event for the book). When Weinstein wed fashion designer Georgina Chapman, Carter attended. The rehearsal dinner was held at Carter's restaurant, Waverly Inn.

Rupert Murdoch, News Corp.: Not only did he attend Weinstein's December wedding with wife Wendi Deng, but his four-year old daughter served as flower girl, according to Murdoch's Fox News.

Anna Wintour, Vogue: Met with Weinstein and his then-girlfriend Chapman about possible Vogue coverage of Chapman's fashion line. The gossip, as relayed by Page Six, was that Weinstein insinuated he could provide celebrities for cover shots in exchange for Vogue coverage of Chapman's fashion line. The line appeared several times in the magazine, and a Vogue rep confirmed to Page Six that a meeting occurred and that Wintour provided advice to Weinstein's aspiring fashionista, but said no deal was struck. Wintour also attended Weinstein's wedding.

Mort Zuckerman, Daily News, US News: Joined with Weinstein and others to bid on New York magazine in 2003. Also in the syndicate were financiers Jeffrey Epstein and Nelson Peltz, among others. Zuckerman also attended Weinstein's wedding.

For a fuller sense of Weinstein's connections, check out copious coverage of the guest list at his December wedding, which in addition to Murdoch, Wintour and Zuckerman drew network chiefs Les Moonves and Jeff Zucker and Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels.

The mogul also makes his power felt further down the media food chain, where he can wow reporters with Hollywood glitz. David Carr said in the opening of a 2001 New York profile of Weinstein that the celebrities surrounding the mogul made Carr feel like "I'm in — kind of, temporarily, a member of the downtown tribe of Miramax."

At Fortune, Tim Arango opened a June 2007 Weinstein profile by recreating his trip with the mogul down the French Riviera in the back of "a midnight-blue Peugot." The pair drove past movie fans in Cannes, France, apparently on their way to a movie screening.

Arango went on to detail less glamorous — and less flattering — anecdotes, starting with how Weinstein's investors had just stepped up their oversight of his new company and were worried about management misfires. Weinstein's media influence, whatever he imagines it to be, has its limits.

It's awfully sweet that publisher Mort Zuckerman is committed (or deluded) enough to the future of his News to make "this significant investment in its future," as he puts it. Are the costs all that much different though? To be sure, purchasing brand-new press machines can cost a pretty penny. The German Koenig & Bauer presses that the News will use cost millions. But an industry insider we spoke to said the material costs to run the press (additional inking, etc.) aren't likely to be much different.

What is likely to change, however, are the number of people required to operate the thing. The main selling point of the Commander CT is that it requires far fewer pressmen than conventional machines. Good news for Zuckerman, not so much for the paper's press operators—we can actually hear the Pressmen's Union organizing from here.

Even if Zuckerman saves some cash with personnel, he may lose a little when it comes to ad revenue, surprisingly. Advertisers pay serious premiums for full-color ads. An extra $31,500 is tacked on to the bill for a full-color full-page ad in the New York Times. (Or you could send your kid to a damn nice college for a year, but it's not our money, sadly.) But they're willing to fork over the extra cash because ad departments remind them up and down that each edition has only a limited number of color positions available. Act now! Time is running out! You get the drift. It's harder to convince an advertiser to pay more for an ad when the others are just as colorful.

Mort Zuckerman
Publisher/EIC, New York Daily News. EIC, U.S. News & World Report.
Born: Montreal, Quebec.

Malcolm Gladwell
New Yorker staff writer, pop-nonfic author general media whore.
Born in the UK, raised in Elmira, Ontario. Attended the University of Toronto around the same time as Clive Thompson! And obv BFF w/ fellow frequent New Yorker contributer

Adam Gopnik
Born in Philly, raised in Montreal. Has also perhaps spent time in Paris? Someone look into this.

Graydon Carter
Editor, Vanity Fair
Born: Toronto, Ontario.

Dale Hrabi
Former editorial creative director at Maxim and elsewhere. Radar Editor at Large.
Worked at Canadian fashion mag Flare, just like:

Bonnie Fuller
Tabloid queen. Editorial director, American Media. Terror. Britney leaver-alone.
Born: Toronto.

Not pictured: Lorne Michaels, Rachel Sklar. Probably others! If you know of media-running Canadians we left out, drop us a line.

Burt Randolph Sugar, the legendary boxing raconteur, was calling the game. He did so ineptly but with great passion. To his immediate left sat James Lipton, the sycophantic host of Bravo's Inside the Actors Studio. A gnarled misshapen demon of a man, Lipton brushed aside a child's request for an autograph with a wave of his hand. He was too busy eating hot dogs, his face distorted by the meat, his dark feral eyes gleaming misanthropically into the field of play. As the writers went up to bat, Sugar read from a roster. "Mort Zuckerman, the pitcher and owner of the Daily News...." or "Rick Leventhal, from FOX news..." When the artists went up to bat, the introductions went something like, "Jeffrey Meizlik's sculpts in bronze. Some say his work deals with issues of life and death..."

On the writers squad, Zuckerman was the star and star pitcher. His teammates gathered around him, patting him on his back after every inning, though he gave up countless runs. Ad-man and egotist Donny Deutsch, who later played second base, and the New Yorker's Ken Auletta paid homage to the master.

I timidly patted the man on his back as well, and asked him for any words of advice he might have for Jared Kushner, whose New York Observer is still trudging down that long road towards profit. "In the publishing game," Zuckerman said, "the definition of genius is lasting five minutes longer than the other guy."

We nodded because we wanted him to think we understood; also because we thought we understood. Only later, during the 6th inning, while the writers were on their way to a crushing defeat, did we realize we didn't know really know what Mort meant. While we were pondering, the very athletic Daily News-man Mike Lupica, over at second base, dove to catch a line drive, a nimbus of dirt enveloping him momentarily until out of the cloud, his glove appeared: Ball firmly in mitt.

It was too late. Perhaps if Jerry Della Femina (along with Mort, he is one of the Four Horsemen of the Hamptons) or Giuliani had showed up for the writers, things would have ended up differently. Or maybe it was that Alec Baldwin was a no-show for the artists that tipped the game in their favor. Either way, Zuckerman's looked defeated as the two teams lined up for the post-game handshakes. This time, it seemed, the other guy had lasted five minutes longer.

A good Mort story, of the kind not told, or even remembered by Mort himself, has [former U.S. News & World Report editor Roger] Rosenblatt and Zuckerman on their way to Washington on Zuckerman's private jet, to announce Rosenblatt's resignation to the staff of U.S. News. The plane hits turbulence, and Rosenblatt and Zuckerman go flying out of their seats. Zuckerman turns to Rosenblatt and says, 'Did you see what just happened to me?'

The Tycoon [NYer, not online and thank God for that]

"We don't think about it in those terms," Mr. Zuckerman said in a minute-and-a-half phone interview that he abruptly ended. "Does it have a value today given the general decline in news interest among the public? Yes. It's this kind of useful news that people want. But I didn't do it for business reasons."

What the Rankings Do for 'U.S. News' [CHE]

Even in the permanently demoralized newsroom, this one really upset insiders. They see it as one more move by owner Mort Zuckerman's minions to toss a loyal staffer to the wolves in order to meet his budget numbers. Although Martin Dunn is the editor-in-chief, the blood from this one probably rests with op-ed page Editor Arthur Browne. Browne refused to comment.

HAPPY HOLIDAY NEWS [NYP]

First, it appears that Epstein might have been horning in on Burkle's most precious personnel acquisition, that perpetual charm machine known as William Jefferson Clinton. In the Burkle-fluffing Forbes article mentioned earlier, Burkle makes no secret how much he loves the access and visibility that Consultant Clinton grants his business ventures. (Clinton is said to sotto voce find this annoying, as it makes his post-Presidential lifestyle seem less about earnest causes and more about herding dollahs.) In any case, Epstein also recognized Clinton's asset value, taking the ex-prez for rides on his jet (like Burkle did and does) and organizing a dinner in Clinton's honor at Epstein's East Side townhouse. Burkle probably didn't appreciate all these overtures, even if Clinton maintained there was plenty Bill to go around.

One of the other guests at that same dinner party was Radar 2.0 funder Mort Zuckerman. Back when Zuckerman and Epstein were both working that incarnation of Radar, Epstein was notoriously (and understandably, given his bedroom proclivities) secretive and hard to reach; supposedly, no one, not even Radar editor Maer Roshan, had his direct number. That didn't stop numerous public figures who received unflattering Radar coverage from calling Zuckerman and (eventually, through an assistant) Epstein, complaining to no avail. One of these complainants was Ron Burkle, and who should he have call Epstein on his behalf but none other than Bill Clinton. These frictions couldn't have endeared Epstein to Burkle, given the latter's notorious dislike of bad publicity.

After news of his alleged sexual misconduct broke, Epstein lost every friend he ever had, in a hurry. Rumor has it that Zuckerman might have been one of the few who had an early inkling, which may have contributed to his pulling the plug on Radar 2.0 as a way to completely disassociate himself from Epstein. For Burkle's part, whatever his feelings about Epstein then and now, he apparently doesn't feel the same about Radar — his involvement with the 3.0 iteration is an open secret. Will Burkle protect his pals from Radar coverage? Too early to tell. We'll see if he's inclined to call off the dogs now that he's the one holding the leash.

Earlier: Ron Burkle Once Hearted Jeffrey Epstein's Plane, Dinner Menu, Ron Burkle Likes Democrats, Detests Someone Else

Vice President of Communications
Seeking a Vice President of Communications with a strong media background to independently manage press and media relations and corporate communications, both external and internal, for the New York Daily News and U.S.News & World Report. May also be called upon to perform functions for other Zuckerman enterprises or for Mr. Zuckerman, personally.

This executive-level professional must embody corporate communications expertise, current credibility in the media industry, maintain contact with top-tier broadcast and print media, and possess the maturity and judgment necessary to counsel company executives.

The successful candidate will be able to prioritize many competing initiatives at once, acting as the corporations' primary press contact, and will also manage internal PR staff as well as relationships at two PR agencies. This individual will help create the positioning strategies for current and future initiatives, and craft press releases. Must possess strong media contacts and a demonstrated ability to place executives, columnists, and reporters on major broadcast programs and generate business and editorial related press. Must be able to deal with crisis effectively and with a cool head. Other key attributes for this position include an ability to balance reactive and day-to-day PR with proactive contacts and discussions leading to coverage. Ability to utilize an established network of press and media contacts, including online media contacts, while maintaining a solid professional reputation and credibility. We are looking for a high-energy individual who thrives in changing environment and can bring passion and leadership to the function. Detail-orientation, organization skills, flexibility, plus the ability to multi-task and prioritize are essential skills for this role, as is outstanding communication and influence skills, as well as an entrepreneurial spirit. Strong writing and public speaking skills are a must.

No word on Lloyd Grove, but maybe he's saving that for another column.

LONESOME DOVE'S WINGS CLIPPED AT DAILY NEWS [NYP]

Tapped phones? Monitored e-mails? What could be the cause of all this paranoia? And what else is going on over there? A source of ours offers further detail:

Rumor has it that Mort had his security guy launch a full investigation into who breached security at the newspaper by leaking the "blogger" policy memo to Gawker. Mort allegedly hates Gawker even more than he hates Rupert Murdoch.

We can't verify that any of this is true, of course. But just in case, Dawn and Llloyd? You might want to start sending us stuff from your gmail accounts.

REIGN OF TERROR AT NEWS [NYP]

Earlier: 'Daily News' Introduces Silencing Blog Policy

• During the era of Radar 2.0, which was funded by Epstein and Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman, Epstein was said to call EIC Maer Roshan after every issue, demanding that the magazine have more T&A. If he's paying for it, he better be able to beat off to it.

• Speaking of Mort Zuckerman, has anyone else noticed the complete lack of Epstein coverage in the Daily News? A billionaire sex scandal, and not a peep out of a major tabloid. But like Zuckerman's going to let his paper run anything negative on his brah? Bros before...news.

Meanwhile, the fun-loving pranksters at The Post are having their own chuckles at the News' expense. Here's a copy of today's NYPTV grid. We've highlighted the space where "Tabloid Wars" should appear.

NY Post Tabs Tabloid Wars 'Paid Programming' [B&C]

However, the two Philadelphia papers, with operating margins of about 10 percent, are more profitable than Zuckerman's New York operation, which is believed to barely eke out a profit, said newspaper consultant John Morton.

Yeah, it must suck to "barely eke out a profit." But, then, it must suck even more to lose $15 to $30 million a year.

Mort Bids for Philly Papers [NYP]
Related: The New York Post: Profitless Paper In Relentless Pursuit [BusinessWeek]

Berkeley College — no, not the lefty haven at the other end of Interstate 80 but rather than multi-campused business college in New York and New Jersey — has landed a big fish for this year's commencement speaker: Boston Properties honcho and New York Daily News proprietor Mortimer Zuckerman. In case you can't quite make out the first paragraph of his Berkley-provided bio, above, we'll write out the first graf for you:

In a distinguished career, Mortimer B. Zuckerman has modeled the ideals of Berkeley College in many ways: as a highly successful businessman, a thoughtful and sometimes provocative journalist, a teacher, a humanitarian, and an internationally recognized citizen of the human community devoted to the enhancement and maintenance of the highest quality of life for all.

Unless, that is, you happen to work for U.S. News or edit any of his pubs. Then he's just devoted to cutting your pay, firing your ass, and, in the special case of Maer Roshan, fucking with your mind.

Berkeley College

Mr. Zuckerman, who said that he expected his 8-year-old daughter Abigail to one day serve as the publisher of The Daily News..."

And when that day comes, a wizened Abigail will finally realize why her father bought her a sled every year for her birthday until age 19.

Zuckerman, Bound to the News [NYT]

We can't wait to see how long it takes Mort to grow tired of his new executive and fire him — does he do that to biz people, too, or just editors? — or, at the very least, alienate him until he, too, goes running into Murdoch's oddly welcoming arms.

Also: Good thing Bloomberg's pithy "Stronger Than Ever" inaugural quote ran on the front page of Monday's paper. Yesterday's ultimate "Shock" wood would have made for a very different — if equally stirring — publicity shot.

Kramer Takes Top Job at News [NYDN]

From: Jed Heyman
To: [redacted]
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2005 2:09 PM
Subject: [cpc2004] Rude awakening from a good dream

Hello my fellow CPC 04 Alum.

As many of you are probably aware, Radar magazine has had its funding suddenly and inexplicably yanked. On the verge of putting our 4th issue to bed (which have been our best yet, both editorially and in terms of ad sales) the announcement was made that our investors weren't even going to publish it, instead choosing to let all our work go to waste. Needless to say, we're all pretty heartbroken over this. As we were a staff marked by cynicism and irony, it is sort of remarkable that the one thing none of us felt the least bit cynical or ironic about was our publication.

Anyway, I guess bottom line for me is that, starting immediately, I am now once again unemployed, so if any of you hear anything... The upshot, I guess, is that I find myself with quite a bit of free time, now that I'm not working until 8 pm every night. If any of you want to have drinks/lunch and listen to my bitter ramblings, I'm very available.

-Jed

P.S. — The Radar staff requests that instead of flowers, friends of Radar express their condolences in the form of death threats sent to Mort Zuckerman.