job moves
Former
Time deputy managing editor
Priscilla Painton has been named editor-in-chief of Simon & Schuster's adult trade imprint, which is far more respectable than it sounds. Painton, who
left Time in December, will take over most of the responsibilities of flinty (and legendary) editorial director,
Alice Mayhew, who's staying on at the publishing house in a somewhat diminished capacity. Mayhew shepherded, among others, books by Craig Unger, Bob Woodward, Doris Kearns Goodwin. Painton, daughter of one of the founders of
Time Europe, spent 20 years at the news weekly, earning the respect of many. She was known for making wry fun of former managing editor Jim Kelly to his face (when warranted) during weekly staff editorial meetings, and remains the highest-ranking female editor in the magazine's history. [
NYT]
Gawker
That Barack Obama picture—on the cover of this month's issue of the men's magazine—looked familiar. Slightly less of Obama's hands are visible; the Democratic candidate's shoulders are weirdly hunched; and the picture's rendered in black and white. But it's obviously from the same Platon shoot as the one that illustrated Time's December cover story. Embarrassing, though it's hard to condemn Esquire: determined insurgent politicians have a limited range of body language; the photo editors can safely assume readers have short memories; and the likely Democratic nominee needs the support of Scots-Irish racists in Appalachia more than he does the goodwill of Esquire's photo department or metropolitan readers.
Live from Time's "
