Gawker
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(Inside) Media Softball
Old Person Blogs Thing Nobody Cares About
Village Voice EIC Tony Ortega has nothing to do during the weekend but read us. Yay, readers! :) ANYWAY. Ortega made an item out of Ian Speigelman's anti-Nick Denton screed in yesterday's comments. But: irony. More »
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By Foster KamerComment by cdmunch: This is hilarious, from one of the Voice subscribers with dialup: "scryingtheball says: It's okay. Defamer is dead, Gawker is rapidly decaying,... 7 Responses | Other threads
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print is dead
Village Voice Continues to Collapse
The owners of wilting alt weekly The Village Voice continue to condemn their staff to the torture of a thousand cuts. Last week, the Voice's overlords at cost-cutting conglomerate The New Times laid off dance critic Deborah Jowitt after she'd served forty years at the paper. Now, an insider tells us that writer Chris Thompson—who relocated his family from San Francisco to take the job—has been let go. The problem, our tipster says, is that Voice editor-in-chief Tony Ortega has most of his hiring decisions dictated to him by his New Times bosses "and then he sulks because he doesn't really like them, and then decides they aren't 'working out.'" More Voice woes after the jump. More »
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Comment by BlatherU: Too bad Match Game is not on TV anymore, then Michael Musto would have something to fall back on. more » | Other threads
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breaking
'Village Voice' Fires Art Critic For Conflict Of Interest
Well that didn't take too long. In an online statement today from editor Tony Ortega, the Village Voice announced it has separated itself from art critic Christian Viveros-Faune, whose direction of two commercial art fairs was raised yesterday by a blogger as a possible conflict of interest.
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By MaggieComment by dotorg greg: Uh, "Sources say Ortega was none too pleased by the revelation" or "MAN: Did the Voice ask you about that, ask you... more » | Other threads
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altweeklies
Business Side Budget Cuts At The 'Voice'?
Yesterday we heard the Village Voice newsroom might be headed for another round of budget cuts. Last year the paper saw quite a bit of editorial turnover—at least 15 staffers we can think of quit or were let go. In December, the paper fired its new art director. But any additional cuts coming down the pike are likely to come instead from the business side of the weekly, which recently made employees skittish by dismissing a well-liked and longtime support staffer. Rumors of further downsizing are afoot. Stay tuned. More » -
a chilling effect
Village Voice Media Execs Released From Jail
The co-founders of New Times, now known as Village Voice Media*, were arrested last night ("led away in handcuffs," according to their press release), at their homes in Phoenix, AZ, on misdemeanor charges related to revealing details of a grand jury investigation. Mike Lacey, the company's executive editor, and Jim Larkin, VVM's CEO, revealed in a story published yesterday in the Phoenix New-Times, that the paper is the target of a grand jury investigation stemming from a long-running feud with mercenary county sheriff Joe Arpaio. A few hours later, they were in the pokey themselves.
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awkward omissions
Much Of Village Voice's 'Best of NYC' Written By Former Staffers
The Village Voice's annual "Best of New York City" issue is out today, and their suggestions include the expected: the best bookstore "that's not The Strand" (Alabaster on 4th); the tortured: "Best place for my mom to cruise for young gay men" (The Container Store? Bleary midnight headline session maybe?); and the inspired: "Best straight-headed ho" (The Reverend Al Sharpton). New York landmarks like Brian Lehrer, Fanelli's and the Staten Island Ferry make appearances and the Voice does us a favor by pointing us in the direction of the city's best Irish bartender. Curiously missing, however, are attached bylines, which ran in last year's Best Of—and, we hear, were meant to run this year as well. More »
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By MaggieComment by OakleyHall: With the exception of WNYC and WBGO, the Best of New York ignored broadcast media and local Websites. What are... more » | Other threads
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another country heard from
From the mailbag: "I've been writing for the Voice off and on for five years, and I can say that [editor] Tony [Ortega] is the first editor-in-chief who personally responds to pitches. I think his rejection of what sounds like a totally unoriginal idea for a column (don't we have enough dating/relationship/sex columns for crissake?) is measured and honest. He responds to my pitches the same way, and I appreciate it. At least he takes the time to write back!"
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Comment by JackBauersLuvChild: @filipo: Now that's a critique that I can actually appreciate. Thanks and fixed:) more » | Other threads
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rejections
From the mailbag: "When I pitched [Village Voice editor] Tony Ortega a piece (after he killed an article I spent months writing for [former Voice editor David] Blum), he replied, 'Ward [Harkavy; Voice senior editor] and I like this idea a lot. Think you could have something in to me by Thursday?' I asked him how many words he had in mind, and he wrote back, 'Sorry, I meant to send that reply to someone else. I actually don't like this idea.'"
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Comment by barelyblack: @KarenUhOh: right, actually I guess I was telling myself to get over it. more » | Other threads
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dismissals
'Voice' Editor Tony Ortega Writes A Harsh Rejection Letter
Recently Village Voice editor Tony Ortega was pitched a relationship/dating/sex column by someone who'd pitched him when he was an editor at one of New Times' papers in Florida and had received an encouraging response. And this writer probably thought that since one sex column at the Voice is about cybersex (what is this, 1999?) and the other is the syndicated column Savage Love , it might be good to get a local lady up in that piece—especially since the Lusty Lady column had been so unceremoniously canned by Ortega's predecessor David Blum. But Ortega wasn't interested. And he sent her back a truly snippy rejection note—and in it, we discover the conditions under which he might shoot himself! More »
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Comment by The One: Have you sobered up yet, Ilyana? If you're looking to J---a A-----n as your role model, it's time to seriously reevaluate... more » | Other threads
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staff meetings
New 'Voice' Editor Already Pissy, Irritable
We got some rumblings from inside the Village Voice about last week's porno-hooker-classified-ads cover; it was intended to be a commentary on how some weeklies are pulling the R-rated ads, but the staff didn't much care for it. And the paper never explained the weird little in-joke to its readers. And now, uh oh! Sounds like new Voice editor Tony Ortega has a bit of an attitude problem just like old Voice editor David Blum's! Says the Observer: "[S]everal staff members had expressed dismay at the cover, and... Mr. Ortega brought up the issue at an editorial meeting Monday. 'He got really defensive,' the employee said. 'He said if you're going to be offended by something like this, then you shouldn't work here.'" Also: There are pretty much no gays left at the Voice. Is it a coincidence? -
village voice
There Was Someone Left To Get Rid Of At The 'Voice'!
In 2004, when then-Village Voice editor in chief Don Forst fired executive editor Richard Goldstein, he told the Times it was a restructuring issue:''I had two executive editors, and I only needed one,'' Mr. Forst said, adding that he let Mr. Goldstein go because he believed the other executive editor, Laura Conaway, ''was more valuable, at this point, to me.'' The executive editor is the No. 3 position in The Voice newsroom.
Well, a few editors in chief later, it turns out Conaway isn't so valuable after all, or at least not to new editor Tony Ortega: She was just dismissed. Color us surprised! We weren't aware that there was anyone left to lay off. Ms. Conaway intends to spend some time at the beach. "I'll be in a new position soon, and meanwhile I'll take the time for a couple of projects that haven't got much to do with print journalism," she said in her so-long email. Good call.
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By abalkComment by barelyblack: Laura's gone? Wait a minute. First they demote Spokesperson for all Things Afro-American (Adamma Ince is now just doing listings... more » | Other threads
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they're just like us
Village Voice editor Tony Ortega likes "Flight of the Conchords," gossipy websites. "What the hell, I guess I want to read about Paris and Britney as much as the next schmuck." [Jupitermedia] -
bye life
Nightlife Queen Tricia Romano To Retire Her Coffin
If you read this week's "Fly Life" column in the Village Voice you might have noted that it carried the ominous title, "A Full-Circle Farewell," and ended on the following note:And I will always remember, mostly with fondness, all of the parties and places I've seen: Motherfucker, MisShapes, Siberia, Mama's Bar, Rated X, the Cock, the Hole, Halcyon, Matter:/form boat rides, Bunker at subTonic, the Dark Room, Nublu, P.S. 1, Body and Soul, Shelter, Cielo, Centro-Fly, Luxx, APT, Plant Bar, Filter 14. There are too many people to thank (don't worry, I won't soon forget) and too many moments to immortalize. I'd need three columns to do everyone justice, but I don't have that. Party over: out of time.
Could it be? Nightlife denizen Tricia Romano another victim of new editor Tony Ortega's merciless scythe? More » -
the quiet evolution of the village voice
Tony Ortega Offs Kristin Lombardi
Kristin Lombardi, a three-year veteran of the Village Voice (for younger readers, that means she came on during the Don Forst era; November 1, 2004, to be specific), was let go on Friday. A Voice spokesperson had no comment on the departure, but the fact that Lombardi, an investigative journalist, has had a grand total of one article published during new editor Tony Ortega's tenure may indicate that New Times' latest man on the scene is taking the paper in a less "advocacy journalism" direction. Which, for those of us who could give a damn about corruption in the box factories of West New York, can only be a plus. -
media reporters
Keach Hagey Gets Clipped From 'Voice'
Sad news about a new friend: Village Voice Press Clips columnist Keach Hagey is no longer in that, or any, position at the paper. It seems that her trial period has expired, and Editor Tony Ortega has decided that the inexperienced young ones that his equally inexperienced predecessor put into positions for which they were unprepared (call it empathy) are going to have to enjoy the opportunity to learn their craft elsewhere. (Peter Braunstein would not approve.) We're sort of sorry to see Keach go—since we've stopped grading her a few weeks ago, we haven't had to read Press Clips at all. Good thing she's got the band to fall back on. -
what not to do
Career Advice From Psycho Peter Braunstein
Fresh news from the trial of former WWD writer Peter Braunstein, who's up on charges of kidnapping and sexual assault. Yesterday, prosecutors argued that Braunstein's demeanor at the time of the attack indicated that he knew exactly what he was doing: Five days prior to the incident he rented a storage facility in which to keep his "souvenirs" of the assault, and hours after he left the victim's apartment he showed up at a part-time job to collect some money he was owed. Jose Ramirez, a rental agent at the storage unit, noted that he was "friendly" and "talkative." In fact, he was something of a counselor:Mr. Ramirez said he asked Mr. Braunstein about getting a book published. Mr. Braunstein told him that nonfiction sold better than fiction, and that The Village Voice (where Mr. Braunstein got his start) was a good place to nurture his writing career, Mr. Ramirez said.
Well, not bad advice actually! Of course this was before the Tony Ortega editorship era; we understand they're a lot less forgiving over at the Voice now. More »
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By abalk2Comment by SylviaPlathWasFramed: If there is a just God, Braunstein will share a cell with Joe Francis. more » | Other threads
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village voice
'Voice' To Suck Slightly Less, Starting Immediately
Okay, maybe it's not all doom and gloom at Tony Ortega's Voice: Cartoonist Tom Tomorrow is returning! "Basically," he writes on his blog, "the editor who didn't like my work was suddenly ousted, and his replacement turned out to be somebody who's been championing it for years." No more having to sit through that fucking Salon ad! Good first step. But we're hearing about an even better one: "Married, Not Dead," is, in fact, dead. Yes! [Pumps fist, etc.] Damn you, Ortega, you may make us like the Voice after all. Okay, probably not, but maybe. More »
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By abalk2Comment by nick-akbar-or-jeff: good god...if I had those boobies, could I be a "tastemaker" too and a vice-president of a record lable? It... more » | Other threads
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village voice
Tomorrow's 'Village Voice' May, May Not, Surprise
In the week before David Blum was 86'd from the Village Voice, he'd largely completed a remake of the poor alt weekly. Since Tony Ortega stepped into the editor's office on Friday, he's already begun tweaking with the layout of the paper himself, including the front of book, even while making the rounds and saying hello to each staff member. According to one source, in Ortega's early rejiggerings, the Press Clips column was killed—and that Keach Hagey will still cover media, but not in that classic form. Other staffers said they'd been told this wasn't true, and a Voice spokesperson agreed with them: "No, that's not at all what's happening." The paper closes late Monday nights, and Press Clips was online before noon last week, but has yet to make an appearance as of 1:50 p.m. today. Well, as near as we can tell on that website, which is only two steps up from that new abomination that the Daily News barfed onto the Internets the other day. -
remainders
Remainders: It's So Hard To Look This Good
- It's really, really hard to be so beautiful. Now shut up about it already, Michelle Pfeiffer and co. [Glossed Over] More »
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Comment by Looker: Yeah, when I think of the Greatest Heterosexual Men of All Time, I immediately think of Tom Cruise. How the... more » | Other threads
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village voice
David Blum's 'Voice' Ouster: Meaning! Context!
At last, two gigantic David Blum post-mortems. Huffington Post's Rachel Sklar—who needs to learn that it's not all hugs and kisses in this business—seems to think Blum has been tarred as a racist, when he should really have been tarred as an incompetent. (Actually, she doesn't say that. Apparently, he sure was nice when he edited her "SNL" piece. He was pretty helpful while she was writing this essay, too.) The Observer's Michael Calderone, leaning more heavily on reporting than analysis, supports the hell out of the "couldn't edit a bus ticket" theory. More »
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