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Magazines & Newspapers Recent Headlines News Corp Eyes Paywalls for British Tabloids Financial Times News Corp.'s British newspaper publishing arm is said to be planning to add online paywalls the News of the World in October, with the Sun to follow soon after. The papers will be the first U.K. tabloids to charge for online content, providing a test case for the "popular" press online. Gannett Starts Local High School Sports Sites Associated Press Gannett plans to launch a network of more than 100 websites on local high school sports teams. The sites will cull material from the company's local newspapers and broadcast stations. It also plans to launch high school sports pages on the website of its flagship USA Today. USAToday.com Publisher to Retire in November Associated Press Jeff Webber, the publisher of USAToday.com, will retire Nov. 1. The change comes at a time when Gannett's USA Today, like most other newspapers, is trying to offset a steep decline in print advertising by bringing more money from the web and other digital products. Time Magazine Nabs Newsweek Star Zakaria New York Times Newsweek's best known columnist, Fareed Zakaria, is jumping to Time magazine as part of a larger deal in which he will move his office to corporate sibling CNN, where he does a weekly program. "All of my work will now appear at one company," Zakaria says. OK! to Pay $1M for Lindsay Lohan Interview Hollywood Reporter OK! magazine is poised to pay Lindsay Lohan $1 million for her first post-jail interview. The actress left jail this month after serving 13 full days of a 90-day sentence for violating her probation. Lohan's personal appearances could fetch her $25,000 to $100,000. Newsweek Names 'Most Notorious' Bloggers Newsweek The most successful bloggers are the ones to realize the Internet's unique power to enrage people, Newsweek says. The most notorious in the business include Perez Hilton, Michael Arrington, Andrew Sullivan and Michael Wolff -- who predicted Newsweek's demise. Craigslist CEO Points to Graphic Ads on eBay San Jose Business Craigslist's Jim Buckmaster says recent scrutiny on adult ads on his site is unfair, noting that eBay carries more graphic advertising on its Spanish subsidiary. The CEO is apparently unhappy that eBay is considered family friendly while Craigslist has a shadier rep. Conde Nast Relocation Downtown Is Official WWD Conde Nast says a letter of intent has been signed for 1 World Trade Center, which means employees will be packing up to move from its headquarters at 4 Times Square in about four years' time. The magazine giant is expected to take up to 1 million square feet of the new tower. Hearst Eyes Upscale Retailer for Headquarters New York Post Hearst is talking with Sur La Table to be its first ground floor retail tenant at the media giant's New York City headquarters. Hearst had hoped to lure names like Gucci and Prada to its retail spaces, but the Eighth Avenue location "doesn't have the luster of Fifth Avenue." Hachette Offices Latest Media Bed Bug Victim Village Voice Elle magazine publisher Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. is said to be the latest New York City media company office with a bed-bug problem, following reports of infestations at Time Warner and CBS. The infected area "has been exterminated and treated," Hachette says. Time Inc Shakes Up Execs Amid CEO Change New York Post Shakeups are already underway at Time Inc. in advance of Ann Moore's exit and Jack Griffin's arrival from Meredith as the new CEO. Sylvia Auton, the executive VP overseeing Real Simple and Southern Living magazines, will be going home to London by year's end. Newsweek to 'Connect the Dots' with Motto WWD Sidney Harman may only be in week three of his attempted Newsweek turnaround, but he has already got himself a motto. The magazine's new owner is said to have told his Washington staffers that his lawyers are working on the rights to use "connecting the dots." Sporting News Aggregates News in Web Redo Mediaweek Sporting News is taking a new stab at the web in a play for rabid sports fans. SportingNews.com is scrapping its game coverage in favor of a news-feed approach focused on major sports. The site, rebranded Sporting News Feed, will aggregate news from outside sources. Rolling Stone Publishes Bloody Nude Cover People The stars of the HBO vampire show "True Blood" appear on the cover of the new issue of Rolling Stone naked and splattered in blood. Alexander Skarsgard, Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer pose with the headline “True Blood: They're Hot. They're Sexy. They’re Undead." People Magazine App Delayed by Paparazzi Hollywood Reporter More than a dozen celebrity photo agencies are withholding their work unless they can get additional compensation from People magazine, resulting in the postponement of the Time Inc. title's Apple iPad app. A deal could set the terms of trade for the industry. Wired Magazine Cover Declares 'Web Is Dead' Wired "The Web is dead," says Wired magazine's September cover stories by Chris Anderson and Michael Wolff. The "new breed of media titan" is forsaking the Web for a "more promising" semiclosed app model. Google's Eric Schmidt is "then." Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg is "now." Time's 2010 Person of the Year: Lady Gaga? min WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and Lady Gaga are among managing editor Rick Stengel's mid-year choices for Time magazine's 2010 Person of the Year. The annual honor is due in mid-December. Other early contenders: Oprah Winfrey and "oil spill volunteers." Forture Nabs Reuters Editor for Website Duty Talking Biz News Dan Primack, editor-at-large at Thomson Reuters, is leaving to take a job at Fortune.com, which is overhauling the financial part of its site to feature his work. Primack, the creator and writer of the peHUB Wire, will create a similar daily e-mail publication for Fortune. Print Media Eye Big Bucks from Digital Devices AllThingsD U.S. newspapers and magazines on the Apple iPad and other interactive tablet devices will generate $3 billion in revenue by 2014, says a new study by industry consortium Next Issue Media. Also: Consumers will be "happy" to pay print prices for digital publications. Tribune to Cut 100 Jobs in Texas Office Move Chicago Sun-Times Tribune is consolidating back-office operations into a new business office in Lewisville, Texas -- a move that could cost up to 100 jobs companywide. Tribune is setting up a subsidiary to act as a central administrative office for its newspapers and broadcast operations. Washington Post: U.S. Rules Could Hurt Kaplan Associated Press Shares of the Washington Post Co. fell Monday after government data showed that the company's Kaplan Higher Education unit, the publisher's biggest and most profitable division, could run up against proposed federal regulations governing for-profit colleges. Murdoch's Times Paywall Loss Stirs Ad Buyers Media Week Media buyers and commentators are throwing fresh doubt over whether News Corp.'s U.K. newspaper digital arm is worthy of investment, after new data reveals the Times of London lost 1.2 million unique users since May. "These figures will be a concern for advertisers." TV Guide iPad App Features Social TV Listings TV Guide TVGuide.com's new free Apple iPad app will allow users to not only get entertainment news and preview fall television, but also to use Facebook and Twitter to post viewing plans. The app is sponsored by Showtime, which is running a full-length episode of "The Big C" in the app. Washington Post Loses Staffers to TBD.com Washington Post TBD.com, Allbritton's new Washington, D.C., news website, is overseen by former Washingtonpost.com exec Jim Brady. The Post has been chided for allowing staffers to leave and launch innovative sites elsewhere. It might have benefited from some of Brady's innovations. Playboy: People Will Pay for (Nude) Content San Jose Business Playboy is posting photos of a semi-clad Jodie Fisher -- the woman whose sexual harassment charges cost Mark Hurd his CEO job at Hewlett-Packard -- in the free section of its website. Playboy is also running 13 shots of Fisher in the buff in a premium pay section. Newsweek Is 'Dull, Dull,' New Owner Says New York Times Sidney Harman, the soon-to-be-owner of Newsweek, is offering few specifics of his plans for the newsweekly. The current magazine, he says, is "dull to behold, dull, dull." And he cannot understand why Newsweek does not make better use of its voluminous archives. Tribune Chief Seeks Bankruptcy Repayment Crain's Chicago Tribune chief Sam Zell is demanding his share of repayment in the media company's bankruptcy if lower-priority creditors, emboldened by a recently released examiner’s report, get anything. Zell's company is slated to get nothing under the proposed reorganization plan. NY Daily News CEO Leaves Zuckerman Daily New York Post Marc Kramer, CEO of the New York Daily News, is resigning from the Mort Zuckerman-owned daily newspaper. He is being replaced by William Holiber, who runs Zuckerman's U.S. News & World Report. In July, editor-in-chief Martin Dunn resigned from the paper. NY Times Paper to Charge for Web Content New York Times The Telegram & Gazette, a New York Times-owned newspaper in Worcester, Mass., will begin using a metered online pay wall model allowing readers to view 10 news articles per month for free. After that, they will be able to buy a variety of online subscriptions. Gallup Poll: Trust Dwindling In News Media AFP No more than one-quarter of Americans trusts the news media, according to a new Gallup poll. But the greatest confidence in the struggling newspaper industry ironically comes from young people -- the same demo often blamed for the precipitous decline in the business. Google CEO Talks Future of Newspapers Wall Street Journal Eric Schmidt speaks in sorrowful tones about the "economic disaster that is the American newspaper." Trusted "brands" will be more important than ever, says Google's CEO. He adds that whether the winners will be new brands or existing brands remains to be seen. 'Craigslist Killer' Dead in Apparent Suicide Boston Globe Accused "Craigslist killer" Philip Markoff was found dead Sunday in an apparent suicide in his Boston jail cell, where he was awaiting trial in the slaying of a masseuse who advertised on the classified website. Markoff was accused of attacking other women he met through Craigslist. Financial Times Metric Counts Print, Digital Journalism.co.uk An average of 563,026 people worldwide are paying for the Financial Times each day, according to a new metric launched by the newspaper. The new Print and Digital Paid-for Circulation measure calculates the number of people who pay for both print and online subscriptions. Wall St Journal to Start Running Coupons Advertising Age The Wall Street Journal will start delivering coupons inside its weekend edition this Saturday, furthering its push to become a full-service newspaper. The coupon insert being added, published by a News Corp. sibling firm, had run in the New York Times until last month. NY Times Exports Supplement to Singapore Editor & Publisher New York Times is launching its international news supplement in Today, Singapore's daily newspaper. The publication joins a global network of newspapers in 29 countries that carry the Times's 8-year-old international weekly. The section is published in English. Gannett Plans Layoffs for Green Bay Staff Milwaukee Business Gannett's Wisconsin media operation plans to lay off 37 employees in Green Bay, who work in advertising production. The cuts involve 34 ad designers and three ad services staffers. Gannett is the parent company of the Green Bay Press-Gazette newspaper. ESPN Magazine 2.0 Focuses on Single Topic New York Post ESPN the Magazine introduces a new format with the issue that hits newsstands today, devoting the bulk of each edition to a single sports topic. The first issue in the new format is the College Football Kickoff and will be followed in two weeks by the NFL Preview Issue. Hearst's Cosmo: Fun, Fearless Floundering Guardian Hearst's U.K. Cosmopolitan and Company magazines are reporting the biggest declines in the women's lifestyle and fashion sector, says new figures from Britain's Audit Bureau of Circulations. Conde Nast's Glamour remains the biggest-selling magazine in the sector. Slate Releases iPad App for Offline Reading New York Times Slate, the Washington Post Co.'s online magazine, is releasing an app for the Apple iPad, aiming to offer easy offline consumption of its articles, videos and podcasts. The free app is launching with a sponsorship by Marriott. It's "a great app," says editor Jacob Weisberg. Mediaite, Abrams Eyed Over Video Fair Use Daily Finance Mediaite, the news business website from journalist Dan Abrams, is accused of routinely using copyrighted video clips from television news broadcasts in ways that violate fair use principles. MSNBC boss Phil Griffin says: "I don't like it and am taking it to our legal folks." Starbucks Adds Rodale to Digital Network Puget Sound Business Rodale is among the partners Starbucks is to its digital network launching this fall in partnership with Yahoo. Previously announced content providers include AOL's Patch and the New York Times. The network will be free for customers using Starbucks' in-store Wi-Fi. Dolan, PR Firm Invest in News Aggregator Twin Cities Business BringMeTheNews, a Minneapolis-based online news startup, is raising $1 million in backing from the Dolan Co. and public-relations firm Padilla Speer Beardsley. The 1-year-old website, which aggregates local news, plans to use the investment to "expand beyond Minnesota." Hearst, Lagardere Still Silent on Deal Talk WWD The possibility of Hachette parent Lagardere dealing a controlling stake in Elle and its other U.S. magazines to Hearst is a much buzzed about topic. Lagardere is due to present its first-half results to investors on Aug. 26. If a Hachette-Hearst deal isn't unveiled then, "all bets are off." Playboy's No-Nudity iPad App Under Fire Media Week The new Playboy iPad app is prompting criticism from online tech and media forums that the absence of nudity is a gaping hole in the premium priced content. Priced at $4.99, the HD downloadable digital version of Playboy magazine is edited to comply with Apple's no-nudity policy. Newsday Staffs Up to Fend Off AOL's Patch LI Business Cablevision's Newsday plans to hire 37 employees in a move to boost local print and online coverage. The company says it expects to ramp up its local online content. The effort comes as AOL's Patch.com rolls out sites targeting Newsday local communities. 'Cathy' Comic Strip Ending After 34 Years Associated Press The comic strip "Cathy," which has chronicled the life of its namesake character for more than three decades, will end on Oct. 3. Creator Cathy Guisewite says she wants to try something else. At its height "Cathy" appeared in 1,400 newspapers; it now runs in about 700. Craigslist Starts to Roll Out a New Design TechCrunch Craigslist, despite criticism from web designers, has looked almost exactly the same for more than a decade. But parts of the classifieds site are now sporting a somewhat updated design. A useful new sidebar defaults to show other cities close to a visitor's current site. Demand Media to Mix Big-Time Ads, Content Wall Street Journal Demand Media, which cranks out thousands of web articles and videos a day, is on a campaign to lure major advertising dollars, offering to feature a marketer within the text of an article or produce custom content for a brand. So far, the company is seeing early success. 'Content Farms' Targeted in Web Guidelines Mediaweek The Internet Content Syndication Council, whose members include the Associated Press and Tribune, is releasing proposed guidelines for content syndication, aimed at countering the rise of shoddy, poorly edited content. The push appears to be aimed at "content farms." Bloomberg Web Venture to Rival The Hill Forbes Bloomberg Government, a web-based editorial service expected to launch soon, is hiring staffers as it aims to compete with Congressional Quarterly and The Hill. The subscription-based BGOV, as it is known by insiders, will cover "the impact of government actions on business." Microsoft: An Online Magazine for Men? TechFlash Look out, Maxim and GQ? A newly surfaced trademark filing shows Microsoft seeking to register the name OnIt for a new website catering to men. The site is likely to be similar to MSN's Glo, an online magazine for women launched in April with Hachette and BermanBraun. Wikipedia Founder Bashes Murdoch Paywalls Brand Republic Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, describes the Times of London's paywall as a "foolish experiment" that will "not last" and predicts Rupert Murdoch will be forced to give up on the idea. However, Wales sees potential in apps, where a "micro payment market" is emerging. NY Times Sends About.com Exec to Boston Boston Globe Jeff Moriarty, senior VP of product management at About.com, will join the Boston Globe, a New York Times Co. sibling, in a newly created position, VP of digital content development. Moriarty will play a key role in shaping digital strategies to grow the Globe's audience. Tribune Chief Can't Be Made to Pay for Losses Bloomberg Tribune boss Sam Zell can't be made to pay for company retirement fund losses, a judge is ruling, rebuffing workers who claim the billionaire caused the employee stock ownership plan to lose value. The workers sued Zell in 2008 after he took Tribune private. Johnson Publishing Names CEO Amid Declines Crain's Chicago Johnson Publishing, the publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines, is naming Desiree Rogers, the former White House social secretary, as its new CEO. Rogers replaces Linda Johnson Rice in the post. The change comes as Johnson's two flagship titles see declines. Newsweek Insiders Want Brown for New Editor New York Post Pressure is mounting to find a new editor of Newsweek, as staff defections mount after the magazine's sale. Some insiders are pushing for the Daily Beast's Tina Brown. But Brown says she is not interested: "I've never been happier than in my partnership with Barry Diller." Wenner Staffers Jump to Hollywood Reporter New York Post Wenner Media is losing Us Weekly staffers to the Hollywood Reporter. Three more employees are quitting to join former Us boss Janice Min, now the editor-in-chief of THR. The daily is gearing up for a revamp as it attempts to broaden its appeal as a consumer magazine. Hearst's Latest: A One-Stop Shopping App BizReport Last week it was a virtual dressing room, now Hearst is launching another shopping exclusive: an Apple iPhone app. Offered to readers of Redbook, the app lets consumers shop from a single location as well as receive advice about fashion, beauty and product purchases. Conde Nast: UK Glamour to Go Regional Press Gazette Conde Nast is publishing eight regional versions of the U.K. edition of Glamour. The September issue will feature sixteen pages of editorial specifically tailored for readers in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Newcastle, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Forbes.com Ex-CEO Plans Foodie Website Mediaweek Jim Spanfeller, a former CEO of Forbes.com, is securing funding to launch a series of web verticals and is starting with the explosive food category. Details are few on the editorial focus of the yet-to-be named site, but an editorial head is expected to be named next month. Newsweek Ex-Prez Preps Magazine for Mobile New York Times Mark Edmiston, a former president of Newsweek, is part of a small group of ex-magazine journalists and editors launching a weekly digital magazine, called Nomad Editions. The new title, debuting this fall, seeks to create content specifically for mobile technology. Business Journals Launch Website Network BizJournals American City Business Journals, a unit of Conde Nast's Advance Publications, is launching a digital platform named CityBizNetwork, an alliance of 125-plus websites. The company intends to help advertisers better reach targeted "business spenders" with the ad network. Digital Media Poised to Overtake Print in 2014 USA Today Consumers will spend more on digital media than they will on print by 2014, according to the new forecast from Veronis Suhler Stevenson. The average person will spend $159.59 in 2014 for Internet and mobile services, while spending $158.88 on print media. Reader's Digest Leads Fall in U.S. Magazines Bloomberg U.S. magazine circulation fell 2.3% in the first six months compared with a year earlier, according to Audit Bureau of Circulations data. Among the top 25 magazines, Reader's Digest fell the most, by 25%. The biggest gainer: Game Informer magazine, rising 21%. Time Inc Confirms Meredith Ex Griffin as CEO Mediaweek Time Warner is announcing the appointment of Jack Griffin as CEO of magazine unit Time Inc., succeeding Ann Moore, who will retire at the end of September. "A diversified revenue stream is one of the most important aspects of a viable business," says the former Meredith exec. Conde Nast's GQ Faces Legal Action Over Rand Washington Post Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Rand Paul is considering "legal options" over GQ's story about his college days, which included charges that he kidnapped a female student and forced her to smoke marijuana: "We will not tolerate drive-by journalism by a writer with a leftist agenda." Hearst's Cosmo Runs 3-D Cover for Shampoo Campaign U.K. Cosmopolitan is partnering with Pantene Pro-V Light for a special edition of its September issue, featuring a 3-D cover image of the spokesmodel for the shampoo brand who appears to "swish" her hair when the issue is tilted. Cosmo says it is "focused on innovation." Sept Magazines: Over-40 Actresses Dominate Hollywood Reporter The all-important September issues of fashion magazines Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Elle feature actresses in their 40s on their covers: Halle Berry, Jennifer Aniston, and Julia Roberts. "In the post-recession era, consumers are drawn to the authentic, down-to-earth and relatable." BusinessWeek Ex-Editor Starts Website for Biz Wall Street Journal John Byrne, a former BusinessWeek executive editor, is launching a website, Poets & Quants, devoted to information about business school programs. The website, he says, will be the first of at least a dozen sites to come focusing on slices of the business world. Gannett to Merge Three Wisconsin Weeklies News & Tech Gannett is merging three weekly newspapers in Wisconsin into one and making other operational changes. The Kewaunee County News, Kewaunee County Star and Kewaunee County Snapshots will become the Kewaunee County Star-News, effective Sept. 18. Hearst's Online Seattle P-I Near Profitability AllThingsD The Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper, which was transformed into an Internet-only operation last year, is on track with its business plan, says owner Hearst. We "have an aggressive timetable for profitability which we expect we will reach in the next couple of months." NY Post Writer Leaves Paper for Priesthood New York Observer John Wilson, a columnist and editorial writer for the New York Post, is hanging up his pen and pad for some priestly vestments. The 25-year-old will be entering a seminary in two weeks. "I think my time at the Post has been a great education in a lot of ways," he says. Topix News Site Drops Comment Review Fee Associated Press News aggregator Topix is dropping a $19.99 fee it charged for faster reviews of inappropriate forum posts as part of a settlement with 34 U.S. states. Topix promises to review all abuse reports free. Gannett, McClatchy and Tribune hold a stake in the company. NY Times: Apple Apps Boost Website Traffic Seeking Alpha The New York Times Co. is seeing increased traffic to its website from mobile users. The surge is attributed in part to new Apple iPhone and iPad apps, which allow mobile users to access specific content in new ways. The apps have been downloaded 4.5 million times. Washington Post Sees More Losses in Print Washington Business The Washington Post Co.'s profitable Kaplan education division continues to offset its money-losing publishing business, pushing company revenue up 11% last quarter. Revenue from online properties washingtonpost.com and Slate is up 14% to nearly $27 million. Allbritton D.C. Web Launch Targets HuffPost Politico TBD.com, a new Washington, D.C.-area news website launching today, looks more like the Huffington Post than the Washington Post. The Politico sibling news site, powered by 120 local bloggers, will pay its contributors roughly half of the revenue from its advertising. Forbes Reinvention to Morph Edit, Marketing Crain's New York Forbes chief Lewis D'Vorkin plans to add a new "AdVoice" platform allowing marketers to supply content to both the magazine and website. Marketers will be able to "join the conversation." Plus, some writers won't be paid -- a model similar to that of the Huffington Post. Demand Media Files for IPO as 'Content Farm' MarketWatch Demand Media, an Internet content producer known for churning out largely freelance written articles, is filing for an initial public offering. Sometimes derided as a "content farm," Demand produced $114 million in revenue during the first half of the year, publishing "news you can use." Hearst Magazines Chief Seeks Digital Growth Mediaweek David Carey, the new president of Hearst Magazines, says he sees opportunity to wring more growth out of the company's titles. He particularly sees potential for two properties that Hearst recently acquired: social shopping site Kaboodle and consumer health site RealAge. Rodale Names Salvatore Editor of Prevention Morning Call Rodale is appointing magazine industry veteran Diane Salvatore editor-in-chief of Prevention, the company's leading magazine. She previously was editor-in-chief of Meredith's Ladies' Home Journal and director of editorial operations at Hearst Magazines. Conde Nast: W Takes New Direction in Print, Web New York Times Profiles on cultural figures and appraisals of art, along with some provocative elements, are part of a redesign of W magazine under new editor Stefano Tonchi. Also, the website is getting a new look in time for the September print redesign and an iPad app is coming. OK! Magazine Hindered by 'Vulgar' Brit Owner Advertising Age Richard Desmond, the British media baron, introduced the U.S. edition of OK! five years ago. Today, the celebrity title is facing newsstand troubles. Desmond is "a rude, crude guy," says one media buyer. "When you try to educate him on the U.S. market, he gets defensive." Economist Eyes Psychographics of Readers New York Times The Economist says it defines its readers not by income, but by "what they think." The magazine also carefully selects what stores can carry it. One they selected is Whole Foods, the high-end, high-price organic food chain. "Whole Foods is actually a psychographic." Thomson Reuters to Create Hundreds of Jobs Journalism.co.uk Thomson Reuters will have to offer hundreds more jobs in New York after receiving a multi-million dollar tax break extension, according to a report by the Industrial Development Agency. Also, Thomson Reuters is looking to hire "news ninjas" to help "transform" the company. Magazines: Do Newsstand Sales Still Matter? WWD Most fashion magazines are declining in newsstand sales, especially Conde Nast titles. Teen Vogue is down 30% for the first half of the year. But taking in such factors as the Web and the Apple iPad, does the newsstand still matter? "The iPad expands the idea of the newsstand." Forbes Eyes Web for Redesign of Magazine Forbes Forbes is soft launching a blogging platform that aims to put "entrepreneurial journalism" at the center, according to new chief product officer Lewis DVorkin. Forbes plans to unveil a "re-architected" magazine in late September that will bring "a Web sensibility to print." The Week: Online Accounts for Third of Profits Folio The Week magazine plans to raise its rate base again in 2011, from 500,000 to 510,000. Online, the Dennis title has tripled its audience over the last 18 months. Online now accounts for more than a third of profits, thanks to advertisers that aren't buying into the print edition. Conde Nast Names Russell New Editor of AD New York Times Margaret Russell will succeed Paige Rense as editor in chief of Architectural Digest. Russell was previously editor in chief of brand content at Hachette's Elle Decor. AD will move its headquarters from Los Angeles to one of owner Conde Nast's buildings in New York. Time Inc's People Keeps Newsstand Crown New York Post The May 10 issue of People magazine, in which actress Sandra Bullock revealed she was adopting a baby, sold a whopping 2.2 million newsstand copies. The surge enabled the Time Inc. title to hang on to its crown as the No. 1 U.S. weekly on newsstands. Discover Magazine Sold to Wisconsin Publisher Milwaukee Business Kalmbach Publishing of Waukesha, Wis., plans to acquire Discover Media, including the science magazine Discover and its website. Discover's staff, which includes 20 editors and designers, will continue to be based in New York. Discover has been for sale since early this year. Hachette: Cycle World Ousts Publisher, Staffers Superbike Planet Larry Little, the longtime publisher of Cycle World, is reportedly being ousted from his position. Associate Paul LaBella and other staffers are being removed as well. The moves follow rumors that owner Hachette's New York and European arms are considering major changes. Playboy Sees Progress in New Business Model Financial Times Playboy is said to be seeing early progress on its transition to a new business model of licensing opportunities for its iconic brand. The company's improved results come as Playboy is set to review a proposal by founder Hugh Hefner to take the firm private. Hearst, Gannett Sign for Demand Media Service MediaPost Demand Media is launching a service for publishers to pad their online offerings with the work of independent freelancers. Two of the first companies to employ the so-called Content Channels include Hearst and Gannett. Articles are created by "highly rated" freelancers. TheStreet.com Names Etergino Finance Chief Associated Press TheStreet.com is naming Thomas Etergino as CFO of the online financial media publisher. Etergino was most recently CFO and COO of eMusic.com, an online music service. Etergino has a "track record for helping companies succeed at revenue-growth businesses." DailyCandy to Deliver Deals to Mobile Phones New York Times DailyCandy, the insider's email newsletter owned by Comcast, is introducing an app for Android mobile phones that will keep track of users' locations. Users will be notified when they walk by restaurants, spas or stores that are recommended by editors. Gannett's USA Today Teams Up with Mashable USA Today USA Today is entering a content distribution partnership with the social media blog Mashable. Readers will see features and how-to guides on various USA Today platforms, including print, online, mobile and iPad. Also, USA Today and Mashable are hosting a "summer tour." Metro NY Newspaper Sued Over Boy's Photo Wall Street Journal A 10-year-old Brooklyn boy and his parents are suing Metro International, alleging that the company's New York newspaper published a photo falsely suggesting that the child was involved in gang violence. The youngster is said to be haunted by the incident. NY Times Writer Explores Media Future in Book BusinessWeek Nick Bilton, a tech writer for the New York Times, is the author of the new book, "I Live in the Future & Here's How It Works." Bilton advises media businesses to forget about luring traditional readers or viewers. Instead, he says, bait your hooks for today's media "consumnivore." Ad Age Names Klaassen Editor in Restructure Advertising Age Abbey Klaassen is being promoted to editor of Advertising Age as part of a broader reorganization of the Crain publication's editorial management. Klaassen has served as executive editor since December. Judann Pollack and Ken Wheaton are also moving to new posts. Breaking Media CEO Bloom Leaves Web Startup ClickZ Breaking Media CEO Jonah Bloom, a former editor of Ad Age, is leaving the startup, which publishes websites including Dealbreaker and Fashionista. Bloom and colleague Matt Creamer, another former Ad Ager, say they are leaving by mutual agreement with the outfit. Murdoch UK Tabloid Buys Parasailing Donkey Associated Press News Corp.'s the Sun is buying a donkey in an effort to "rescue" the animal. The donkey was sent parasailing over a southern Russian beach last month in a promotional stunt. Readers were "deeply moved" by the newspaper's coverage of the animal's treatment. Time Inc CEO to Step Down at Magazine Giant New York Post Ann Moore, the CEO of Time Inc., is said to be planning to step down after eight years in the top spot. She is expected to be succeeded Jack Griffin, who stepped down this week at Meredith. Griffin is likely to be less sentimental about keeping non-core Time Inc. titles. Time Warner Mulls Tying Tablets, Magazines Wall Street Journal CEO Jeff Bewkes hints that he wants to make tablet-computer subscriptions for Time, People, Sports Illustrated and other Time Warner magazines available to people who already subscribe to the print editions. The idea is similar to the "TV Everywhere" model for television. Viacom Tech Officer Jumps to Conde Nast New York Observer Conde Nast is naming Joe Simon to the new position of chief technology officer, tasked with developing next-gen digital products and services. Simon joins the magazine publisher from Viacom, where he led worldwide tech operations for MTV, BET and Paramount Pictures. Conde Nast Titles to Morph Into Restaurants Wall Street Journal Conde Nast International is establishing a new division, called Conde Nast Restaurants, which will license the company's magazine brands into restaurant businesses in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. The effort is spurred by the success of a Vogue Cafe in Moscow. Forbes Sells Investopedia in $42 Million Deal TechCrunch Forbes is selling the investing education website Investopedia to online advertising firm ValueClick for about $42 million. Investopedia, founded in 1999, was acquired by Forbes for an undisclosed amount in 2007. ValueClick will retain Investopedia's management team. Interview Mag, Brant in Lawsuit for $1 Million New York Post Former sales execs Greg Montana and Michelle Decker are filing a $1.1 million lawsuit accusing Interview magazine owner Peter Brant of cheating them out of sales commissions. "Their claims are grossly exaggerated or inaccurate, at best," says a rep for Brant. Tribune Bankruptcy Exit Delayed Amid 'Fraud' Chicago Sun-Times Two Tribune execs engaged in "intentional fraud" while working to finish the company's sale to Sam Zell in 2007, says an examiner's report. The report is prolonging Tribune's stay in bankruptcy. The start in hearings to confirm a reorganization is now set for Oct. 4. Playboy Forms Panel to Weigh Hefner's Bid Associated Press Playboy Enterprises's board of directors is forming a special committee to consider founder Hugh Hefner's proposal to buy out the rest of the company. Hefner offered on July 9 to buy the roughly 30% of Playboy's outstanding shares that he doesn't already own. Time Inc Retired Exec Reels In ESPN Titles Birmingham Business Former Time Inc. exec Don Logan and two other investors are entering a deal to buy Bass LLC from ESPN for an undisclosed amount. Bass is the largest U.S. membership organization of bass anglers. Its assets include a website and three fishing magazines. Tribune May Move Operations Out of Chicago Dallas Morning News Tribune is considering moving some back-office functions for its various media businesses outside of the company's Chicago headquarters. Tribune is said to be scouting locations in Dallas and Indianapolis. The operation could involve several hundred workers. Conde Nast Eyes Relocation to Ground Zero New York Times Conde Nast, the publishing giant, is said to be entering a tentative deal to relocate its magazines' offices to ground zero, where it will anchor the skyscraper once known as the Freedom Tower. The building, now under construction, is set to be the tallest in New York. Monocle Founder Says Print Isn't Dead Yet Evening Standard Tyler Brûlé, editor of Monocle, is launching a summer offshoot of his monthly style magazine. His summer newspaper, a 64-page broadsheet, is "more useful and reader-friendly" than the new various pad reading devices, he says, which "hate the sun and sea salt." Conde Nast iPad Edition Creator is New 'It Boy' New York Observer Scott Dadich, Conde Nast's 34-year-old executive director of digital magazine development, is deemed the new "It Boy" of publishing, as Apple iPad editions take on a bigger role in magazines. Next up at Conde is an iPad edition for The New Yorker, due out in October. Craigslist: 'Wal-Mart of Online Sex Trafficking' CNN Craigslist is a target of a nationwide campaign against Internet prostitution, according to a CNN report. The site this year is expected to earn a third of its revenue -- more than $36 million -- from its adult services section alone. Some advocacy groups want the section shut down. Gawker Settles 'McSteamy' Suit for Six Figures Hollywood Reporter Gawker Media is agreeing to pay actors Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart and take down a homemade video featuring the couple. In exchange, the couple is dropping a $1 million lawsuit against the gossip blog publisher. The settlement is believed to be in the low-six figures. Newsweek Sold for 'Small Amount' to Tycoon Newsweek Washington Post Co. plans to sell Newsweek to Sidney Harman, the 91-year-old audio-equipment mogul. Harman is said to have bid $1 and will assume the money-losing newsweekly's liabilities. "I'm not here to make money," he says. Editor Jon Meacham will step down. Meredith Chief of Magazines Griffin Resigns New York Post Meredith is switching the head of its magazine division just days after the unit that publishes Better Homes & Gardens and Ladies' Home Journal reported solid results. Jack Griffin is being replaced by exec Tom Harty. Insiders are stumped by the sudden move. Conde Nast Employs Gawker Editor for App Business Insider Former Gawker editor Elizabeth Spiers is working with media consulting firm Activate on Conde Nast's forthcoming iPad app for the now-defunct Gourmet magazine. Spiers says she is seeking "foodies, top notch writers" and other talent to help with the project. Glamour Launches 'Kick Ass' App for iPad New York Observer Glamour is becoming the fourth magazine at Conde Nast to become available on the Apple iPad and iPod. "We've developed a kick ass product," says proud editor Cindi Leive. "There isn't much out there for women quite yet. Presumably and hopefully that will change." Wired Magazine to Proclaim 'Web Is Dead' Gawker Wired magazine is said to be prepping a cover story in which editor Chris Anderson declares that "the Web is Dead." Anderson is expected to argue that Apple iPad and iPhone apps are supplanting the open Web as means of publishing and online networking. Seventeen Opens a Virtual Dressing Room min Hearst's Seventeen.com is partnering with JCPenney to lets its visitors try on back-to-school fashions via augmented reality. The "virtual dressing room" app superimposes apparel on a live Web cam view of the user and links to direct e-commerce opportunities. NY Times Offers App Platform to Publishers Advertising Age The New York Times is offering a tech platform, called Press Engine, which other publishers can use to produce their own apps for the Apple iPad and iPhone. The publishers pay the Times a one-time license fee for the platform and then a monthly maintenance fee. Tribune: Zell's Takeover Met Early Doubts Wall Street Journal Investment bank Houlihan Lokey in 2007 declined to endorse Sam Zell's buyout of Tribune, saying the deal would saddle the company with too much debt. The "solvency opinion" would have labeled the takeover as financially sound. Tribune found the solvency opinion elsewhere. Scripps Project to Explore 'Future of News' News & Tech Newspapers owned by E.W. Scripps are kicking off a groupwide project, "The Future of News," aimed at defining how news will be generated and consumed. Editors and staffers will contribute their thoughts about the changing news industry to a special Facebook page. Forbes to Roll Out Social Media 'Upgrade' Business Insider Forbes is said to be preparing to go live with a "major upgrade" of its social media, with every reporter required to have his or her own blog. "Most are starting from scratch." The move comes days after the shuttering of the Forbes-owned blog network True/Slant. Oprah, Rolling Stone Among Big Web Gainers min Oprah.com reached 4.1 million unique users in June, up 59% from May. ESPN properties were up 21% to 25.3 million unique visitors. Rolling Stone's early release of its July 8 profile of Gen. Stanley McChrystal fueled Wenner Media's 29% increase in audience, to 5.8 million. Hearst Redesigns Oprah Mag, Country Living NYT / min O, the Oprah Magazine will start unveiling a makeover with the September issue. The feeling among many inside the magazine was that after a decade, O was a bit stale. Also: Country Living's makeover includes a new logo, larger format and increased cover price. Rolling Stone Posts Web Video of Rap Star Visit Rolling Stone Kanye West made a surprise visit to Rolling Stone's offices Friday afternoon, where he played songs from his new album, jumped up on a conference table to spontaneously rap, and fielded questions from staffers. RollingStone.com posted a clip of his appearance. Cosmo Defies Trend with Rate Base Boost Advertising Age Hearst's Cosmopolitan is increasing the paid circulation guarantee it gives advertisers by 100,000 copies, to 3 million copies from 2.9 million, in a move that defies the industry trend of shrinking circulations. "It's about newsstand for us," says publisher Donna Kalajian Lagani. Vanity Fair Goes Gaga for Newsstand Sales New York Observer Vanity Fair will put pop star Lady Gaga on the cover of its September style issue. Gaga covers have posted good newsstand numbers in the past. Cosmopolitan's April issue with Gaga on the cover was the magazine's top seller so far this year, at nearly 1.8 million. Forbes Chief to Build 'New Kind of Newsroom' Folio Lewis Dvorkin, Forbes Media's new chief product officer, says he plans to integrate the model of his True/Slant website with the nearly 100-year-old magazine brand. His priorities include building "a new kind of newsroom," starting with a "re-architecture" of Forbes.com. Fortune Releases iPad App Despite Kerfuffle Wall Street Journal Fortune is launching an iPad digital edition, despite Apple's recent rejection of an app that would allow Time Inc. sibling mag Sports Illustrated to sell subscriptions. Time Inc. says it is negotiating with Apple and hopes to offer iPad subscriptions for its titles soon. Wired to Produce Short Films for Apple iPad Mediaweek Wired launched its Apple iPad edition in June with videos, audio and interactive graphics. The Conde Nast magazine's August issue is going one step further, offering original short films available exclusively for the iPad. The films are tied to the August cover subject. Modern Luxury Magazines Poised for Fire Sale New York Post The Dickey family of Atlanta, which controls radio giant Cumulus Media, is said to be near a deal to acquire lifestyle magazine publisher Modern Luxury Media. The magazine chain, which sold for $243 million three years ago, is expected to fetch $20 million in a "fire sale." WaPo's Slate Shutters Business News Website New York Slate's business news website, The Big Money, which launched in 2008, is being shut down. "The problem, in a nutshell, is that the site is not pointed toward profitability on a fast enough timetable," say Slate Group leaders Jacob Weisberg and John Alderman in a memo. Gannett Weekly Newspaper Goes Online Only WLBT The Clinton (Miss.) News, which has been published since 1949, will print its final edition Thursday. Publisher Larry Whitaker says there is simply not enough advertising. Its website will continue operation, and some news stories will shift to a Gannett sibling newspaper. Tribune Proposes Severance Plan for 43 Execs Chicago Tribune Tribune proposes paying its top 43 execs a severance package of cash and benefits if they are asked by a new board to step down after the company emerges from bankruptcy. The company says it amounts to 2 1/2 times salary and bonus for CEO Randy Michaels. WSJ: Customers Will Pay for Online Content Wall Street Journal "Virtually all trend lines" in media history have moved from free distribution to some form of pay model, writes Peter Funt in a Wall Street Journal editorial. From HBO to XM Radio, the question -- will consumers pay? -- "has already been answered many times." NY Times Surveys Subscribers for Paywalls AllThingsD The New York Times is conducting research for its online paywall, which is due to launch by the end of the year. The newspaper is said to be targeting home delivery subscribers with menu of different options, such as home delivery plus website access for $64 a month. News Corp Plans Digital News Game Changer CNBC / FT News Corp. is developing a subscription digital news venture that is to be available via devices like the Apple iPad. Also: A subscription news aggregation service is due to launch later this year with content from the New York Post, Dow Jones and external news partners. Apple, Publishers in Subscription App Scrap New York Post Apple CEO Steve Jobs is said to "playing hardball" with magazine companies over allowing subscription apps on the iPad and sharing customer data with publishers. Content producers "will flee as soon as there is competition," warns one publishing exec. Google Eyes Mobile Content for Newspapers Wall Street Journal Google is positioning itself to earn some $10 billion per year via mobile devices, says CEO Eric Schmidt. “If we have a billion people using Android, you think we can't make money from that?" Among other things, Google might sell access to digital content from newspapers. Conde Nast Will Transcend Print, Prez Says Folio Robert Sauerberg, the new president of Conde Nast, says the magazine giant has "evolved" as a publisher. "Print is still a key medium. However, it is not our only focus." Conde plans to "revalue the consumer proposition" via websites and digital operations. Newsweek Favors Sale Bid from Audio Tycoon NYT / WSJ A bid for Newsweek from Sidney Harman, a California billionaire, is said to appeal to owner Washington Post Co. because he would keep most of the staff. Also: Post Co. is uneasy about bidder Avenue Capital's plan to team with National Enquirer publisher American Media. Time Consults Doctors for 'Disturbing' Cover Time Time magazine consulted psychologists about the potential impact of its "disturbing" cover photo of young Afghan woman who had her nose and ears cut off by the Taliban for fleeing her abusive in-laws. "I thought long and hard" about the cover, says top editor Rick Stengel. Vogue Editor's Dinner: Obama Wasn't Hungry New York Post President Obama "only drank coffee" at Vogue editor Anna Wintour's fund-raising dinner Wednesday for the Democratic National Committee. Wintour introduced Obama to her 40 guests, including Diane von Furstenberg, Calvin Klein, Vera Wang and Harvey Weinstein. Forbes Media Shutters True/Slant Website MediaPost True/Slant, the social-driven news website acquired by Forbes in May, is shutting down. True/Slant writer Neal Ungerleider says the site "is winding down operations at the end of July. I hope to rejoin some former True/Slanters at a new -- as of yet disclosed -- project." Time Inc Magazine iPad App Rejected by Apple AllThingsD Apple is rejecting a subscription version of Sports Illustrated's iPad app, where consumers would pay the Time Inc. title directly. The rejection is forcing SI to use iTunes as a middleman. Time Inc. execs are "going crazy" trying to get Apple to OK a subscription plan. Meredith Deal Awards Employees With Cash Advertising Age When digital outfit New Media Strategies was acquired by Meredith in 2007, its founders set aside a stock pool to reward the employees who stayed. That stock pool is now worth $2.5 million, meaning 30 staffers are getting checks valued between $80,000 and $105,000. Gawker Settles Lawsuit Over Eric Dane Video MediaPost Gawker Media is settling a copyright infringement lawsuit by Eric Dane and his wife Rebecca Gayheart stemming from the blog company's posting of a sex tape made by the couple. Details are not known, but the clip no longer appears to be available on Gawker's properties. Hearst to Launch Esquire Malaysia Next Year min Hearst plans to launch an Esquire Malaysia edition in April 2011, marking the 22nd overseas version of the men's magazine. Esquire/Malaysia partner is Mongoose Publishing. Hearst's international magazine operation oversees the publication of more than 200 titles. The Economist Seeks Ads in Central America Brand Republic The Economist is entering a deal with third party sales house Media Sales International to develop its advertising sales business in Central America and Mexico. MSI, founded by former New York Times ad execs, already represents Meredith in Latin America. Vogue Editor's Obama Dinner Closes Streets New York Vogue editor Anna Wintour hosted President Obama for dinner Wednesday evening at her Sullivan Street townhouse to raise money for the Democratic National Committee. Police erected barriers around nearby streets for the event. Area residents needed photo I.D.s. Wall St Journal Hikes White House News Rate Politico The Wall Street Journal is raising the rate it charges the White House news clipping service to a whopping $600,000 per year and steering the administration toward a new deal with parent News Corp.'s Dow Jones. "Obviously, we're not paying," says a WH official. NY Post on Edge After Correction Boils Over Village Voice "Heads might roll" at the New York Post, fueled by owner Rupert Murdoch, after a humiliating correction is published for a "Bronx wife-killer" story. The Post is making "significant enquires" into the error so that it won't happen again, says press rep Howard Rubenstein. Analysis: Mixed Ad Message From Newspapers Wall Street Journal The New York Times is seeing 21% growth in digital-advertising revenue against a 6% drop in print ads. Digital now accounts for 26% of its total ad revenue. "But that is mainly because print revenue has shrunk so much, rather than because digital has got so big." Essence: Some See Red in White Editor Hire New York Post Essence, a Time Inc.-owned fashion and lifestyle title for black women, is wrestling with a controversy sparked by a former fashion editor who criticized the magazine's decision to hire a white woman as its new fashion director. "It's a dark day for me," she says. Conde Nast Buzzing Over Architectural Digest New York Post The talk inside Conde Nast is that the soon-to-be-vacant Architectural Digest editor-in-chief job is going to Margaret Russell, editor-in-chief of Hachette's Elle Decor. Russell, who is said to be ready to succeed Paige Rense, says: "I have absolutely no comment on that." Vogue Editor Hosts Obama for Dinner at Home WWD Anna Wintour will host President Obama for a fund-raiser at her Sullivan Street home tonight to benefit the Democratic National Committee. Obama will tape an appearance on "The View" earlier in the day. The Vogue editor's guest list includes Calvin Klein and Donna Karan. Newsweek Delays Office Move Prior to Sale WWD Newsweek is delaying a planned move from its 395 Hudson Street offices in New York’s West Village to a space at 888 Seventh Avenue. The new timetable should keep the newsweekly from having to pack up shop twice should a new owner have its own real-estate agenda. New Yorker Editor Supports Paywalls, Blogs MarketWatch David Remnick, editor of the New Yorker, is a proponent of charging for content on the Internet. "It seems self-evident to me," he says, arguing that the revenue would help the magazine fund ambitious and expensive work. Also, Remnick says: "I read plenty of blogs." Wall St Journal Hires Editor for Magazine Associated Press The Wall Street Journal is hiring Deborah Needleman, former editor of Domino magazine, to oversee its glossy style magazine and a weekly lifestyle section that is set to publish for the first time in the fall. Needleman led Domino until Conde Nast closed it last year. Washington Post Ex-Blogger to Join Slate Yahoo News Journalist David Weigel, who resigned from the Washington Post last month after a leaked-email controversy, is joining WaPo online magazine Slate as a political reporter. "This is the magazine that invented the sort of journalism I want to do," Weigel says. Newsday Ups Publisher to Group President Associated Press Newsday publisher Terry Jimenez is being promoted to group president, responsible for overseeing Newsday, amNewYork and online properties. Advertising chief Fred Groser will succeed him as publisher. Jimenez led efforts to move the newspaper's website to a pay model. Newspaper Circ Rule Changes to Impact Digital Mediaweek Under new Audit Bureau of Circulations rules, newspapers that want to count their electronic copies as paid circulation will need to demonstrate that a subscriber has made an incremental payment for their digital copies or accessed the digital edition. HuffPost Launches 'Meetups' to Discuss News Huffington Post The Huffington Post is teaming up with Meetup, a global network of local groups, to turn conversations about the news on its website into face-to-face encounters. The new HuffPost Thursdays program aims to encourage real-life relationships among HuffPost users. TheStreet to Partner With Newsweek, PBS Show BtoB TheStreet.com is entering a deal with Newsweek to supply stories for both the print and online editions of the newsweekly. TheStreet is entering a similar arrangement with PBS' "Nightly Business Report," in which the digital financial media outlet's staffers will appear on air. Business Insider Wins $3 Million in Financing Business Insider Business Insider is raising another round of financing, from RRE Ventures and existing investors, says chief Henry Blodget. The new $3 million influx will allow the business news website to expand its newsroom, do more original reporting and launch new industry verticals. Newspapers Hit New Low as an Information Source GigaOM The number of Americans who say that newspapers are an important source of information continues to decline, says a survey from the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism. Still, Internet users do not believe that information they find online is reliable. Hearst's Kaboodle Enters Social Commerce TechCrunch Kaboodle, the social shopping website acquired by Hearst Interactive in 2007, is trying its hand at social commerce with new community-driven flash sales site PopPicks. The members-only PopPicks partners with a retailer each week to feature a collection of products. Tribune '07 Buyout 'Marred by Dishonesty' Chicago Tribune The court-appointed examiner in Tribune's bankruptcy case says that the company's 2007 buyout was "marred" by the "dishonesty" of its then-senior management and that the deal rendered the media conglomerate insolvent from the start. Also: Tribune is cutting back on bonuses. Conde Nast, Globo Enter Venture in Brazil WWD Conde Nast International is forming a joint venture with Globo Media Group, a Brazilian publisher and broadcaster, to publish Vogue and other company magazines in the South American country. As part of the deal, all of the titles will have an online version. Meredith Near Deal for New York Offices Crain's New York Meredith is said to be close to signing a deal to take about 200,000 square feet at 205 East 42nd Street in Manhattan. The Des Moines-based publisher of Ladies Home Journal is likely to leave its existing New York City facilities, according to real estate sources. Hearst Moves iCrossing Into Headquarters MediaPost ICrossing, the digital shop recently acquired by Hearst, is relocating its 50-person New York City team into the Hearst Tower. The agency, which will continue to operate independently of Hearst, remains headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., with an 85-person team there. Harper's Magazine Names Rosenbush Editor Associated Press Harper's Magazine is naming Ellen Rosenbush as its 14th editor and the first woman to hold the job. Rosenbush has been acting editor at the 160-year-old, general-interest monthly since Feb. 1. Harper's, based in New York, is owned by the Harper's Magazine Foundation. Conde Nast: GQ China Pulls July Issue Wall Street Journal The Chinese edition of GQ quietly recalled its July issue the day after it hit the newsstands to remove an unflattering feature on rich Chinese young people. The founder of Beijing's Sports Car Club, who was featured in the piece, reportedly threatened to sue over the story. Radar, TMZ Wage Heated Web Gossip War Washington Post TMZ, the Time Warner website that made its name by disclosing actor Mel Gibson's drunken, anti-Semitic rant to police in 2006, is being challenged by Radar, a twice-failed print magazine that has been reincarnated online by National Enquirer publisher American Media. Meebo Adds EW, TV Guide to Publishers WebProNews Meebo, the instant messaging program, is adding EW.com and TVGuide.com to its list of publishers using the Meebo Bar, which is designed to let readers easily connect with friends on social networks. Meebo plans to introduce new advertising products this fall. Murdoch, Yahoo Differ on Online News Fees AFP Many media and tech execs are split on whether readers will pay for news online. News Corp. digital head Jon Miller insists that charging readers is "an idea whose time has come." But Yahoo media chief Jimmy Pitaro says: "We firmly believe that free is the future." Financial Times Reports Growth in Digital Media Week Pearson, owner of the Financial Times, is reporting a strong first half for 2010, with a return to advertising growth for its business newspaper. Digital readership for the FT Group is up 27% year on year in the first six months and registered users of FT.com climbed 77%. Wikileaks Posts U.S. Afghan War Secrets Washington Post Wikileaks is posting some 91,000 classified U.S. military documents on the Afghan war, upsetting the Obama administration. The New York Times, the Guardian and Der Spiegel were granted early access to the documents. All three are publishing major front-page stories. Tribune Aims to Leave Bankruptcy, Old Ways Wall Street Journal CEO Randy Michaels wants to remake Tribune -- reducing duplication in newspaper reporting, launching a local TV newscast that has no anchors. "There's too much infrastructure," he says. Michaels adds: "I don't believe the economics of a paywall are going to work." Conde Nast Eyes Digital In Exec Shakeup New York Times Conde Nast is considering selling packages of print and digital products, all for one price, as part of a shift away from an advertising-based business model. The company aims to "break the stigma" of the $12 magazine subscription, says says CEO Chuck Townsend. OK! Magazine Owner Buys UK Broadcaster Daily Express Richard Desmond, the British media owner, is entering a $154 million deal to buy struggling U.K. national broadcaster Channel Five from owner RTL. Desmond owns Britain's Daily Express, Daily Star and celebrity magazine OK!, as well as adult-entertainment channels. Wenner Media's Us Weekly is Growing Up WWD Us Weekly will mark its 10th anniversary as a celebrity weekly with "Stars Who Care," which launches this fall and will include a nationally coordinated volunteer day and articles about do-gooder celebrities who "have used their popularity to become advocates for others." Hearst: Esquire to Offer Home Furnishings Mediaweek Hearst's Esquire is extending its brand to a new line of home furnishings. The Esquire Home collection will span some 90 items including furniture, accessories, lighting and rugs. Hearst plans to eventually roll it out to a variety of retailers across the country. The Source Founders to Launch Sports Mag Advertising Age The founders of The Source bet that LeBron James and his new team, the Miami Heat, will be so popular that they will have followers across the United States. Their new monthly magazine, called Skyboxx, will feature 20 pages of Heat coverage in every issue. Dan's Papers Owner Attracts Bids for Assets Bloomberg Brown Publishing, the bankrupt owner of Dan's Papers in New York's Hamptons, says it received two bids, including one from company insiders, that together will account for all its assets. Brown, based in Cincinnati, filed for Chapter 11 creditor protection in April. British Government to Eye Airbrushed Ads Media Week British equalities minister Lynne Featherstone plans to host a summit with media and fashion execs to tackle the issue of airbrushing in magazines and advertising. Featherstone believes airbrushed images are causing a public health crisis among young boys and girls. Martha Stewart Exports Magazine to Britain Media Week Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is licensing Martha Stewart Living magazine to British publisher Pizzazz Media for a U.K. edition launching in September. The magazine also will be distributed in New Zealand and Australia. An Indonesian edition debuts next month. Crain: Ad Age 'Mad Men' Cameo All Wrong Advertising Age A reporter with Advertising Age is depicted interviewing Don Draper in Sunday's season premiere of AMC's "Mad Men." The scene features errors, according to editor in chief Rance Crain. "We never did interviews over lunch; we didn't ask cute-ass questions." 'Old Media' Has Paying Users in Congress AOL News U.S. elected representatives spend $1.2 million a month on news subscriptions. The New York Times is favored over the Washington Post; The Week magazine has more subscribers than Time; Politco, the agenda-setting political newspaper, is "surprisingly missing." Time Magazine Launches Free Android App MediaPost In another indication of the growing popularity of the new Android operating system, Time is launching a free Android app, in a move to expand its reach among the burgeoning population of smartphone users. All items on the app can be shared using social media tools. Fortune Tech Conference Kicks Off in Apsen Aspen Daily News Fortune magazine is holding its annual Brainstorm TECH conference in Aspen. Over the next two days, the conference will play host to roundtables featuring execs from the likes of Yahoo, Facebook and Google. Among the bold-faced names: Barry Diller and Tim Armstrong. Consumer Reports: Not Afraid of Steve Jobs BusinessWeek Consumer Reports brought the Apple juggernaut to a halt this month by declining to recommend the new iPhone 4. "Business is booming" for the 74-year-old magazine, which has 7 million subscribers -- nearly half of whom pay $26 a year for access to ConsumerReports.org. Sun-Times: Conrad Black May Go Back to Jail Bloomberg Conrad Black, the former newspaper baron set to be freed on bail Friday, may return to prison if he can't persuade an appeals court that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling requires that his fraud and other convictions be set aside. "There’s a strong possibility he goes back to jail." Hyperlocal Websites to Replace Newspapers? Time As more newspapers cut back, entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens are responding by creating websites to cover local news they feel is going underreported. Initiatives like AOL's Patch and MSNBC.com's EveryBlock are "pushing the boundaries of hyperlocal." Conde Nast Names President In Digital Shift New York Times Conde Nast is splitting the job of its CEO and president in two, naming marketing exec Bob Sauerberg to the role of president. Chuck Townsend will remain CEO. The magazine giant says the change is part of an effort to move to a "new business model focused around digital." New York Magazine Partners With Foursquare MediaPost New York is joining forces with Foursquare, the popular location-based social-media site, enabling the magazine to create co-branded social-media loyalty programs for readers visiting participating businesses. Users earn points for discounts provided by the proprietors. Penthouse Owner Sees Playboy Web Growth Financial Times Marc Bell, the private-equity exec who is bidding for Playboy, explains how he would make a deal for the adult empire work. His plan relies on applying the strength of his FriendFinder Networks to Playboy's handful of websites, which could double earnings, he says. Hearst, Lagardère Deal Expected Next Month WWD Recent rumblings indicate Hachette Filipacchi Media parent Lagardère may be ready to deal a hefty stake in some of its magazines to Hearst. Lagardère may be "trying to reduce its exposure to advertising-dependent media," observers say. A deal is expected in late August. Pearson Makes $500 Million Acquisition in Brazil Financial Times Financial Times owner Pearson is set to fulfill a long-held ambition for substantial expansion into South America after announcing a $500 million deal to acquire the "learning systems" arm of Sistema Educacional Brasileiro, a leading Brazilian education company. Forbes to Launch Middle East Edition in Dubai BtoB Forbes, which just lost the top editor of its domestic flagship edition, says it plans to introduce Forbes Middle East in October in partnership with Arab Publisher House. The new edition, printed in Arabic, will be based in Dubai. "We will also have a strong online presence." Conde Nast: Vanity Fair Scores Lohan Cover Gossip Cop Shortly before Lindsay Lohan went to jail, the actress is said to have given an interview with Vanity Fair for its October cover. Lohan also had an "amazing" photo shoot. Vanity Fair says: "We don’t comment on future articles, whether we're working on them or not." Sun-Times: Conrad Black Released from Jail Chicago Sun-Times Former newspaper magnate Conrad Black is being freed from prison after a federal judge set a $2 million bond while he appeals his fraud conviction. Black had been imprisoned for taking millions of dollars from former Chicago Sun-Times owner Hollinger International. New York Times Reports Digital Ad Growth New York Times The New York Times Co. is reporting that its second-quarter profit declined 18% compared with results in the period a year earlier. On an operating basis, profit more than doubled. A double-digit increase in digital advertising helped offset a decline in print ads. St Louis Globe-Democrat Stumbles Online St. Louis Post-Dispatch The entire sports staff of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat is resigning from the Internet-only publication. "In this economy, the ad sales have not been what we hoped for, causing plans to be changed." Dan Rositano, a local media veteran, launched the news site in December. Huffington Post Launches Section on Travel TheWrap The Huffington Post is becoming increasingly newspaper-like, adding a travel section to the news-and-commentary site's current sections on sports, business, arts and others. HuffPost Travel will be edited by Kate Auletta, the daughter of New Yorker media writer Ken Auletta. Gawker Media Silent on $50 Million Lawsuit New York Post Gawker Media is tight-lipped about the settlement it made with art collector Keya Morgan, who sued the blog publisher for $50 million over a report about a Marilyn Monroe sex tape. Neither party is allowed to discuss the terms. Morgan says: "I have a smile on my face." News Corp Unit Settles Brangelina Lawsuit Bloomberg Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have settled a lawsuit against News Corp. U.K. newspaper News of the World over stories that said the couple planned to separate. News Corp. admits the stories were false and agrees to pay undisclosed damages to the couple's charity. Conde Nast's Allure Giving 'Stuff' via Mobiles Fashionista As part of its "Free Stuff" issue, Allure is giving away $725,000 worth of beauty products using Microsoft Tag technology. The magazine is publishing Microsoft tag bar codes in its August issue enabling readers to use their smartphones to enter giveaways of 32,358 products. Hearst Launches Online Recipe Compendium min Hearst Magazines Digital Media is partnering with Milwaukee-based RecipeBridge to launch a vertical search engine, Great Recipes. The site aims to simplify "multiple Google searches required to find great recipes," aided by user-friendly search term criteria. Newsweek Auction Eyed by Pakistan Group New York Post Buzz is building around the Washington Post Co. sale of Newsweek that one of the company's foreign licensees, Pakistan's Associated Group, might be a bidder. The known suitors include stereo mogul Sidney Harman, ex-Daily News co-owner Fred Drasner and Avenue Capital. Forbes Top Editor Baldwin Takes New Role Business Insider William Baldwin, a top editor at Forbes who has basically edited the magazine since 1999, is moving to the new position of investment strategies editor. The change comes as Lewis D'Vorkin joins as chief product officer as part of Forbes' acquisition of his True/Slant blog site. NY Daily News Editor Dunn to Step Down New York Post Martin Dunn, editor-in-chief of the New York Daily News, says he is stepping down from the Mort Zuckerman-owned daily to spend time with his wife, who is battling cancer. "Later this year it is my intention to take advantage of exciting offers in new areas of media." Boston Herald Names Sciacca as New Editor Boston Herald Joe Sciacca is being named editor-in-chief of the Boston Herald, succeeding Kevin Convey, who is to become the top editor at the New York Daily News. Sciacca most recently was managing editor overseeing all editorial content for the print edition and bostonherald.com. Variety Taps Web Behavioral Targeting Platform Folio The website of Hollywood trade magazine Variety is adopting a service called Newstogram, a behavioral tracking technology that generates data on users' interests to deliver visitors content, advertisements and e-commerce opportunities tailored specifically to them. Murdoch Brings 'Idol' Concept to Newspaper Sun Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid the Sun is launching an "American Idol"-like contest for aspiring writers. Youngsters age 16 to 21 can compete in the "Column Idol" contest to have a one-shot column published in the Sun. Participants don't need "any journalism experience." Magazines: August Issues See Ad Rebound CNBC A sign of relief for the struggling magazine industry: monthly advertising sales for August issues jumped 10%. The rise is the first month of 10% year-over-year growth in nearly six years. Martha Stewart's titles rose 29%. The stats indicate that the weak industry is stabilizing. Vogue September Surge Won't Unseat InStyle New York Post InStyle continues to hold off perennial frontrunner Vogue in the 2010 advertising-page race. While Vogue's all-important September issue features 532 ad pages -- a whopping 24.1% over last year -- it still lags behind InStyle for the year, at 1,791 ad pages so far. Time Inc In Tentative Deal with Labor Group Folio The Newspaper Guild of New York, the labor group that represents 300 employees at Time Inc., has reached a tentative agreement with the publisher that could result in a three-year contract for staffers it says includes pay increases each year and improvements on job security. ESPN Magazine Gets Closer to TV Operation New York Times ESPN is shifting much of the staff of ESPN The Magazine to the sports entertainment giant's headquarters in Bristol, Conn. -- no longer at arm's length from the company's central business. The magazine's annual "Body Issue" will get its own prime-time show on ESPN. Us Weekly Said to Pay $100,000 for Exclusive New York Post Wenner Media's Us Weekly is estimated to have paid $100,000 to Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston for the story on their engagement. The cash not only bought an exclusive, but also beat out competitor Time Inc.'s People. Us Weekly insists: "We didn't pay $100,000." TheKnot to Launch 'Interactive' Nest in Print min TheKnot, the longtime cross-platform bridal brand, says it has applied its years of online experience to the execution of its interactive print magazine, The Nest, launching on newsstands. Readers can submit their own advice, how-tos and tips across all of the content areas. New York Daily News to Relocate Headquarters Crain's New York The New York Daily News has signed a lease for new space in lower Manhattan and will leave its 450 West 33rd Street headquarters for 4 New York Plaza next year. The daily will be joined by the New York operations of its corporate sibling U.S. News & World Report. Conrad Black to Be Freed From Jail in Appeal Globe and Mail Former newspaper baron Conrad Black has won release on bail while an appeals court reviews his conviction for fraud. It is not clear when Black might be released. His lawyer says Chicago judge Amy St. Eve, who presided over the criminal trial, will have to set the bail terms. About.com Debuts Advertiser-Focused Effort Brandweek The New York Times Co.'s About.com is launching a new marketing campaign targeting advertisers, with a new tagline: "Need. Know. Accomplish." Ads in the campaign highlight the information-and-advice site's ability to help users "accomplish" a search-driven goal. RadarOnline in Online War Over Mel Gibson Los Angeles Times RadarOnline, which is leading the coverage about actor Mel Gibson's alleged outbursts, is attaining a new level of visibility. Competitors such as TMZ, Perez Hilton and Us Weekly are struggling to keep up as readers flock to the American Media-owned celebrity gossip site. Playboy Launches Safe-for-Work Website Associated Press Playboy Enterprises is unveiling The Smoking Jacket, a website that it swears will be safe to browse while at work. The site will contain no nudity. Instead, it will rely on "sexy articles, funny videos and celebrity gossip" to reach Playboy's target audience, men age 25 to 34. Hearst, Lagardère Eye Global Magazine Deal WWD Rumors of a deal between Hearst and Lagardère, the parent of Elle publisher Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., have been circulating for weeks. Sources say the deal will be global in scope and involve Hearst acquiring an almost 50% stake in Lagardère's magazine business. Hachette Filipacchi Media Seeks U.S. Growth Crain's New York Execs at Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. argue that the company's slimmed-down operation is the right size for a changing media marketplace. New Elle magazine chief brand officer Robin Domeniconi is planning more brand extensions, like the women's lifestyle site Glo. New York Times Blasts Google in Editorial Wired The New York Times editorial board is fretting about the power of Google, publishing an editorial hinting that the Internet giant needs U.S. government regulation of its search results. Google "has acquired pecuniary incentives to favor its own [services] over rivals." Daily Mail to Make U.S. Online News Push New Media Age British tabloid newspaper the Daily Mail is making an aggressive push into the United States, adding editorial and sales staffers at a new Los Angeles office to produce online showbiz content for American audiences. The Daily Mail is the U.K.'s most-visited online publisher. London Times Site Visits Fall by Two-Thirds Financial Times Visits to the Times of London's website have dropped by two-thirds in the weeks since Rupert Murdoch's News International began to implement a paywall strategy, according to Experian Hitwise. However, the decline is less than the 90% traffic fall some had expected. Washington Post Acquires News Aggregator VentureBeat The Washington Post Co. is acquiring iCurrent, an online tool that allows users to collect news automatically. The purchase price is likely to have exceeded $5 million. ICurrent allows users to create automated channels of news depending on their personal interests. Conde Nast's Reddit Seeks User Donations PC Mag Social news website Reddit, purchased by Conde Nast in 2006, is asking users for donations in an effort to raise money for more resources. Staffer Mike Schiraldi explains: "Corporations allocate resources proportionate to revenue. Reddit's revenue isn't great." Newsweek Buyer May Be Revealed This Week New York Post The Washington Post Co. could reveal a winner in the sale of Newsweek as early as this week. At least three suitors are still vying for the property, including Fred Drasner and partners and Avenue Capital. TV Guide owner OpenGate Capital appears to be fading. Penthouse Owner Challenges Hef for Playboy Chicago Tribune FriendFinder Networks, the owner of Penthouse magazine, says it will offer $210 million for Playboy Enterprises, topping a bid by founder Hugh Hefner. FriendFinder CEO Marc Bell insists he wants to work with, not against, Hefner: "We would love him to stay." American Media In New Debt-for-Equity Swap New York Post American Media CEO David Pecker is going on the road to sell the company's second major restructuring in 18 month to bankers and bondholders. The new deal could see the return of the publisher of the National Enquirer to the mergers and acquisition scene. Time Inc Eyes Paywalls for Magazines Online AllThingsD Time magazine publisher Time Inc. says it plans to add paywalls for its magazines' content online: "Our strategy is to use the web for breaking news and ‘commodity’ type of news and keep (most of) the features and longer analysis for the print publication and iPad versions." Hearst: Oprah Mag's iPad App to Sell E-Books Advertising Age Hearst is gearing up to release more apps for the Apple iPad this year. Capitalizing on Oprah Winfrey's huge role recommending books to her fans, the forthcoming iPad edition of O, The Oprah Magazine will let users buy e-books and read them within the app itself. Meredith Buys Mobile Marketer Hyperfactory Associated Press Meredith is buying the remaining stake in The Hyperfactory, a mobile marketing company. Meredith took a minority stake in the firm last year. The deal is expected to allow Meredith to expand its integrated media unit, which offers custom-marketing services. Demand Media IPO Poised to 'Kill' Journalism Sunday Times Demand Media, which generates news stories by algorithms, is believed to have lined up Goldman Sachs for a $1.5 billion IPO that could come as soon as next month. Critics fear that the so-called "content farm" could sound the death knell for professional journalism. HuffPost Acquires Aggregator Pollster.com New York Times The Huffington Post is venturing into the increasingly popular territory of opinion poll analysis, purchasing Pollster.com, a widely respected aggregator of poll data. The deal is something of a coup for HuffPost, which is making an aggressive push into political journalism. Gawker Media Gets Out of Search Warrant Wired A California court is granting the request of local prosecutors to withdraw a search warrant against an editor for the tech site Gizmodo over its scoop about the iPhone 4G. Gizmodo parent Gawker Media is to voluntarily turn over all relevant documents to authorities. Turner, Sports Illustrated to Battle ESPN.com Bloomberg Time Warner is consolidating the online operations of its Turner Sports and Sports Illustrated magazine to challenge top sports site ESPN.com. SI will continue to create all editorial, and Turner Sports will handle the technical operations and advertising sales for SI.com. Conde Nast: Domino Magazine Returns Online Daily Finance Conde Nast's Domino magazine, shuttered in 2009, is seeing its articles reappear on the website of company sibling title Brides. Brides.com, which is being granted access to stories from the former home decorating title, plans to host a Domino "digital archive." Forbes Releases Investment Guide for iPad min Forbes is repackaging some of its most popular investment news and advice into an app for the Apple iPad. The all-free Forbes Investment Guide Plus, which pulls together recent articles and videos on investment planning and related subjects, is underwritten by John Hancock. Reuters Makes Exec Changes in Digital Push TalkingBizNews Thomson Reuters is making two management changes as part of an effort to move the Reuters news agency more into digital. Alisa Bowen is being charged with accelerating the news agency's "transformation," while Keith McAllister will oversee Reuters' websites. British Tabloids: A Digital Rebirth or Death? Wired The news that the five tabloids owned by Trinity Mirror will soon eliminate one-quarter of their journalists suggests that the end may be drawing closer for the famed British tabloids. Their efforts to generate digital revenues have been "little short of disastrous." NY Times Shuts Down Hyperlocal News Test Media Matters The New York Times is shutting down The Local, its experimental hyperlocal website for New Jersey after more than a year of seeking to cover three towns there with unpaid local residents. "From the beginning, we described this as a pilot, a test, an experiment." Tribune Chief Sees PDF Newspaper Future Reuters Tribune boss Sam Zell predicts that the home delivery of newspapers will be replaced with PDF files. "Going forward it's going to require all kinds of approaches," he says. The Apple iPad "is the real example of almost replicating a newspaper on an instrument." Newsweek Loses Potential Suitors in Sale New York Post Potential buyers are dropping out in the race to buy flagging Newsweek, which is up for sale. Former Daily News co-owner Fred Drasner, who is teaming with ex-Dow Jones Newswires head Paul Ingrassia and Fast Company co-founder Alan Webber, is seen as the favorite. Conde Nast's iPad Apps to Get More Social New York Times Wired magazine's iPad app doesn't allow readers to copy-and-paste links or share comments on interesting articles. But owner Conde Nast says that readers should expect such offerings soon. "Conde Nast is actively considering the integration of social networking features." Hearst's Seventeen Site Gets a Social Redo Mediaweek Seventeen magazine is relaunching its website with a social media push aimed at pulling girls away from the likes of Facebook. Seventeen.com now lets visitors share content and send instant messages, and also features a channel powered by Hearst aggregation site LMK. Playboy Cuts Jobs, Moves Away from Media Reuters Playboy Enterprises is cutting staff in an effort to save more than $3 million annually as it transitions from a media company into one that primarily licenses its iconic bunny ears logo. Playboy aims to move away from its reliance on print advertising from its magazine. Freedom Communications Hires DirecTV CEO Associated Press Orange County Register owner Freedom Communications, which emerged from bankruptcy last month, is naming Mitchell Stern as president and CEO. Stern earlier served as the CEO of DirecTV's U.S. division and as chairman and CEO of Fox Television Stations. Conde Nast Plans Newsstand-Only Magazines Crain's New York Conde Nast plans to release newsstand-only special editions of some of its magazines, starting in August. Up to half a dozen special issues will focus on topics associated with the titles, like Glamour's "Do's and Don'ts," and will feature a mix of new and re-edited content. Forbes Ex-Web Publisher Plans Vertical Sites AllThingsD Former Forbes.com publisher Jim Spanfeller's Internet publishing start-up, Spanfeller Media Group, is close to finishing a $2 million funding round, as it plans to roll out a series of websites. Spanfeller's industry-specific verticals will kick off with a site focused on food. Murdoch Eyes New Pricing Regime for Ads Media Week Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper publishing arm is set to put the squeeze on advertisers with a major new commercial initiative across its titles. News International is proposing to establish a new pricing regime said to be more in line with rival media, such as television. Le Monde Sells to Internet Porn Billionaire AFP France's Le Monde newspaper, struggling to stay afloat in the Internet age, is being sold to a trio of French businessmen. The trio includes Xavier Niel, who made his money from online sex chat services. French president Nicolas Sarkozy opposed the sale to the group. NY Times Fills Post for 'Next Wave' Projects New York Observer Gerry Marzorati is leaving as editor of the New York Times Magazine in August, the Times is announcing. Marzorati will stay on at the Times "focused fulltime on the next wave of new projects, to assure that our creative energy gets channeled where it's needed." Newsday Unions to Accept 5-10% Pay Cuts New York Post Unionized workers at Newsday are voting to accept a Cablevision offer that will slice the pay for most workers by 5% over three years, while truckers get a cut of 10%. "There is nobody who voted 'yes' who is happy about this contract," according to a union official. Philly Newspapers' Bankruptcy Plan OK'd Philadelphia Daily News The newly renamed Philadelphia Media Network, owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, is winning a court approval for its bankruptcy reorganization plan, clearing the way for lenders to buy its assets for about $139 million. The company filed for Chapter 11 in 2009. Mr Magazine Names 25 'Most Notable' Titles Mr Magazine Samir "Mr. Magazine" Husni, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of his "Samir Husni’s Guide to New Magazines," is naming the 25 most notable new magazines published between 1985 and 2010. All of the honored magazines -- from Elle to The Week -- "are still being published." Time Magazine Releases List of Best Blogs Time Time magazine, whose website is becoming more blog-like itself, is releasing its annual picks of the blogs "we can't live without." Most of the honored blogs are independently published outfits such as PostSecret and The Awl. Perez Hilton is deemed "overrated." Conde Nast: Don't Expect a 'Muslim Vogue' Financial Times Jonathan Newhouse, head of Conde Nast International, says he sees specialized magazines growing worldwide despite the rise of digital media. However, launching editions in Muslim countries "poses issues." The culture may not be "compatible with the values of Vogue." Hearst Hires Conde Nastie to Run Magazines New York Times Conde Nast exec David Carey is being named president of the magazine division of Hearst, publisher of Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping. He replaces Cathie Black, who will become division chair. Hearst is "defining the magazine company of the future," Carey says. Newsweek Bids Due Thursday; Zuckerman Out New York Post Bids for Newsweek are due in by 5 p.m. on Thursday. So far, five bidders have been identified, although the rumor mill continues to hum with the expectation that one or two potential bidders may pounce at the last minute. Mort Zuckerman says he has no interest in pursuing a bid. Martha Stewart Living Plans More Editions min Martha Stewart Living is publishing a special "Amazing America" issue in July. It is also announcing the September launch of the title's British edition. Stewart, who is of Polish descent, already publishes an edition in Poland. A 20th-anniversary celebration is due this fall. Rolling Stone McChrystal Issue a Best-Seller WWD Rolling Stone has a hit on its hands thanks to its Gen. Stanley McChrystal story. The issue already has sold "at least five times the number" the magazine normally sells on the newsstand. The success is surprising since the story was reproduced online by Time.com and Politico. Time: Posting Rolling Stone Scoop a 'Mistake' New York Times Time.com last week posted a PDF of Rolling Stone's story about Gen. Stanley McChrystal since the article was unavailable on RollingStone.com. "It was a mistake," says a Time spokeswoman. "If we had it do over again, we would only post a headline and an abstract." Washington Post Blogger Exits Amid Fracas Washington Post Washington Post blogger Dave Weigel is resigning amid controversy following disclosure of disparaging e-mails he had written about some of the people he was hired to cover. His departure is raising questions about whether the Post has adequately defined the role of bloggers. Hearst Websites Launch Disruptive HD Ads Mediaweek Hearst Magazines is launching ad units that will let advertisers serve up high-definition, streaming video in real time. The ads, which also are large-format units, tap into an interest among advertisers to eschew the traditional preroll ad for spots that look more like editorial. Chicago Reader Editor in Sudden Departure Chicago Tribune Alison True, who started in the mailroom of the Chicago Reader in 1984, is departing as its editor. True had been editor for more than 15 years and guided the Creative Loafing-owned free weekly through traumatic budget squeezes. The title is said to be facing "content issues." Philadelphia Magazine Editor in 'Fast' Ouster Philadelphia Inquirer Larry Platt, editor of Philadelphia magazine, is stepping down after a "difficult" meeting with the execs of owner Metrocorp. Both sides decline to specify what led to his ouster. Over Platt's nearly eight-year tenure, Philadelphia's paid monthly circulation dropped 20%. Tribune Creditors Girding to Grill Sam Zell New York Post Tribune creditors itching to take a crack at chief Sam Zell, whose 2007 buyout landed the company in bankruptcy, could get their chance today. Lawyers are due to question Zell in the bankruptcy case in Manhattan, although he is still trying to wriggle out of the deposition. Tumblr Embraced by Traditional News Outlets Business Insider The New York Times and The New Yorker are among the traditional media outlets experimenting with Tumblr, the innovative blogging platform known for its sophisticated interactive features. Tumblr helps build "a community around your publication," Newsweek says. Traditional Media Sites Losing to Web Rivals min Traffic to traditional media websites (up 5% in 2009) is not growing as fast as their web-only counterparts (up 10%), according to a study by Wetpaint. Among the reasons cited: Endemic web companies are "faster and better" at embracing content discovery techniques. Economist: Mobile Mag Sales a Success Press Gazette The Economist is claiming success with a new mobile-phone-based magazine sales ploy, as the title reports its overall operating profit has improved. Readers can buy overnight-delivered new issues via their mobile phones. Interest in the service "has grown significantly." NY Times Magazine Editor to Step Down Deadline The New York Times is expected to announce that Gerry Marzorati will exit his post as editor of the New York Times Magazine. Atlantic editor James Bennet is rumored to replace him. Insiders suspect Marzorati will be drafted to work on the Times's coming online paywall. Newsday Ousted Editor Resurfaces at NY1 New York Post John Mancini, ousted as editor in chief of Cablevision's Newsday in December, is joining Time Warner cable channel NY1 as its transit reporter. During his tenure at Newsday, Mancini worked under three different owners and had to oversee massive downsizings. National Enquirer: No Pay for Gore Story Washington Post Barry Levine, executive editor of the National Enquirer, says that the Oregon masseuse who made a sexual assault allegation against Al Gore asked the tabloid for $1 million but that the Enquirer did not pay her or anyone else in reporting the story. "No money exchanged hands." Conrad Black Fraud Convictions Set Aside CBC News The U.S. Supreme Court is overturning three fraud convictions against former press baron Conrad Black and remanding his case back to the Chicago court that sentenced him. Nonetheless, the possibility of Black being released from prison any time soon remains low. Gannett Community Papers Add Web Fees News & Tech Following the announcement by the Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat that it will begin charging non-subscribers a fee to read its online content, Gannett's Spectrum in St. George, Utah, and Greenville (S.C.) News also will start restricting access to their websites. Times of London Sees Online Traffic Drop Media Week Several U.K. newspapers are seeing increases in traffic to their websites, as the Times's new registration-only sites are recording substantial drops. The market share of the Times sites has nearly halved since owner News Corp. introduced a registration wall. News is 'Pervasive, Portable, Personalized' CyberJournalist News consumption has radically changed since 2000, according to a study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Social networks "matter more" as news filters. Also, with much news seen as a commodity, consumers "don't want to pay for something that is abundant." Time Inc's SI Unveils 'Easy to Use' iPad App New York Times Sports Illustrated is now available as an Apple iPad app. Each issue costs $4.99, the same as an issue of Conde Nast's Wired app released recently. Editor Terry McDonell says he wants to keep the app simple to use –- "no double-clicks or two-finger gestures." Tribune, The Onion Teaming Up in Chicago Chicago Tribune The Chicago Tribune Media Group will take over advertising sales, printing and distribution of The Onion, the satirical newspaper, in the Chicago market through a new partnership. "This is a great opportunity to extend our reach among young adults," Tribune says. Reader's Digest Preps Move to Manhattan New York Post Pleasantville, N.Y.-based Reader's Digest says its headquarters is moving to New York City in August. The company plans to move only the flagship Reader's Digest magazine, editorial and corporate offices into Manhattan, in space being subleased from Conde Nast. Perez Hilton: 'Too Late' for Media Branding Daily Beast Just a year ago, the Perez Hilton brand was expanding -- to a fashion site, a record label and TV opportunities. But his first two music acts have tanked and site traffic has flattened. The Hollywood gossip blogger "may have peaked. He missed his Glenn Beck opportunity." Hachette's Elle Raids Hearst for Publisher New York Post Elle magazine has finally found a publisher -- raiding rival Hearst's Harper's Bazaar for Kevin Martinez, the title's associate publisher. The move comes after rumblings late last year that Elle's Paris-based owner had quietly sounded out Hearst about taking over Elle. Time Magazine Pursues Digital Reinvention NPR Under managing editor Rick Stengel, Time magazine is pursuing a reinvention to try to evolve for a digital age. In the future, Stengel says, he will be happy even if most readers know little about Time's print edition, as long as they're paying for the magazine's digital editions. Tribune Bankruptcy Examiner Wants Time Chicago Tribune Kenneth Klee, the independent examiner charged with investigating claims of "fraudulent conveyance" in the Tribune bankruptcy case, is asking for a 15-day extension for filing his report. That would probably delay confirmation hearings on the company's reorganization. Philadelphia Newspapers Seek OK for Reorg Philadelphia Inquirer A federal bankruptcy judge will be asked Thursday to bless a reorganization plan that would surrender the parent company of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com to the firm's creditors, which would conclude a contentious 17-month case. WSJ Europe to Launch Technology Section Journalism.co.uk The Wall Street Journal plans to launch a European technology section as part of its digital expansion. Six new jobs are being advertised by publisher Dow Jones as it prepares to enlarge its online and mobile offering and build up commercial opportunities. NY Tabloid Journo Story Eyed for Broadway New York Post Hugh Jackman may be heading to Broadway in the lead role in "Stories About McAlary," a Nora Ephron-penned play about "tough, heavy-drinking" New York Post and Daily News columnist Mike McAlary, who died in 1998. Mike Nichols directed a recent reading of the play. Conde Nast Eyes Biz Model Shift via Gourmet Mediaweek With the launch of a digital app for its shuttered Gourmet magazine, Conde Nast is seeking to move the company away from its decades-old reliance on ad revenue. Conde Nast depends on advertising for 70% of its revenue, says CEO Chuck Townsend, which is "overly risky." Tribune: LA Times Unveils $1.99 iPhone App Los Angeles Times The Los Angeles Times is releasing an Apple iPhone and iPod Touch app for $1.99, allowing users to keep track of its latest news and photos in real time, along with tweets from the newspaper. Later this month, the Times plans to roll out a Hollywood Star Walk app. Rolling Stone Scoop Goes Viral Before Print Yahoo News Rolling Stone's explosive interview with U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal dominated the news on Tuesday. But for many hours, it was unavailable on RollingStone.com. The magazine's policy of holding such stories for print may be out of sync with today's 24/7 news cycle. InStyle, Motor Trend Lead Magazines in July min Although publishers traditionally produce a smaller folio for July magazines, 2010 is bringing more advertisers. Among monthlies, InStyle, Motor Trend, Food & Wine, All You and Vogue are showing the highest number of ad pages gained in July 2010 versus 2009. Architectural Digest Eyes Elle Decor Editor WWD Who will succeed Paige Rense Noland as the next editor in chief of Architectural Digest? All signs continue to point to Elle Decor's Margaret Russell, who has emerged as the favorite, according to industry insiders. With her long list of contacts, Russell is "the obvious choice." Monocle Magazine to Launch Print Newspaper WWD Monocle, the global style magazine, is launching a print newspaper edition on July 29. Dubbed Monocle-on-Med, the 60-page paper will be distributed in summer hot spots from Italy to the Hamptons. "Screens don't like direct sunlight," muses editor/founder Tyler Brule. Philadelphia Newspapers' Owner is Renamed Philadelphia Daily News The new owners of the Philadelphia Daily News, Inquirer and Philly.com have picked an umbrella name for the venture that points to a multifaceted, digital future: Philadelphia Media Network. The name "reflects our strategy to integrate all of our brand platforms." Crain Shutters Manchester Business Journal Crain's Manchester Crain Communications is closing Crain's Manchester Business, the first local weekly business journal to be published in the United Kingdom, less than three years after its launch. "Limited support from key advertising sectors has made the project unsustainable." Le Monde Eyed by Yves Saint-Laurent Partner Int'l Business Times Le Monde, the French newspaper up for sale after reeling under a $124 million debt, has won two potential bids so far. One is from a France Telecom-led group; the other is from a consortium led by Pierre Berge, partner of the late fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent. USA Today Publisher Plans Reorganization Gannett Blog USA Today employees are said to be anxious about their future after publisher Dave Hunke surprised a staff meeting with news that the newspaper would be reorganized in the weeks ahead. The Gannett paper's "future path" could include "involuntary layoffs." Americans Expect Newspapers to Disappear Associated Press Most Americans are optimistic about their future and that of the country -- but no so much about newspapers. Some 64% of Americans say they believe printed newspapers will cease to exist by 2050, according to a Pew Research Center/Smithsonian magazine poll. New Yorker to Create iPad App with Adobe WWD The New Yorker will partner with Adobe to create a version of the magazine for the iPad, making it the second Conde Nast title, after Wired, to eschew internal development and work with the Silicon Valley firm on its app. Editors see "greater control" working with Adobe. Conde Nast Preps Revival of Gourmet Brand New York Observer Conde Nast is holding a press conference Tuesday morning to announce a "revival" of the Gourmet brand. The brand extension is expected to be digital and unrelated to the launch of the company's new Dash food magazine. Gourmet magazine folded in October. American Media in Move to Lower Manhattan New York Observer American Media, publisher of the National Enquirer and other titles, will relocate its New York City hub from 1 Park Avenue to 4 New York Plaza between Water and Pearl streets in lower Manhattan. The publisher will nearly double the amount of space it has at 1 Park. Mr Magazine Publishes 25th Anniversary Guide Mr Magazine Samir "Mr. Magazine" Husni is releasing the 25th anniversary edition of his Guide to New Magazines. The guide "continues to be a labor of love," he says. The new edition includes 685 new magazines profiled and analyzed by editorial concept, frequency, cover price and more. MediaNews to Test 'Member Zone' Paywalls News & Tech MediaNews will begin testing online paywalls at three of its newspapers in July. The Enterprise Record in Chico, Calif., and the York (Pa.) Daily Record and York Dispatch will allow consumers to read up to 10 stories for free each month before they are asked to pay. NY Times Names Brisbane as Public Editor New York Times The New York Times is naming Art Brisbane as its new public editor. Brisbane is a former publisher and editor of the Kansas City Star and a journalist for the Washington Post. The public editor works outside of the newspaper's reporting structure to respond to reader queries. EBay, Craigslist Rival Launches for Newspapers Crain's Detroit Boocoo.com, a new local online auction website, is launching nationally to compete with e-commerce giants such as eBay and Craigslist. Boocoo is licensing ZIP codes to nearly 300 newspapers and broadcast outlets, which then have exclusive rights in their areas. Craigslist: Stop Linking Us to Child Prostitution WSBTV Craigslist is sending letters to agencies in Georgia, including the governor's office, asking them to stop using its name in studies of child exploitation. A study from a Georgia child advocacy group showed more men responded to ads for sex on Craigslist than other sites. Hearst Buys Shuttered Meat Processing Plant San Luis Obispo Tribune The Hearst Corporation is acquiring the bankrupt Paso Robles Meat and Sausage plant in Paso Robles, Calif., for $1.46 million. Hearst will lease the shuttered plant to a meat cutting and grinding facility that will provide services for the Hearst Ranch beef operation. Tribune Rival Aims to Block License Transfer Wall Street Journal Neil Ellis, the owner of the Manchester Journal Inquirer, a small Connecticut newspaper, is trying to prevent Tribune from obtaining licenses the media giant needs to operate two television stations it owns in the Hartford area, where it also publishes the Hartford Courant. Time Magazine Plans Overhaul of Website WWD Time magazine is naming longtime reporter/editor Jim Frederick to oversee Time.com -- and giving him marching orders for a comprehensive site redesign and rethink. The overhaul, which won't come until next year, will make the website "more social-media friendly." Bloomberg Touts Free in Website Relaunch min Bloomberg is relaunching its main news website with the claim of making a stand for free, advertising-supported content: "In the ongoing debate of free versus paid content, Bloomberg.com is launching a newly designed site [where] content can be accessed free of charge." Le Monde Website Eyed by France Telecom Wall Street Journal France Telecom, which is partly owned by the French state, is approving a bid to acquire French daily Le Monde. The attraction is Le Monde's website, LeMonde.fr, which is the most profitable part of the newspaper and could complement the telecom's own news site. Conde Nast's Florio: I Wasn't Pushed Out min Tom Florio's position is not being filled, as the longtime Conde Nast exec exits to start his own business. The move suggests that Florio was expendable. Not so, he says. "I could have stayed longer. I am financially comfortable that I can work full-time" on my new venture. Elle, Not Camera Shy, Embraces Reality TV New York Times Hachette Filipacchi's Elle, perhaps more than any other magazine, has embraced television as a way to enhance its brand and broaden its audience, from "Project Runway" to "The City." Elle says that its audience in print is up 35% among women ages 18 to 24. Economist Launches Online Feature Series BtoB The Economist is launching "By Invitation," a series of features on the newsweekly's website. The first is "Economics by Invitation," in which 55 economists will share commentary and analysis. Website visitors will be able to comment on and discuss the answers. Lonny Web Shelter Magazine Raises Funding New York Times After Conde Nast closed Domino, two designers created Lonny, an online publication that looks and acts like a print magazine. Lonny is to announce that it has raised an undisclosed sum from investment banker Kristoffer Mack and venture capitalist J. Christopher Burch. P&G Launches Male Homemaking Tip Website Reuters Procter & Gamble is launching a household tips website for the growing number of American men who have become homemakers in a tough job market. The new Manofthehouse.com offers advice on child-rearing, cleaning and cooking commonly found in women's magazines. SF Public Press Online Publishes Print Issue San Francisco Chronicle The San Francisco Public Press will do something that few web-based news outlets have done before: go to print. The nonprofit online news startup is releasing a 20-page print edition Tuesday. Volunteers will distribute the paper across San Francisco. The cost is $2. Center for Public Integrity on Journo Hiring Spree Washington Post The nonprofit Center for Public Integrity, which produces investigative journalism about public issues, is taking on a more prominent role, fueled by a hiring spree that has added more than half a dozen journalists. But if donations stop coming, its operations could be crippled. Tribune Lenders to Question Zell on Claims Bloomberg Tribune lenders who oppose the publisher's reorganization plan to question chairman Sam Zell, who led the company's 2007 buyout and then put it into bankruptcy a year later. A group of lenders owed $1.6 billion related to the buyout are to question Zell on June 28. Conde Nast: Vogue's Tom Florio is Leaving WWD Tom Florio, publications director of Vogue, plans to leave after 25 years at Conde Nast. Florio is said to have been on thin ice for a while. Now it seems the parting is amicable and he wants to run his own show. "It could be in TV; it could be on many platforms," he says. Newsweek: Chinese Group Bid Unsuccessful China Daily China's Southern Daily Group is on the lookout to acquire a Western news publication after making a failed attempt to buy Newsweek. "With nine-language versions, Newsweek's platform with global communication resources and influence is in line with our pursuits." Forbes Former CEO Invests in Web Startup VentureBeat San Francisco-based WebMynd is releasing a new product that aims to help web publishers make money from content. The startup raised a $400,000 seed round last year, followed by a recent $200,000 from angel investors, including former Forbes CEO James Spanfeller. TheStreet.com's Cramer Buys Shares in Firm Dow Jones CNBC host Jim Cramer in the past month spent $302,000 on 100,000 shares of TheStreet.com, the media company that he founded and chairs. Other insiders bought a total of 32,500 shares for $97,200 in the past six weeks. The company's prospects "are very good." Perez Hilton: No Regrets Over Miley Photo PopEater Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton says he has no regrets over posting a link to an "upskirt" photo of 17-year-old Miley Cyrus getting out of a car. "I would do the same thing again. It's not showing anything wrong or inappropriate. You just see her from an unflattering view." Oprah Gifts Could Tax 'O' Magazine Staffers WalletPop Oprah Winfrey's gift of an Apple iPad, leather iPad case and $10,000 check to employees of her O, The Oprah Magazine could lead to tax bills for those items exceeding $3,000. According to the Internal Revenue Service, employers don't really give "gifts" to employees. Media Industry 'Cut-Throat,' Hard to Break Into Journalism.co.uk The media industry is "cut-throat" and one of the hardest to break into, according to a U.K. survey of people from ethnic minority backgrounds. A third of respondents to the Race for Opportunity study say the media industry is a difficult profession in which to find employment. Bloomberg Nabs Publisher from Fortune New York Times Bloomberg continues to poach talent from rival news organizations, hiring top exec Hugh Wiley from Fortune magazine as the publisher of Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Wiley, the leader of the business side at Fortune since 2007, will end a 25-year career at Time Inc. Oprah Gives iPads, Cash to Mag Staffers Advertising Age Oprah Winfrey is marking the 10th anniversary of O, The Oprah Magazine by giving every staffer an Apple iPad, a leather iPad case with the staffer's initials and a check for $10,000. "These were personal gifts to the staff," says a rep from Hearst, Winfrey's partner in the title. Murdoch Covers Up Page 3 Girls for iPad WebProNews The iPad app for News Corp. U.K. tabloid the Sun is stirring buzz for reportedly sneaking nudity past Apple's notoriously strict approval process. However, a rep for the Sun Online says: "Please note the Page 3 women will be wearing a bikini. There isn't any nudity." Rupert's Sun Angering Bloggers Over Use Brand Republic Rupert Murdoch's U.K. Sun is angering soccer bloggers by incorporating their sites in a World Cup sweepstakes without their permission. The move is described as "ironic given that Murdoch's newspapers are hot on the issue of not allowing their content to be used by others." London Times Offers Freebies to Lure Readers Bloomberg Rupert Murdoch's Times of London is offering free tickets to "Toy Story 3" or the chance of a weekend at the Grosvenor Hotel in Dorset to persuade readers to pay for news online. The newspaper is starting to close down its free website and will charge for access. WSJ. Editor to Leave Magazine Supplement WWD Tina Gaudoin, editor in chief of the Wall Street Journal's glossy luxury play WSJ., is resigning for personal reasons and will return to London at the end of August. Gaudoin will oversee the supplement's September and October issues and help choose her successor. US, UK See Heaviest Newspaper Circ Declines Guardian North American and British newspapers are suffering dramatic circulation declines, according to a study from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Also, despite the large number of people reading online news "the willingness to pay remains low." NY Times Ranks as No. 1 Online Newspaper Washington Business Nearly 124 million Americans visited newspaper websites in May, 57% of the total U.S. online audience, according to comScore. The New York Times ranked as the top newspaper site with 32.5 million visitors. Tribune ranked second with 24.8 million visitors last month. Washington Post Price Quote Not Fit for 'Print' Fox Business The Securities and Exchange Commission's new circuit breaker pilot program got its first test on Wednesday when trading was halted in shares of Washington Post Co. But it was a false alarm. "It was an erroneous trade that triggered it, but the stock did automatically halt." Hearst's SeattlePI.com Faces Fuzzy Future Crosscut Hearst startup Skiff appeared to have the technology to make the company's SeattlePI.com a stronger competitor to the Seattle Times, its former cross-town print rival. But with Skiff to be sold off to News Corp., the future of Hearst's money-losing Seattle site is unclear. Outside Magazine Bikes Over Lance Armstrong NBC Sports Lance Armstrong is unhappy with Outside magazine after the Mariah Media title Photoshopped text referring to his age onto the front of his T-shirt for a cover photo shoot. "Nice photoshop on a plain tshirt guys," the famed cyclist says in a tweet. "That's some lame bull*****." Huffington Post Acquires Adaptive Semantics TechCrunch The Huffington Post is acquiring its first company in a small cash deal. Adaptive Semantics, a two-person startup, provides a semantic analysis engine already used by the Huffington Post to help moderate the 100,000 comments published on the site every day. 'Hulu for Magazines' Venture Names CEO AllThingsD Next Issue Media, the so-called "Hulu for magazines" joint venture of publishers, is naming former TiVo president Morgan Guenther as CEO. The group -- consisting of Conde Nast, Hearst, Meredith, News Corp. and Time Inc. -- seeks to create a digital magazine storefront. Conde Farming Out Magazine Launches New York Post Conde Nast has turned out the lights on high-end magazine development, but other wings of the media giant controlled by the Newhouse family seem to be incubating titles on shoestring budgets. The latest mag is MensWear, which is being produced by Fairchild. Newsweek Bidder Lures Publishing Execs New York Post Fred Drasner, the onetime part-owner of the New York Daily News, is said to be teaming up with a number of major publishing types -- including Alan Webber and Paul Ingrassia -- as he pores over the books in his bid to buy Newsweek from the Washington Post. Financial Times Eyes Web, Conference Fees Los Angeles Times The Financial Times projects that its digital work will create one-third of its revenue by 2012. The FT is also profiting and strengthening its high-end brand by hosting more than 50 meetings and conferences a year, dotting the globe from Monaco to Beijing. NY Times Plans Public Site for Experiments Advertising Age The New York Times is building a public beta testing website where it will experiment with new ideas and applications before deciding whether they deserve to go live on NYTimes.com. The Times expects to introduce the site, to be called Beta620, in July or August. Tribune: Groups Seek to Deny Media Waivers Crain's Chicago Media advocacy groups want the Federal Communications Commission to deny Tribune's requests to keep more than one media outlet license in a single market. Tribune's requests "subordinate the interests of the public to the private interests of Tribune's creditors." Media General Exec Faces Jail for Fraud Tampa Bay Business Charles Wilson, a former credit manager at the Tampa Tribune, is pleading guilty on fraud charges for stealing more than $1 million from the newspaper, owner Media General and some customers. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison. His wife also faces prison time. Gawker Media Settles 'Trivial' Libel Lawsuit MediaPost Gawker Media is settling a libel lawsuit filed against the site Jalopnik by deleting a post alleging that Confederate Motors faced so many lawsuits that it couldn't conduct business in New York. Gawker agreed to settle "because it was too trivial an issue to take to court." Huffington Post Launches Section on Arts WWD The Huffington Post is launching yet another section. The new HuffPost Arts will cover fine art, opera and filmmaking. "The site will also have blogs that people are not normally exposed to," says editor Kimberly Brooks, who is also the wife of filmmaker Albert Brooks. WSJ.com Offers 'Add to Foursquare’ Function BtoB The Wall Street Journal says it will introduce the "Add to Foursquare" function to its online stories. The function, which will appear near restaurant reviews and other cultural pieces on WSJ.com, will let users add venues to their Foursquare to-do lists directly from articles. U.S. Unlikely to Back Newspaper Handouts BusinessWeek The New York Times, Washington Post and other U.S. newspaper groups are unlikely to get help from the government after the Federal Trade Commission completes its industry review, sources say. The FTC is reviewing ways for the government to assist newspapers. Forbes Top Editor Paul Maidment Resigns Business Insider Paul Maidment, editor of Forbes.com and executive editor of the magazine, is resigning. The magazine is said to have been planning "ruthless" cuts as Lewis Dvorkin assumes control of editorial operations under a deal struck when Forbes acquired his True/Slant website. Time Inc Heads to Court in Wholesaler Case Wall Street Journal A judge on Tuesday will hear arguments in the case of a now-defunct magazine wholesaler that has accused Time Inc., Hachette, American Media and other former clients of conspiring to drive it out of business. Anderson News claims publishers cut off its supply of magazines. The Awl to Expand Into Website Network Nieman Lab The Awl, a year-old New York City-based culture website founded by Gawker veterans Choire Sicha and Alex Balk, plans to grow into a network of sites. One planned site already has a lead writer and a topic picked out. "Our plan is to roll out more sites with great writers." Internet to Top Newspapers in Ad Revenue WSJ / USA Today The Internet is poised to overtake newspapers as the second-largest U.S. advertising medium behind television, says PricewaterhouseCoopers' new report on global media. Also: Television will continue to be "driven by traditional TV companies and traditional content." Murdoch in Bold Digital Journalism Moves Hollywood Reporter News Corp. is unveiling multiple digital media initiatives, including the acquisition of Hearst's Skiff e-reading platform and an investment in Steven Brill and Gordon Crovitz's Journalism Online venture. Also, Jon Housman is being named head of digital journalism initiatives. Tribune in Partnership with TomPetty.com Los Angeles Times Tribune Interactive is partnering with TomPetty.com, the website for rock musician Tom Petty and his band, the Heartbreakers, to launch an online hub as part of the band's 40-city "Mojo" tour. The site can be accessed via Tribune newspaper and television station websites. Newsday Union Troubles May Lead to Cuts New York Post Newsday owner Cablevision is threatening to declare an impasse with the newspaper's unionized workers by July 5, a move that could clear the way for pay cuts and layoffs. Newsday workers recently rejected Cablevision's latest contract proposal by a more than 2-to-1 margin. Advance Hopes Readers 'Dash' for Magazine New York Times Advance Publications' Parade will introduce a newspaper magazine and website called Dash, which will draw content from Conde Nast titles like Bon Appetit and Gourmet. Dash's print version will run in newspapers' "best food day" issues on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Tribune Orphans 'Annie' as Kids Flee Print Chicago Tribune Tribune Media Services says it is ending "Annie" as a U.S. newspaper comic strip after more than 85 years because the strip targets young readers who rarely "are encouraged to read newspapers these days." The character will continue in "graphic novels, electronic" form. NY Times to Grow DealBook Business Blog Wall Street Journal The New York Times plans to expand its DealBook blog, adding about a dozen people to the existing staff of eight at the four-year-old financial-news site edited by Andrew Ross Sorkin. DealBook has become one of the most popular destinations on nytimes.com. WSJ, FT Leaders Push for Online Paywalls Japan Times / Media Week Dow Jones CEO Les Hinton says newspapers have no choice but to start charging for web content. "Every major newspaper will be testing." Also: FT.com chief Rob Grimshaw says that if "publishers have more confidence" in their product they can make paid content work. Reader's Digest Pins Hopes on Web Paywalls Mediaweek Reader's Digest Association is looking to the Internet for growth as its flagship Reader's Digest magazine becomes a smaller part of the company. Its Allrecipes.com food site is trying a paid content model. If it works, the company will push the model out to other sites. Hearst, Meredith Mull Mobile Global Mags Advertising Age Brazil, Russia, India and China are the countries where growth rates are "most encouraging" for launching international editions of U.S. magazines, says Hearst exec Duncan Edwards. Some publishers are mulling big plays for mobile, where penetration is already high. Conde Nast: Teen Vogue Opens Mall Store Mediaweek Teen Vogue is going into the retail business. The Conde Nast title is signing a one-year lease at the Westchester Mall to operate the Teen Vogue Haute Spot. The semi-permanent, 3,600-square-foot store will sell products the magazine believes will appeal to shoppers. Dennis' The Week Hires BusinessWeeker Wall Street Journal The Week magazine is hiring Jessica Sibley from Bloomberg BusinessWeek to be its new publisher. She succeeds Jed Hartman, who left the magazine in March for Time Inc.'s Fortune and CNNMoney. Felix Dennis' The Week is seen as "a rare bright spot" in magazines. Forbes Seeks to Sell Investopedia Website Daily Finance Forbes is hiring investment bank Jordan, Edmiston Group to explore a sale of Investopedia, the investor-education website it acquired in 2007. Forbes says it is offloading the site as part of a shift in its digital strategy. The company recently acquired the blog network True/Slant. Craigslist Founder Not Interesting in Selling cnewmark Craigslist, the online classifieds site, is not for sale, writes founder Craig Newmark on his personal blog. "I realized that I'm not interested in selling because too much money tends to sever one's connection to the grassroots. Money can change you, and I resist that kind of thing." NY Post Sees 'Serious Exodus' of Staffers Gawker A "serious staff exodus" of several big names is said to be underway at Rupert Murdoch's New York Post. Staffers reportedly are "fed up with editor Col Allan's bullying management style." The atmosphere at the Post is described by insiders as "awful" and "unbelievable." Washington Post Taps GM's Former CEO Washington Business The Washington Post is electing former General Motors CEO Richard "Rick" Wagoner to its board of directors. Wagoner, who stepped down at GM last year, joins the Washington Post's all-star cast of directors, including Warren Buffett, Melinda Gates and Barry Diller. Financial Times Adds Paywalls to Blogs Reuters The Financial Times is moving its blogs behind the newspaper's online paywall, starting with Money Supply. Comments to a post on FT.com about the move has received three comments so far, all of which are from subscribers who say that they will no longer read the blog. Craigslist, eBay Face New Rival Boocoo News & Tech Ranger Data Technologies is launching Boocoo.com, an auction site that will share transactional fees with 300 newspaper and broadcast partners in North America. The site, which aims to compete with eBay and Craigslist, will bow June 21 after a one-week soft launch. Newsmax CEO Sees a Profitable Newsweek Business Insider Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy, one of the bidders for the money-losing Newsweek, vows to make the title profitable in 18 months, in part by "developing specialized information products." He also says he won't change the newsweekly's ideology. "I'm not Rupert Murdoch." Time Magazine to Upgrade 'Rush Job' App AllThingsD Time magazine's app for the Apple iPad, described as a "rush job," plans to keep adding bells and whistles. The Time Inc. flagship says it will add features such as a table-of-contents with geographic hotspots, chat and sharing. Time's first app debuted in early April. Vanity Fair a Big Winner at Mirror Awards Vanity Fair Vanity Fair took home three of the seven prizes at the Mirror Awards, honoring excellence in media reporting. Michael Wolff, Nancy Jo Sales and Matthew Pressman were saluted at the ceremony held by Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. InTouch Buys Rights to a 'Real Housewife' New York Post Teresa Guidice, one of the stars of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" is selling access to herself to celebrity magazines. She is expected to be in next week's InTouch magazine. But other celebrity titles are annoyed because the Bravo TV star is trying to freeze them out. Modern Luxury Magazine Boss Seeks Return New York Post Michael Kong, who founded Modern Luxury Media in 1993, only to be forced out this February when the regional magazine publisher defaulted on $120 million in debt, is plotting a return. Kong is said to be trying to put together a bid to retake control of the company. Magazine Group Loses Top Marketing Officer Mediaweek Ellen Oppenheim is stepping down as chief marketing officer of Magazine Publishers of America, the U.S. magazine industry's lobbying organization. Oppenheim, who "expressed a desire to tackle new challenges," is the second higher-up to leave the group this year. Newspapers Survive Thanks to Cuts, Niches Economist Newspapers have escaped cataclysm by becoming leaner and more customer-focused, according to The Economist. "Rather than trying to bring the world to as many readers as possible, they are carving out niches." Still, newspapers "face big structural obstacles." Google News Experiments with Human Editors Nieman Journalism Lab Google News is testing a service called Editors' Picks, allowing some users to access content curated by news editors at partner news outlets -- not by the Internet giant's news algorithm. Participants include the Washington Post, Newsday, Reuters and Slate. Mediaweek Editor Burgi Leaves for Canoe TheWrap Mediaweek editor Michael Burgi is leaving the e5 Global Media title after more than 17 years to become VP of communications at Canoe Ventures, the new cable industry advertising consortium. "It was just time for a change. I wasn't fired," he says. Conde Nast, Parade Prep Food Magazine WWD Conde Nast and Parade are developing a new food magazine. "We are in the final stages of going through the process to decide if we will do it," says Parade CEO Jack Haire. Parade is the Sunday newspaper magazine owned by Conde Nast parent Advance Publications. People May Lose Crown to Woman's World Crain's New York Woman's World may score a knockout against longtime champ People magazine in the battle for the title of top selling newsstand weekly for the first half of 2010. Newsstand sales, which have been hurt by the weak economy, are viewed as an indication of a title's vitality. Globe Publishes Coleman Deathbed Photo CNN Supermarket tabloid Globe magazine is publishing a deathbed photo of Gary Coleman on the cover, showing the actor's ex-wife staring into the camera next to the former child star. Globe owner American Media confirms it bought the photo, but declines to disclose the price. Cosmopolitan Revamps UK Edition for 'Fun' Media Week The U.K. edition of Hearst's Cosmopolitan hits the newsstands today with a new design that "reflects the brand values of fun and positivity." The revamp comes as the magazine battles a difficult market. Cosmopolitan U.K.'s circulation is down 4.5% year to year. Glamour Editor Optimistic About iPad App New York Observer Glamour editor Cindi Leive is optimistic about her magazine's forthcoming app for the Apple iPad, following the news that Wired's June issue iPad sales could beat the magazine's newsstand numbers. "This is something that readers are going to be paying attention to." Financial Times Wins iPad Design Award New York Observer The Financial Times is the first news outlet to win a Best iPad App award at the 2010 Apple Design Awards. The honor recognizes the broadsheet's digital pages full of content curated by editors and customized by users -- and the decision to stick with a pink background. Wall St Journal Hit in Massive Web Attack PC World Internet users have been hit by an attack that has compromised thousands of websites, including web pages belonging to the Wall Street Journal and the Jerusalem Post. Hackers have posted code on the affected sites that redirects victims to a malicious server. Boston Globe, Herald to Remove Newsracks Media Matters Boston city officials have asked the Boston Globe, Boston Herald and other newspapers to remove their newsracks from areas of the city that might be the site of rowdy celebrations if the Boston Celtics win the NBA finals. "They get tossed around and things of that nature." Washington Post's Kaplan Starting VC Arm Washington Business The Washington Post Co.'s Kaplan division is looking to invest in companies and new technologies that will make it more of an earnings powerhouse. The education services outfit's new Kaplan VC venture plans to invest in at least a half-dozen companies in the next year. Newsweek: Fred Drasner Joins Sweepstakes New York Post Fred Drasner, a one-time business partner of New York Daily News owner Mort Zuckerman, is said to be in the hunt to buy Newsweek. He currently is a principal backer of the Troy, Mich.-based Vehicle Production Company, which builds handicapped accessible taxi cabs. Reader's Digest to Make Worldwide Job Cuts Mediaweek Fresh from emerging from bankruptcy, Reader's Digest Association is cutting about 10% of headcount worldwide. CEO Mary Berner says the cuts are aimed at ensuring the company's future. Up to 10% of the staff at the Reader's Digest flagship may be impacted. Conde Nast Loses Vogue Staffer to NY Times New York Times Sally Singer, the fashion news and features director at Conde Nast's Vogue, is being named the editor of T: The New York Times Style Magazine. The T job opened up after editor Stefano Tonchi moved to another Conde Nast magazine, W, in April. T comes out 15 times a year. NY Times Demands End to News-Reader App NewsFactor The New York Times wants Apple to remove the Pulse News Reader application from its App Store because it feeds the newspaper's content to the iPad via RSS. Such a move is illegal, according to the Times's legal counsel. The demand is seen by some as "bizarre." Murdoch Taps Rival Newspaper's Tech Boss Press Gazette News International is hiring Telegraph chief information officer Paul Cheesbrough to take on the same role at Rupert Murdoch's U.K. newspaper publishing arm. Also: Murdoch's U.K. Times newspapers are expected to cut 20 jobs to "free up resources for the future." Tribune Faces Criticism for 'Sexist' Poster USA Today The Chicago Tribune on Tuesday printed a poster of Chicago Blackhawks arch-enemy Chris Pronger of the Philadelphia Flyers wearing a dress. "Looks like Tarzan, skates like Jane," the Tribune wrote of "Chrissy" Pronger. Critics call the poster "childish and sexist." Las Vegas Review-Journal Sues Bloggers Los Angeles Times The Stephens Media-owned Las Vegas Review-Journal is filing lawsuits against more than 30 websites and blogs it says used its works without permission. Many media organizations worry that such "filching" costs them substantial online traffic and the ads they can sell with it. Americans Oppose Tax to Save Newspapers WebProNews A U.S. survey by Rasmussen Reports finds that 74% oppose a proposal to tax web sites like Drudge Report to help the newspapers whose headlines they aggregate; 58% are confident that online news outlets will make up the difference if many newspapers go out of business. NY Times: We Won't Block Search Engines Econsultancy The New York Times will not cut off its content from search engines when it introduces paywalls, says chief Arthur Suzlberger Jr. "People will have a chance to go to the site and read a certain number of pages. Free. We also are going to keep the social networks open." Wall St Journal to Add Lifestyle Section Advertising Age The Wall Street Journal is expanding again, this time with an additional weekly section of leisure and lifestyle content that will build out the nearly 5-year-old Saturday edition. Former Domino magazine editor Deborah Needleman is serving as a consultant for the section. Hearst's Helen Thomas to End Career Washington Post Hearst Newspapers journalist Helen Thomas is ending a storied career at the White House dating from the Kennedy era, days after making inflammatory remarks on Israel. The 89-year-old Thomas is retiring as other reporters point out "she's always said crazy stuff." Newsweek's Michael Isikoff Jumps Ship New York Times NBC News is hiring Michael Isikoff away from Newsweek at a time when the Washington Post's newsweekly magazine is up for sale. Isikoff will become the national investigative correspondent for NBC, a position similar to the one he has held at Newsweek since 1994. Newsday Workers Reject Pay-Cut Pact New York Post Newsday's union workers have rejected by more than a 2-to-1 margin a proposed pay pact that would have chopped their wages by at least 5% for the next three years. All unionized workers at Cablevision's Long Island newspaper now are operating without contracts. Honolulu Star-Advertiser Makes Its Debut Associated Press The Star-Advertiser launched Monday as the lone major daily in Honolulu and the largest newspaper in Hawaii. The owner of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin bought the Honolulu Advertiser and merged the two papers. Former Advertiser reporters say they are "grateful." Ziff Davis Acquired by Ex-Time Warner Exec Wall Street Journal Former Time Inc. exec Vivek Shah and private equity firm Great Hill Partners plan to acquire Ziff Davis, which owns the tech website PCMag.com and other e-publications. The purchase price is believed to be less than $150 million. "We see value in the brand," Shah says. Hachette's Elle Taps Microsoft Ad-Sales Boss Crain's New York The line between digital and print media continues to blur: Time Inc. veteran Robin Domeniconi, who has spent the past year-and-a-half as VP of U.S. advertising sales at Microsoft, is joining Elle magazine as chief brand officer. She says her first love is "building brands." Newsweek Bidder Planning Brand Extensions Financial Times Newsweek could be profitable again if it sold premium newsletters and other products, says Christopher Ruddy, the owner of Newsmax, one bidder for the newsweekly. Newsweek, whose site he would not charge for, "would be the perfect vehicle for growing that business model." Conde Nast: Wired Sells 73,000 iPad Apps Crain's New York In the nine days after Wired launched its $4.99 iPad app, the Conde Nast tech title has sold close to 73,000 downloads -- almost as many copies as the magazine sells on the newsstand. Also: Conde Nast's new advertising campaign asks: "Paper or Plastic?" New York Times 'Holding Up' to WSJ Assault Bloomberg The New York Times is holding on to its circulation, says CEO Janet Robinson, as the Wall Street Journal promotes its New York section and cuts advertising rates. "We are definitely not seeing any effect. Are they discounting? Yes, they are, very, very heavily." Hearst Journo Helen Thomas 'Should Be Fired' Fox News Hearst White House columnist Helen Thomas should be fired -- or at least have her press credentials revoked -- for telling a rabbi that Israelis should "get the hell out of Palestine," say former White House spokesmen Ari Fleischer and Lanny Davis. "I find this appalling." Gannett Honolulu Newspaper Sold at Loss Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu Star-Bulletin owner David Black is paying about $125 million to acquire the Honolulu Advertiser -- roughly half of the $250 million that former owner Gannett paid for the newspaper in 1992. The two newspapers will join to become the Star-Advertiser and cut 400 jobs. JPMorgan, Ariel Gain Clout in Newspapers Los Angeles Times Hedge funds and banks are moving into the newspaper business as wealthy family owners and media companies move out. The new, financially focused owners are expected to pursue "value-creating exercises," such as more spinoffs, acquisitions and public offerings. Apple iPad: Publishers See More Ad Money Associated Press Early evidence suggests the Apple iPad is offering print media publishers a new way to get more money from advertisers. "I think it will redefine publishing and also redefine how advertisers connect with our audience," says Lou Cona, an executive VP at Conde Nast. NY Times Adds Top Political Blogger to Site New York Times The New York Times says it will begin hosting the popular political blog FiveThirtyEight and make its founder, Nate Silver, a regular contributor to the newspaper and its Sunday magazine. Silver will retain all rights to the blog and will continue to run it himself. Financial Times iPad App Bests iPhone App Media Week The Financial Times' iPad app has registered three times more downloads in its first two weeks since launch than its iPhone app managed, according to the publisher. The FT has recorded around 130,000 downloads of its iPad app since it became available. Wall St Journal, NY Times in Slogan Fight Wall Street Journal The New York Times sent the Wall Street Journal a cease-and-desist letter demanding that it stop using an advertising slogan for which the Times says it has a trademark pending. The Times says its slogan is identical to the Journal's "NOT Just Wall Street. Every Street." Le Monde for Sale as Circulation Dwindles AFP Le Monde, France's high-brow newspaper of record, vows to remain independent despite imminent plans to sell itself to a new -- and possibly foreign -- owner. Five bidders are said to be interested in taking control of the newspaper currently owned by its journalists. Murdoch's Sun Eyed by Rival UK Publisher BBC News Richard Desmond, owner of the U.K. Daily Express and Daily Star, says he wants to buy Rupert Murdoch's Sun tabloid to add to his titles including the celebrity magazine OK! Desmond says he would run Britain's biggest-selling newspaper in a "more efficient" manner. OK! Magazine Most Expensive Launch Ever New York Post The latest numbers on celebrity glossy OK! magazine appear to leave little doubt that it qualifies as the most expensive magazine launch in the history of American publishing, with total losses in the first four-plus years now totaling a staggering $175.7 million. Hearst's Good Housekeeping Steams Rival New York Post Rachael Ray is said to be upset that Good Housekeeping put her on its July cover without her blessing, using quotes and photo outtakes from old interviews. Ray had refused requests to appear on GH's cover because she already appears on the cover of her own magazine. Architectural Digest Editor Rense to Retire WWD The retirement of Architectural Digest editor Paige Rense Noland, age 81, has been a long time coming, so when the formal announcement was made on Thursday, chatter quickly turned to who will succeed her. Elle Decor editor Margaret Russell is seen as an obvious choice. Moody's: Newspapers' Outlook Uncertain Associated Press Moody's Investors Service expects the newspaper industry's advertising revenues to drop another 5% to 10% this year before potentially edging back in 2011. But the outlook could become negative in 2012 as the snap-back in ad revenue from the economic recovery fades. ProPublica Chief Sees New Journalism Models Dow Jones New models are emerging for journalism, says Paul Steiger, who runs the nonprofit news outlet ProPublica. Companies such as Demand Media and Associated Content are "reordering" journalism with a model in which "there is a tight relationship between revenue and cost." Media's Future: Some Brands Will Survive Forbes Some traditional news media companies will be able to compete with new technological innovations disrupting their industry, say venture capitalists. "With good innovation and leadership, the old brands could transform themselves. It will be the minority, but it's possible." Web Booms in East Europe, But Not News BusinessWeek Internet use and advertising are soaring in Eastern European countries, but online journalism isn't making money. Only one or two established media outlets appear among the 10 most popular websites in the region. Social networks rank far above news sites. Murdoch Offers 'Simple' Content Strategy Los Angeles Times News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch explains in an interview with his Fox Business Network how he plans to get people to pay for content online: "Simple. They've got to sign on. They give you their credit card number. And that's it." Also: Most blogs "are bad and crazy," he adds. BusinessWeek Media Journo Joins Variety Variety Tom Lowry is being named senior editor for Variety, spearheading the publication's coverage of business and finance from its New York bureau. Lowry most recently was senior writer and media editor at BusinessWeek, responsible for its media and entertainment coverage. Hearst Acquires Digital-Marketer iCrossing Wall Street Journal Hearst is said to be finalizing the purchase of digital-marketing firm iCrossing for about $325 million, the latest media company to bulk up on its digital expertise. Hearst believes iCrossing can provide "tutoring" for its magazines, newspapers, television and other businesses. Newsweek Attracts Three Formal Bidders Bloomberg Newsweek is attracting formal bids from OpenGate Capital, Ritchie Capital Management CEO Thane Ritchie and Newsmax Media. Editor Jon Meacham says he is still "exploring options" for the magazine. The Washington Post Co.-owned title has lost $44 million since 2007. Johnson Publishing: No Plans to Sell Ebony Chicago Sun-Times Ebony magazine is naming Amy DuBois Barnett, a former editor at Harper's Bazaar, as its new editor-in-chief. Owner Johnson Publishing says it has no immediate plans to sell Ebony or the company. Earlier talks of a sale to basketball star Magic Johnson fell through. NY Times in Partnership with Non-Profit AOL Daily Finance The New York Times is opening its pages to an outside entity, entering into a news-gathering partnership with the Bay Citizen, a non-profit journalism start-up based in San Francisco. Started just last month, the Bay Citizen will supply content to the Times's new Bay Area section. Washington Post to Bulk Up on Bloggers Editor & Publisher The Washington Post is expanding its local home page and renaming it PostLocal.com, as Allbritton Communications nears the launch of its TBD.com site for the D.C. local community. Like TDB, the Post site is rounding up local bloggers to opine on issues. Washington Times Mulls Going Web-Only Washington Post The Unification Church-backed Washington Times is said to be considering selling the struggling newspaper. Board member Nicholas Chiaia reportedly would prefer to slim down or eliminate the Times's print edition, converting the newspaper to a Web-only news service. Newsweek Bidders Seen as Fairly Limited New York Post The field looks fairly light as the deadline for first-round "letters of interest" comes due today for Newsweek. Industry observers see the potential for strategic buyers as fairly limited. The most likely bidder is what one observer termed a "philanthropic buyer." Elle Magazine Losing Senior U.S. Execs WWD Months after Carol Smith jumped from Elle magazine as chief brand officer, there is no news of who will succeed her and who will step into the secondary position of publisher. Headhunters are going outside publishing to find execs who can expand the magazine's reach. Glamour, Match.com Partner for Service Wall Street Journal Glamour magazine is teaming up with Match.com for the mid-July launch of Glamour Matchmaker, a dating service. The decline of advertising across the magazine industry is "opening the eyes" of Glamour parent Conde Nast to brand extensions, says CEO Chuck Townsend. Forbes CEO Sued for Libel by Kozlowski Reuters Dennis Kozlowski, the imprisoned former chief executive of Tyco International, is suing Steve Forbes and publisher Random House for libel. Kozlowski alleges that "false and defamatory statements" about him were published in Forbes' 2009 book "Power, Ambition, Glory." New Yorker Editor is Pro-Online Paywall Observer New Yorker editor David Remnick, speaking at a breakfast for advertisers, is adamant about the need to pay for online content. "I was going to be damned if I was going to train 18-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 25-year-olds, that this is like water that comes out of the sink." Associated Press Goes Digital in Big Way News & Tech The Associated Press is helping newspapers create locally branded apps for smart phones and the Apple iPad. Additionally, the AP plans to release its news registry service on July 14, allowing newspapers to track where and how their online content is being used. Pitt Buys Film Rights to Newspaper Novel Deadline / Blogcritics Brad Pitt's production outfit is buying the film rights to "The Imperfectionists," a novel by Tom Rachman about an International Herald Tribune-like newspaper. Also: "The future of traditional newspapers is bleak," says Rachman. "I don't work as a reporter anymore." FTC in Effort to Help Newspapers Survive BuzzMachine The Federal Trade Commission is posting a "staff discussion draft" on potential policy recommendations to "support the reinvention of journalism." Among the U.S. agency's ideas: "Additional intellectual property rights to support claims against news aggregators." Murdoch Paywall to 'Trash a Prime Brand' Bloomberg Rupert Murdoch's plan to erect paywalls around his London Times newspapers is destined to "kill off one of the most famous media brands," writes Bloomberg News columnist Matthew Lynn. "It's too late to start charging for newspapers online now. The content isn’t good enough." Adobe to Help Digitize Print Magazines ITP Adobe is unveiling a digital viewer technology that enables print publishers to create digital versions of their magazines. The publishing software was developed with input from Conde Nast's Wired magazine, which recently launched a digital edition for the Apple iPad. Bonnier, Time Inc Eye iPad Subscriptions Ad Age Magazines are poised to start offering subscriptions to their iPad editions no later than June, when Bonnier will introduce subscription sales for the iPad iteration of Popular Science. Time Inc. CEO Anne Moore said last week that Time magazine iPad subscriptions are "coming soon." Time Inc's StyleFeeder Powers Online Store Mediaweek InStyle magazine plans to launch a five-week online store to complement its product-packed September fall fashion issue. The InStyle Boutique will be powered by StyleFeeder, an online product recommendation service, which InStyle owner Time Inc. bought earlier this year. Lagardere Aims to Become Sports Giant Bloomberg Lagardere, the Paris-based owner of Elle magazine, is unveiling a sports division intended to move the publisher toward becoming a larger player in sports rights, marketing and athlete representation. "The first ambition is to become the world leader in the sports market." Newsweek Sale Attracts Possible Bidders Wall Street Journal OpenGate Capital, the investment firm that owns TV Guide, plans to formally declare its interest in acquiring Newsweek before Wednesday's deadline for nonbinding bids. Also, Christopher Ruddy, publisher of the conservative magazine Newsmax, says he plans to bid. Field & Stream Blog to Become TV Show New York Times Field & Stream's July issue includes a pull-out shooting target, as part of a promotion for the Bonnier magazine's new Outdoor Channel TV show that is based on Gun Nuts, the most popular blog on its website. Shooting the magazine "is something you cannot do with an iPad." AARP The Magazine: Digital, Not 'Retired' Mediaweek In its effort to court baby boomers, AARP is dropping the word "retired" from its name, launching an iPad app, and rolling out digital versions of AARP The Magazine. A newly redesigned AARP.org is adding channels for tech, personal growth, and sex and relationships. Time Warner Says No Time Inc Sale This Year Dow Jones Time Warner is ruling out a sale of the company's magazine unit, Time Inc., in 2010 as the recovering economy promises to provide clues about the future of the business. When asked about the prospect of a Time Inc. sale, CEO Jeff Bewkes says: "Not this year." Media Devices Eyed to Help Rescue Industry IDG News "Old media" seeing their revenue imperiled by the Internet's freewheeling ways are finding hope in the Apple iPad and other new media-friendly devices. The iPad may be the first of "tens of millions" portable media-consumption devices due out in the coming years. Time Inc. Dives Deeper Into iPad Revolution Mediaweek Time Inc. plans to develop iPad apps for seven more of its brands this year, including a series of paid apps from Real Simple. CEO Ann Moore spares no enthusiasm for the iPad and the anticipated wave of other e-readers, pronouncing them a "game changer" for magazines. New York Magazine Debuts Free Android App MediaPost Nymag.com, the Web version of New York magazine, is getting a new home on the Android platform. Because the free app loads complete blog posts and not just headlines, people can catch up with them when they're on the subway or anywhere else mobile service isn't available. Newsweek Eyed by TV Guide Owner Open Gate NY Post The who-will-buy-Newsweek guessing game has a new entrant: TV Guide owner Open Gate Capital. When asked if Open Gate is eyeing the newsweekly, principal Andrew Nikou says: "We definitely are." He adds that the title's profitability is "probably two or three years away." Playboy Venture Preps Gambling Club in Macau MarketWatch Playboy Enterprises says it will launch two entertainment and gambling facilities in Macau, under a joint licensing agreement with the Las Vegas Sands, giving the brand a stake in the world's biggest gambling hub. Plans are to open a Playboy-inspired club by year-end. Conde Nast's Details Cuts Back on Milan Party WWD Details magazine is canceling its annual bash at the Bulgari Hotel in Milan during Men's Fashion Week in favor of something "not as over-the-top." A spokeswoman denies cost cutting as a factor in the decision, despite a 24.5% decline in Details' advertising pages this year. London Times Unveils Subscription App Times On the heels of the new thetimes.co.uk comes the latest edition of Rupert Murdoch's Times of London: a new iPad subscription app. The Times's app vows to deliver "spectacular" interactive graphics, pictures and video. The iPad may "change journalism," the Times adds. U.S. Newspaper Online-Ad Sales See Increase Bloomberg U.S. newspaper publishers in the first quarter reported their first gain in online advertising sales since the same period in 2008, helping offset a continued decline in more lucrative print ads. The Newspaper Association of America says it is "encouraged" by the improvement. Craigslist Asked to Delete Adult Service Ads SF Chronicle Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) is asking Craigslist to take down its adult services section, which critics say is used to advertise sex with underage girls. She says she wants the House Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing probing how sites like Craigslist "facilitate criminal activity." WaPo Reporters Ditch Gadgets in Experiment WaPo In an experiment, eight Washington Post reporters attempted to go without BlackBerrys, phones, Twitter and Facebook for a week. "I cheated just about every day," says staff writer Brigid Schulte. "I just couldn't stop myself. The Internet feeds my worst instincts." Newsweek Website Now More 'Like a Blog' Newsweek The newly "reconceived" Newsweek.com is "built for people who seek context and clarity in an information landscape cluttered with headlines," according to digital editor Mark Miller. The daily updated content on its home page streams downward, "almost like a blog." Forbes Set for Layoffs Under New Leader WWD True/Slant founder Lewis Dvorkin doesn't assume responsibility for Forbes' editorial until Tuesday, but insiders say is already eyeing the masthead. "He's going to be ruthless about the cuts." But a Forbes spokeswoman says: "There has been no talk of layoffs." E5 Names Min to Edit Hollywood Reporter TheWrap E5 Global Media is naming Janice Min, the former high-profile editor of Us Weekly, as editorial director of The Hollywood Reporter. Min says she does not plan to shift THR's coverage to a more consumer-oriented read. "The key audience is still the industry influencers." Atlantic Media Halts Work on Business Site DailyFinance Atlantic Media's plan to start a business-news website is being postponed indefinitely and the editor heading up the project is leaving the company. Atlantic chief Justin Smith says the project is on the backburner as managers focus on the National Journal's relaunch. Rodale Magazines to Power New MSN Site Folio Rodale is entering a partnership with MSN to repurpose its magazine content for a MSN-branded health and wellness website, due this fall. The site will offer original content as well as material from Men's Health, Women's Health, Prevention, Runner’s World and Bicycling. News Corp Ownership Helps Boost WSJ E&P Readership of the Wall Street Journal is up 20% since News Corp. acquired the paper in 2007, according to a study by the Media Audit. The gain is attributed to the Journal's increase in coverage of politics and general news. Also, the Journal attracts "opinion leaders." NY Daily News: 30 Staffers Accept Buyout Observer About 30 employees of the New York Daily News are accepting Mort Zuckerman's latest buyout offer. The newspaper will be left with fewer than 300 editorial staff members after Friday. Staffers have been told that the next round of buyouts will offer half as much severance. SF Bay Citizen News Website Launches SF Business The Bay Citizen, a nonprofit online news outlet based in San Francisco, is launching with a staff of 25, and says it raised $3.7 million in new funding from a variety of individuals and foundations. The site features original local news reporting as well as "citizen blogs." Forbes Set for Re-do With True/Slant Buy NY Post Forbes plans to shake up its format by naming Lewis Dvorkin chief product officer and acquiring his Web-based news platform, True/Slant. Dvorkin says he will "open up Forbes to all kinds of content creators." Putting a social media experience on Forbes will be "key." Fortune Ex-Staffers to Enter Tech Media Folio Former Fortune magazine editors and writers David Kirkpatrick, Peter Petre and Brent Schlender are banding together to form Techonomy, a new media business they say aims to convince leaders from all sectors that tech and social invention is central for organizations. Conde Nast: Wired iPad Issue to Cost $5 AP Wired is launching an app for the Apple iPad as the first Conde Nast magazine to undergo a top-to-bottom re-imagining for the new format. Wired built the issue at the same time it put the physical edition together. The digital Wired will cost $4.99 -- the same as the print edition. New Yorker Eyes Multi-Platform Pricing Ad Age The New Yorker magazine wants to let readers pay once for digital access across the iPad, the Kindle and other platforms, hoping to improve on the current industry practice of charging for each edition on each device. "This is going to evolve," says editor David Remnick. Hearst Newspapers Hires Demand Media BNET Demand Media, the so-called "content mill," is partnering with Hearst to produce content for websites run by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Houston Chronicle. The move expands Demand's reach beyond its recent deal with Gannett to provide travel tips for USAToday.com. Tribune Seeks More Bonuses for Execs Chicago Tribune Tribune plans to pay 35 top execs an additional $14.9 million in 2009 bonuses, despite opposition. Tribune says the bonuses are rewards for the execs steering the company through bankruptcy court while generating total operating cash flow of $494 million in 2009. Orange County Local News Site Shutters Orange County Business The online Orange County Local News Network, which wrote and aggregated news from other newspapers, is shutting down. The news startup partnered in January with the Los Angeles Times Media Group to provide news and ads. The reason for the shutdown is unclear. London Times May Lose Most Web Readers Financial Times News Corp.'s London Times and Sunday Times could lose more than 90% of their online audience when they introduce charges to read their websites next month, according to research by the media law firm Wiggin. More people said they would rather pay for BBC online news. Bloomberg Talks of New Media Realities WWD New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, speaking at a TechCrunch gathering, says he is a "big fan" of media. "The problem is not whether distribution should be via a big truck or fiber. The question is: Is it something you need?" Some magazines are no longer "germane." NY Times Plans Blogger-Friendly Paywall AllThingsD The New York Times's forthcoming "metered model" paywall will allow online visitors to read a certain number of articles per month for free. Blog links to the site won't count against readers limits, the Times says. NYTimes.com will "continue being a part of the open web." Murdoch Tabloid Exposes Fergie Royal Scam News of World In an undercover sting, Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid News of the World caught Sarah Ferguson trying to sell "access" to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, for more than $700,000. The Duchess of York later issued an apology for her "serious lapse in judgment." Newspapers' Website Traffic Seen Increasing Mediaweek Newspapers may be struggling with how to monetize their online versions, but they are doing just fine with increasing web traffic. The number of unique visitors to newspaper Web sites in the top 25 markets grew 10 percent from March to April reaching 83.7 million. Publish2 Aims to "Disrupt" Associated Press TechCrunch Publish2, an online news curation startup, is launching a product dubbed Publish2 News Exchange, with the ambitious goal of "disrupting" the Associated Press. Publish2's platform plans to let news outlets tap the vast amount of content already available for free online. Conde Nast's Vanity Fair Angers Soccer Star NY Post Cristiano Ronaldo, the world's highest-paid soccer star, is said to be fuming that Vanity Fair put him on the cover in tight underpants with rival player Didier Drogba. Team Real Madrid player Ronaldo "didn't envisage sharing the cover with another player photographed in Milan." Hearst 'In the Black' Except With Digital Crain's NY Hearst Magazines boss Cathie Black is seen as a trailblazer for growing advertising in a recession. However, Hearst "could take more of a leadership role" online, say ad industry execs. The company "needs to do something" like Conde Nast's pro-active iPad approach. Conde Nast Gets Thanks from Yahoo Editor min Brandon Holley, a former editor in chief of Conde Nast's now-defunct Jane magazine, credits Conde Nast editorial director Tom Wallace for helping her find her current post running Yahoo's Shine site for women. "Thanks to him, I am in the midst of an exciting stage in my career." Meredith: E-Readers May Save Us Money MediaPost Stephen Lacy, CEO of Ladies' Home Journal and Family Circle publisher Meredith, sees potential cost savings from the new e-reading devices. Audience migration to e-readers could cut paper and printing costs, which would "really be meaningful from a financial point of view." Economist Sits Out Global Launch of iPad Financial Times European publications such as the Economist, the Guardian and the Daily Mail will not have apps prepared for Apple's international launch of the iPad this week. The mixed U.S. media response to the first iPad apps is making some foreign publishers more cautious. TV Guide Mag Returning to TVGuide.com Ad Age TV Guide magazine is entering a deal to restore its content to TVGuide.com, a property that has operated under a different owner since Macrovision sold the TV Guide brand in two pieces. The deal will add print subscription offers to TVGuide.com and calls for cross-promotion. American Media's Shape Attracts Scrutiny Mediaweek The May issue of American Media's Shape magazine features Ellen DeGeneres on the cover as well as in ads for Vitaminwater, which immediately follow the cover and flank the cover story. The ad placement is drawing criticism from the American Society of Magazine Editors. Gannett, McClatchy Sell Web Search Help Search Engine Land Gannett and McClatchy are launching initiatives to sell services, including search engine optimization and local search marketing, to local businesses. The new Gannett Local service vows to help small businesses get "great placement on Google, Yahoo and Bing." NY Daily News Gossip Columnist May Exit MediaPost "Page Six" may get less competition: George Rush, the long-time gossip columnist at the New York Daily News and half of the "Rush & Molloy" team, is said to have applied to take a buyout from the newspaper. About 25 people are believed to have applied for buyouts. News Sites Fight to Live On Their Merits NY Times MinnPost, Texas Tribune, Bay Citizen and other regional online-only news outlets are trying to use the cost advantages of digital news -- no presses, no trucks -- to overcome other fundamental challenges. But for the time being, foundations "have filled a large gap." MediaFail: New Site for Media Complaints NY Times The activist group Free Press is opening a Digg-like website called MediaFail, highlighting user-contributed examples of the "media behaving badly." Users can add links to articles and leave comments. Several of the most-cited articles involve Fox News Channel. Murdoch Son Slams Google Over Internet Evening Standard Google recognizes it has not done enough to help media owners and publishers protect their intellectual property, says News Corp. exec James Murdoch, responding to news that his company has been in talks with the Internet giant. Google's "approach needs to change." Tribune Faces Hurdles to Exit Bankruptcy Chicago Tribune Tribune still faces significant hurdles in its efforts to exit bankruptcy. A Delaware bankruptcy judge is refusing a request by dissident creditors to delay voting on a proposed reorganization plan until an independent examiner can submit his report in mid-July. Gannett Launches Local Marketing Outfit Burlington Free Press Brad Robertson, publisher of Gannett's Burlington Free Press newspaper, is being named president of Gannett Local, a new operation providing small- and medium-sized businesses with multiplatform local marketing efforts, including e-mail, digital display and websites. Murdoch Tabloid to Release Promo Single Media Week Rupert Murdoch's the Sun is enlisting the vocal talents of soccer columnist Terry Venables to help promote the U.K. tabloid's coverage of this summer's World Cup. Venables will perform a cover of the Elvis Presley song "If I Can Dream" for downloading as a charity single. Philadelphia Inquirer Joins 3D Media Trend Wall St Journal The Philadelphia Inquirer will publish part of its newspaper in 3D next month, showing off photos and 3D ads, including one from Best Buy. The technology also will be available on Philly.com. Britian's the Sun is set to publish a 3D edition in June, ahead of the World Cup. Conde Nast Nabs 'Top Model' from Hearst WWD After four years together, Seventeen magazine is breaking up with "America's Next Top Model." "We both thought it was time to see other people," says editor Ann Shoket. It is unclear if new judge Andre Leon Talley had something to do with the shift to Italian Vogue. Hearst Magazine Guest Edited by Actress Media Week Actress Elizabeth Hurley will be guest editor of the June issue of Zest, the Hearst British lifestyle monthly. It will also feature Hurley, whom Zest hails as "the ultimate bikini icon for real women," as the cover model to support the magazine's focus on summer "bikini season." Craigslist Ad Claims Underage Sex for Sale SF Chronicle A half-page ad addressed to Craigslist founder Craig Newmark in the San Francisco Chronicle calls for Craigslist to discontinue its adult services section, calling it "the choice of traffickers" in sex with underage girls. The ads are estimated to generate $36 million a year. Scripps to Kick Off Spelling Bee Next Month Business Courier The annual Scripps National Spelling Bee will begin June 2, with ABC televising the prime-time championship round. The ABC telecast will be anchored by Chris Harrison, host of "The Bachelor," and sportscaster Erin Andrews. ESPN and ESPN3 will also air coverage. NY Times Top Editor in Digital Experiment NY Times Jill Abramson, managing editor for news at the New York Times, will step aside for six months to focus on digital operations and strategy."It's a radical idea," says executive editor Bill Keller, who insists that the move does not contain any hidden meaning. "It's an experiment." NY Daily News Mulls Move to Lower Manhattan Daily Finance Like Conde Nast, Mort Zuckerman, owner of the New York Daily News, is in talks about moving operations to lower Manhattan. "We're undecided," says a Daily News exec. New space might allow needed room should Zuckerman buy Newsweek, as he is reportedly considering. Sports Illustrated App Runs Within Browsers AdAge A new app version of Sports Illustrated's print edition will run not just on tablet computers like the Apple iPad but within web browsers as well. A web-based app signals one way magazines might escape the demands that Apple makes on anyone who sells through its app store. Hollywood Reporter Taps LA Times Exec H'wood Reporter Michaela Apruzzese is being named associate publisher, entertainment, of the Hollywood Reporter and will oversee entertainment industry advertising across the brand's platforms. Apruzzese now serves as head of movie advertising for Los Angeles Times Media Group. Craigslist: No Change After 'Craigslist Killer' MyFoxMaine One year after aspiring model Julissa Brisman was murdered in a Boston hotel, allegedly by a man who found her ad for an adult massage on Craigslist, little has changed about the classifieds site's listing practices for such services despite a promise to "clean up its act." Perez Hilton Gets $20M Acquisition Offer Gawker Avid Life Media, the owner of websites including HotorNot.com, is said to be partnering with gossip bloggers Zack Taylor and Nik Richie in a $20 million bid to acquire PerezHilton.com. The role of Perez Hilton himself after the buy is unclear. The offer could be simply "a PR stunt." HuffPost Founder Sees 'Monetizeable Free' Nieman Lab Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington says she sees a broader narrative of convergence, where "legacy media" and the startups are moving in similar directions. She adds that "the culture of free" is "monetizable free." "It's about the link economy, it's not about paywalls." Murdoch Lacks Allies for Digital Crusade AllThingsD Rupert Murdoch is due to announce details of a long-planned digital news subscription service within the next few weeks. However, News Corp. reportedly has yet to sign any external partners on to the venture. Still, the company is said to be in "late stage" talks with Gannett. News Corp: No Plan B for Online Paywalls Media Week News Corp.'s British newspaper publishing arm is "going full out" to make its coming online subscription paywalls work at the Times, says Sunday Times editor John Witherow. The company does not have a plan B if it does not, he adds. Relying solely on online ads would be "perilous." Google Looks to Make Peace With Murdoch Financial Times Google is having talks with Rupert Murdoch and other newspaper owners about helping run their online subscription services, says CEO Eric Schmidt. The talks may suggest a thawing of hostilities. "Google will not get into the content business, but we can build tools for it." HuffPost 'Worth More' Than NY Times Business Insider In another five years, The Huffington Post will likely have blown past the likes of the New York Times and CNN to become the largest independent news site in the world, according to an analysis by Henry Blodget. HuffPost "will be worth more than the New York Times." Conde Nast Clarifies GQ App Downloads PadGadget Sales of GQ magazine's apps might be higher than first reported. Conde Nast says there have been 57,000 downloads of their GQ app for the iPhone and iPad since last December. An earlier report said 365 people had bought GQ's December 2009 issue iPad app. Newsweek: Zuckerman Considers a Bid NY Post Mort Zuckerman, owner of the New York Daily News and U.S. News & World Report, is said to be mulling a bid for Newsweek, believing he could extract savings from the newsweekly if he combined it with his U.S. News. The first-round bid deadline is less than two weeks away. Discover Mag Lures More Than 10 Bids Folio First-round offers for Discover magazine are in and, according to CEO Henry Donahue, have come from bidders numbering in the "low double-digits." A deal could come by the end of the summer. It is still uncertain whether the deal will be an outright sale or an investment. Brown Publishing Proposes Sale to Execs Business Courier Brown Publishing, a Cincinnati-based chain of small-town newspapers and business weeklies, is proposing to a bankruptcy court that its assets be sold to a recently formed company owned by its CEO Roy Brown, general counsel Joel Dempsey and CFO Joseph Ellingham. Murdoch's Ideas 'Welcome' at White House Politico Even as the White House waged war on Fox News last fall, chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is said to have kept a backchannel open to News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch, telling him the White House "welcomed his ideas." The goal: To maintain warm relations with the Wall Street Journal. WSJ Reporter Pearl Honored in U.S. Law NY Daily News President Obama signed the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act on Monday, with the family of the slain Wall Street Journal reporter attending the Oval Office event. The law requires the State Department to list the nations and governments who threaten press freedoms. Time Inc's InStyle Bests Vogue in Ad Pages NY Post Fashion magazines have a new "it" title. Time Inc.'s InStyle has won the ad-page war, beating Conde Nast's Vogue in the closely watched race that often serves as a bellwether for the broader magazine industry. Unlike Vogue, InStyle caters to more mass-market advertisers. Hearst Cuts Frequency of Harper's Bazaar WWD Ad pages at Harper's Bazaar may have been up in the first half, but editor in chief Glenda Bailey and publisher Valerie Salembier are still looking for ways to cut costs: The Hearst fashion magazine is combining the June and July issues this year for the first time. Chicago Sun-Times' Ebert Gets Book Deal Chicago Tribune Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert has a deal to write his memoir with Hachette's Grand Central Publishing. The book, due out in fall 2011, will cover his battle with thyroid cancer and his friendship with Gene Siskel, his "At the Movies" co-host who died in 1999. Star Tribune Ups Metro Single-Copy Price Minneapolis Business The Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis is increasing its single-copy price to 75 cents per day, up from 50 cents per day in the metro area. "The model is changing," a spokesman says, "largely due to the growth of the Internet and a lingering advertising recession." Financial Times Launches Free iPad App Press Gazette The Financial Times is launching a free Apple iPad app to provide access to video, markets data, news and analysis. The new app integrates with the FT.com limited access model, giving unregistered users access to a limited number of articles each month. Online News: Trust Rising Among Users Financial Times British web surfers now trust online news sources more than television and newspapers, according to a survey by Ofcom, the U.K. media regulator. Social networks may have helped boost online sources' reputations. Newspapers are deemed "least trustworthy." Conde Nast: GQ iPad Presence Earns $1,091 MIN As of last week, 365 people have bought GQ's December 2009 Men of the Year issue edition on the Apple iPad, according to publisher Pete Hunsinger. The $2.99 price is less than the $4.99 charge on the newsstand. "This costs us nothing extra: no printing or postage." Murdoch's London Times to Cut 50 Jobs Times The Times of London, which soon will add an online paywall, plans to cut its editorial budget by about 10% in an attempt to put the newspaper on more solid footing. About 50 staffers will leave, a move intended to "free up resources for investment in digital journalism." NY Times: Online Pay Model Will Affect Few Media Matters Most readers of the New York Times's website will likely never have to pay for access under the new pay model set to launch next January, says executive editor Bill Keller. Those who arrive mainly via search engines or blog links "may never be asked to pay at all." FT Aims to Benefit from WSJ-NYT News War Daily Beast The Financial Times is welcoming Gillian Tett as its new U.S. managing editor. The FT may have an opportunity to prosper by staying true to its core competency of financial news while the Wall Street Journal pursues a general-interest news war with the New York Times. Washington Post: We Will Survive the Web WaPo Despite a sharp drop in circulation, the Washington Post isn't going to vanish, writes ombudsman Andrew Alexander. "Combined print and online readership has never been higher." Also, most newspapers "can remain profitable by operating on a shoestring if need be." Tribune Names Head for Interactive, Publishing E&P Tribune is naming company exec Don Meek executive VP/chief revenue officer for its interactive and publishing divisions. In his new capacity, Meek will be responsible for developing and implementing sales strategies for the company's interactive and publishing divisions. Philly Newspapers Boss Announces Exit Plan Philly Business Brian Tierney will cease being CEO of the owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News on May 21, according to an e-mail distributed to employees. Tierney will be publisher until the sale is completed to its senior lenders, and then will become a consultant. Time Mag's Survival Strategy, Will it Work? Mediaweek While Newsweek flounders and is up for sale, Time says its situation is much different, The magazine changed its focus to breaking news online and is "solidly profitable," says managing editor Rick Stengel. Yet questions persist about the future of the newsweekly format. Time Mag Opens News Aggregation Site Time News Corp. may have a problem with online news aggregation, but Time Warner apparently doesn't. The media giant's Time magazine is launching NewsFeed, a website that aims to put "breaking news into perspective." The site intends to make news "easy to share." Magazines: Monthlies' Ad Pages Are Up MIN As the economy improves, the ad-page hemorrhaging at most U.S. monthly consumer magazines appears to have stopped. The uptick -- +7.34% for June and +4.67% in the second quarter -- remains modest. Elle Decor and Playboy are among the titles showing the biggest gains. Wenner Son Finds Work at Rolling Stone WWD Chalk it up to nepotism or just good genes, but aspiring photographer Theo Wenner, son of Wenner Media boss Jann, is getting a lot of work from Rolling Stone. In recent months, the 23-year-old has photographed Ke$ha, MGMT and Corinne Bailey Rae for the biweekly. Old Media Entering Deals With Foursquare Mediaweek The Wall Street Journal, CBSNews.com and Time Out New York are among the growing number of media outlets entering partnerships with Foursquare, the location-based social network. Foursquare is seen as "a major place where people will consume actionable content." Conde Nast Eyes HQ Move, Pension Freeze NYT / NYP Conde Nast is in talks about moving to 1 World Trade Center, the signature skyscraper under construction at ground zero. The move is not certain; the publisher has been looking for a new home for some time. Also: Conde Nast plans to freeze employee pensions on July 1. NY Times to Begin Web Charges in January Wall St Journal The New York Times will begin charging for access to articles on its website in January, says executive editor Bill Keller. The newspaper unveiled a plan early this year to begin charging for access to its online edition; Keller's comments help pinpoint the timing of the plan. Wall St Journal Shows Commitment to Color News & Tech Dow Jones & Co. is hiring newspaper press manufacturer Manroland to supply towers that will be installed at U.S. locations now producing the Wall Street Journal, Barron's and other company publications. The towers will give Dow Jones additional color capacity. Washington Post Adds State-Focused Blogs Mediaweek The Washington Post is rolling out a network of blogs focused on state politics. Post staffers plan to highlight top stories from the blogs on a daily basis, and individual bloggers will be asked to provide coverage and analysis for the recently launched PostPolitics.com. Honolulu Star-Advertiser to Cut 400 Jobs KITV4 The merged Honolulu Star-Advertiser debuts June 7, with nearly 400 people losing their jobs in the process. The Star-Bulletin, which bought the Advertiser from Gannett, expects to hire only about half of the Advertiser's 580 employees. Plus, 100 staffers will be laid off. Gannett to Combine Digital Ad Operations ClickZ Gannett's social media monitoring service, Ripple6, is to be swallowed by corporate sibling PointRoll and will henceforth operate as PointRoll's social division. "This is a full sales leadership integration." PointRoll has become a central hub for Gannett's digital media service offerings. Tribune Bankruptcy Exit Faces Roadblocks Chicago Tribune Objections to Tribune's Chapter 11 disclosure statement are flooding into court, complicating company efforts to win a judge's approval of the document at a key hearing next week. A group of senior creditors is angry over its treatment in Tribune's reorganization plan. Scripps Shareholder Seeks Company 'Peanuts' Business Courier Scripps will consider a one-time distribution of proceeds to shareholders from the sale of its United Media Licensing business, which owns the rights to "Peanuts," for $175 million. "That money's sitting there," one shareholder says. "Why not return it to shareholders?" Time Warner CEO Sidesteps Magazine Talk CNBC Advertising is on the upswing for Time Warner's television and magazine businesses, says CEO Jeff Bewkes. While sidestepping the question of whether Time Warner would sell off its magazines, Bewkes talks up the division's strengths. Time on the iPad "comes to life." Murdoch's Times Cuts Jobs Amid Site Redo Guardian / Independent The U.K. Sunday Times is expected to cut its editorial budget, leading to between 20 and 30 job losses, with "structural changes to the product" under consideration. Also: The Times's websites, revamped for the paywall, will be "highly visual" with more video and audio. FT Unveils iPad App, New Audience Metric MW / BtoB The Financial Times is releasing details and a video demo of its iPad app, which takes its navigational lead from FT.com rather than the print edition. Also: The FT's new audience metric tabulates the number of people who read the newspaper both online and in print. Tribune: No Sun Tomorrow for 'Annie' Comic Chicago Tribune Little Orphan Annie has run into adversity not even she could overcome -- the changing media landscape. After more than 85 years, "Annie" will no longer appear as a comic strip in daily newspapers. Owner Tribune Media Services says the character will continue to be licensed. Journal Register to Pursue 'Digital First' E&P Journal Register is appointing three top execs to newly created sales and editorial positions, emphasizing a new digital-first approach. The newspaper publisher "has adopted a strategy of digital first," says CEO John Paton. The focus will be on "digital rather than print." Hachette's Elle Magazine Seen in Disarray WWD Lots of changes are going on at Elle magazine. On the heels of the exits of senior execs Carol Smith and Brent Allen, the Hachette title is losing managing editor Sara Culley. All of this comes at a sensitive moment for Elle, which is operating without a permanent publisher. Newsweek: Gay Group Demands Apology AP The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is demanding an apology from Newsweek for a story that the organization says suggested gay actors can't play straight characters. GLAAD says the magazine has not offered the apology sought by the group. Time Inc Sells Subscriptions on Facebook AdAge Synapse, a Time Inc. division that sells subscriptions for publishers, is collaborating with Alvenda, a firm that builds e-commerce applications, to introduce a system letting Facebook users buy print magazine subscriptions without leaving the site or even the Facebook news feed. 'Craigslist TV' Shows How People Use Site Reuters A new online documentary series chronicles how people use Craigslist to find love and employment. The first three videos clips, produced by Brownstone Entertainment, are available on both Craigslist and YouTube. Craigslist remains the largest U.S. classifieds site. Online News Startups Put Price on Words NYT Magazine Many online news publications find that their business requires alternate schemes of support. The Daily Beast is backed by billionaire Barry Diller; Politico makes most of its revenue from an offshoot newspaper. The Faster Times lets readers "sponsor" a favorite writer. Gannett: JPMorgan Is Largest Shareholder NY Post JPMorgan Chase is adding USA Today publisher Gannett to its growing media portfolio that generates $5.4 billion in revenue -- more than that of Time Inc. The bank's media holdings are growing as it assumed control of various media companies over loans it made to them. NY Daily News Offers Voluntary Buyouts NY Post New York Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman is said to be looking to trim the ranks of the newspaper's editorial department. Voluntary buyouts, offering two weeks' pay for each year of service, are going out to employees ahead of possible involuntary layoffs. Global Newspaper Conference Is Cancelled Press Gazette The World Newspaper Congress, the international newspaper industry's largest annual conference, is being called off, hitting trouble for the second year running after organizers could not secure funds for the event to take place. The event was scheduled next month in Lebanon. Reuters, Politico Owner Circling Newsweek Observer / WWD Thomson Reuters and Politico owner Allbritton Communications are said to be kicking the tires at Newsweek, which is up for sale. Newsweek editor Jon Meacham is also trying to pull together a bid with investors. Also: Meacham is lunching with Steven Rattner. Time Warner Supports Ending Saturday Mail Bloomberg Time Warner says it supports the U.S. Postal Service’s proposal to eliminate Saturday mail delivery to save money. A "healthy" service is needed to deliver the company's more than 20 magazines, although Time magazine would have to shift its production schedule. Time's New Publisher Gets Web Oversight Mediaweek Time magazine is naming Brendan Ripp as its new publisher, filling a post held by Mark Ford, president and publisher of the News Group. Ripp was VP of sales for Time magazine. In his new role, he will add oversight for digital sales for Time.com and Life.com. Conde Nast Launches Vanity Fair iPad App NY Times The app for Vanity Fair's June issue, available at the iTunes store starting Wednesday, will cost $4.99, the same price as a print Vanity Fair. Subsequent copies will cost $3.99. It is part of a research push at Conde Nast, where the company is figuring out what works on the iPad. Magazine Subscribers Say They Prefer Print Mediaweek Amid print media's many struggles, polling by the Chief Marketing Officer Council finds people who subscribe to magazines are loyal to the medium, and in no hurry to migrate to online versions. Also, many of these people say magazine ads lead them to advertisers' Web sites. NYC Media Landscape Gets Radical Redesign Wall St Journal The New York media map is being redrawn as fallout from the advertising downturn has caused numerous publications, such as Newsweek and BusinessWeek, to change their office addresses. The Economist is now sharing a building with Reader's Digest. Canwest Newspapers Sold for $1.1 Billion Toronto Star Canada's largest chain of newspapers is accepting an offer from its creditors for $1.1 billion, in a deal that preserves Canwest intact with National Post president Paul Godfrey at its helm. The sale means the Asper family has lost control of the company it founded. Hearst Subscription Facility Cuts 270 Jobs Des Moines Register Hearst's CDS Global, a Des Moines-based processing center for magazine subscriptions, is shuttering a regional facility and laying off about 270 workers, citing "technological change." Forty of the company's magazine clients went out of business over the past year. Conde Nast's Domino Is 'Most Missed' Mag MIN Domino, the style and decor title that shut down more than a year ago, is the "most missed" magazine, according to an online poll. With 1,238 votes across 10 choices, a third of respondents most missed the Conde Nast title. Conde Nast declines to comment. Forbes to Offer Reputation Tracker Ad Tool Nieman Forbes is offering a "reputation tracker," giving companies an understanding of how their corporate image is perceived by both the general public and by the magazine's readers. The tracker will test how that reputation changes after an ad campaign runs in Forbes. Johnson Publishing's Jet Site Takes Off MIN Johnson Publishing is making good on its promise to relaunch Jet magazine both in print and online. Months after the redesign of the print monthly, the publisher is unveiling MyJet247.com, offering original content and aggregated material for African American audiences. Dazed & Confused, Vice 'Censor' for iPad Shiny Shiny Magazines launching iPad editions may have to "censor" themselves to make into Apple's app store. Edgier fashion titles like Dazed & Confused and Vice could cut back on nudity in fashion shoots. Dazed & Confused staffers describe their iPad edition as the "Iran edition." Playboy to Publish 3-D Centerfold in June AP Playboy magazine's June edition hits newsstands Friday equipped with 3-D glasses. "What would people most like to see in 3-D?" asks founder Hugh Hefner. "Probably a naked lady." He adds: "This picture is one example of how magazines are different" than computer images. Scripps: TV Is Up as Newspapers Drag RBR Scripps is reporting revenue gains at its television stations while its newspapers continue to see declines. However, "in both television and newspapers, exclusive revenue from Internet and other digital platforms is growing rapidly," says CEO Rich Boehne. Google at Work to Help Save News Business Atlantic Google engineers and strategists are working on initiatives to help save the news industry, writes James Fallows. The goal is a "reinvented business model." While paywalls are likely to "come in a wide variety," Google is aware of the problem of "the disruption still ahead." Wall St Journal Breaks News via Foursquare Observer When Times Square was evacuated last week on reports of a suspicious package, the Wall Street Journal "checked in" to the area on Foursquare with a news alert. The move marks the first time the newspaper used the location-based social network to break news. Philly Newspapers Letter Warns of Layoffs Inquirer A week after the sale of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, staffers are receiving a letter warning of possible layoffs. The new owners insist that the note is merely a federal requirement, but exiting CEO Brian Tierney says: "People are savvy enough to figure out what it means." Time Inc Promises to Make Its Ads Deliver AdAge Time Inc. and Starcom MediaVest are collaborating to develop promises that certain numbers of people will remember advertising or take action on them. If a participating marketer's campaign doesn't achieve the promised result, Time Inc. will run free ads until it does. Newsweek May See Few Potential Bidders Yahoo News Rupert Murdoch, Philip Anschutz and Carlos Slim say they have no plans to bid on the money-losing Newsweek, which is up for sale. Also: Editor Jon Meacham insists: "There is a place for Newsweek in some form." Newsweek is "still a business." Oprah Enlightens 5,300 Fans at Radio City NY Daily News Oprah Winfrey celebrated the 10th anniversary of her O, the Oprah magazine by taping her television show Friday at Radio City Music Hall. Nearly 5,300 people lined up outside Radio City for the show. "She's one of the only people in TV trying to enlighten the world," says one fan. HuffPost Eyes Profit Goals, New Sections Mediaweek The Huffington Post's goal is to double its revenue this year and next, its execs say. Reports have put the news-and-opinion site's 2009 revenue at $15 million. New sections focused on Arts and Travel will soon launch, and a syndicated radio show may be in the works. Reuters to Launch Web News Video Service NY Times Thomson Reuters is launching Reuters Insider, a Web-based video service that captures streams of information produced by the company's reporters and 150 partners. The service, described as a "You Tube for the financially interested," is available only to Reuters subscribers. Discover Media Puts Magazine Up for Sale Folio Discover Media is putting its Discover magazine, a 30-year-old science title, up for sale. "We think it's a good time to go out," says CEO Henry Donahue. The company is considering a "range of options," including investments to grow the company's digital platform. Women's Service Mags Far Sexier Online Mediaweek Traditional women's service magazines are publishing content online that is much "racier" than their print counterparts. Hearst's Good Housekeeping has even begun a sex blog. GH editor Rosemary Ellis notes: "Online audiences are a good 10 years younger." Cablevision Yanks Ads from Village Voice NY Post Cablevision pulled some $1 million in advertising from the Village Voice after the alternative weekly newspaper published an "inappropriate" quip about the cable giant's chairman, James Dolan. Cablevision says: "Who the hell wouldn't pull their ads after they read that?" Hearst Cuts Costs, Jobs at Texas Newspapers Houston Chronicle The Houston Chronicle and five smaller Texas newspapers owned by Hearst are shuffling execs and consolidating operations in an effort to cut costs. Some positions will be eliminated. "Our future is secure as long as we continue to find ways to operate more efficiently." Gannett Offices Turn Pink for Breast Cancer BusinessWire Gannett is supporting efforts to promote breast cancer awareness by turning the towers of its corporate headquarters in McLean, Va., pink through Mother’s Day weekend. "Turning our towers pink is one small way Gannett can help," says president Gracia Martore. McClatchy Earns Millions on Fla Real Estate South Fla Business Florida real-estate developer Mark Siffin plans to build a parking garage and retail center on land next to Miami's performing arts center that he is buying for $230 million. Siffin is working with Miami Herald parent company McClatchy, which owns the land, to close the deal. Conde Nast Gets World Cup Stars to Undress Media Week Vanity Fair is releasing a World Cup issue featuring scantily clad soccer players. The cover, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, features former Manchester United winger and Emporio Armani endorser Cristiano Ronaldo and Chelsea forward Didier Drogba. WaPo, ABC News to Reboot Internet Series Mediaweek ABC News is turning to the Washington Post to help revamp its daily, politically themed Web series "Top Line." The midday webcast, which launched in 2009, will relaunch as a co-branded series. A new Post Politics segment will feature Washington Post staffers. Wenner Media Poaches Exec from Conde Nast Mediaweek Conde Nast recently hired away Will Schenck from Wenner Media's Rolling Stone, where he was publisher, and now it's Wenner's turn. Michael Provus defected from Conde Nast’s GQ to be Rolling Stone's new associate publisher. Provus was national ad director at GQ. HuffPost, Time Inc Encourage Going Offline MIN Time Inc.'s Health magazine is partnering with the Huffington Post for a "challenge” to get women to unplug from the Internet and take 30 minutes away from devices to recharge. Being tied to the Internet is a "compulsion" that could affect health and relationships, they say. Washington Post to 'Rival' Huffington Post Politico The Washington Post is transforming its online presence into a competitor of the Huffington Post and TalkingPointsMemo as much as the New York Times. The online Post hosts several strong liberal blogs, and draws a large share of its traffic and buzz from them. Washington Post Seeks to Sell Newsweek Newsweek / WWD Washington Post Co. is exploring the possible sale of Newsweek. The newsweekly says it expects to continue losing money "despite heroic efforts." Newsweek "might be a better fit elsewhere." Also: The Huffington Post and Politico are seen as among the potential buyers. Washington Post's Slate Enjoys Ad Gains Mediaweek Slate, one of the oldest Internet publications, is reporting a healthy 30% ad revenue growth in first quarter. Slate's upward online ad momentum comes as the Washington Post Co. positions itself to pull away from print, as the company explores selling Newsweek. Playboy Plans Free 'Safe-For-Work' Website PaidContent Playboy is developing a free, "safe-for-work" website called TheSmokingJacket.com, as well as additional subscription content. The strategy appears to be aimed at rivals such as Maxim, which has captured much of Playboy's targeted readers in the past decade. Freedom Communications Is 'Not for Sale' OC Biz Freedom Communications has no plans to sell the company, break it up or make major cutbacks after emerging from bankruptcy. Instead, the publisher of the Orange County Register and other newspapers expects to grow through acquisitions, its execs say. Oklahoman to Cut 57 Jobs Amid Struggles Oklahoman The Oklahoman, the largest daily newspaper in Oklahoma, is cutting 57 jobs in response to "a struggling advertising environment that affects all traditional media in this country," the company says. "Like most media companies, we are trying to adjust to our environment." Hearst Plans 'More Exciting' Town & Country WWD Town & Country editor Stephen Drucker is making his first big hire, nabbing longtime Vogue society columnist William Norwich. The hire is seen as part of a move to re-do T&C in the vein of Tatler. "A year from now, it will be a very different magazine," says Drucker. CurtCo Sells Off Art & Antiques Magazine Folio CurtCo is selling Art & Antiques to Phillip Troy Linger, founder and former publisher of Brentwood magazine. Linger is forming a new company for which he will serve as president and publisher. The magazine will keep the "majority" of its staff as it relocates to Wilmington, N.C. Bauer's Zoo Tells Readers to 'Cut Her Face' Sun Bauer Media's British lads mag Zoo is facing criticism after advice columnist Danny Dyer told readers that a heartbroken boyfriend should "cut his ex's face, so no one will want her." Dyer claims he was misquoted; Zoo magazine describes the text as a "production error." NME Takes on MySpace with Social Network Media Week Music magazine NME is taking on MySpace by launching a social media platform that will allow bands and individuals to create profiles to showcase their music. The platform will be available through NME.com and enable users to upload their own music and videos. Telegraph Editor Exits Over Digital Project Media Week Will Lewis, editor in chief and digital managing director of the U.K. Telegraph newspaper, is leaving the company in a "mutual decision" following frustration with a "top-secret" new digital venture. The venture aims to create new revenue streams for the publishing business. Old Media Worry About Facebook, Twitter Wall St Journal While Google is often the largest driver of traffic to news companies' websites, traffic from Facebook and Twitter is growing much more quickly these days. Hearst is seeing traffic from social media sites grow at a 250% annual rate. "Will Twitter and Facebook own our destiny too?" Dow Jones Names Publisher for SmartMoney BtoB Dow Jones & Co.'s SmartMoney is naming Ed Diller publisher, effective July 1. Currently, Diller serves as multimedia sales director for the Wall Street Journal in San Francisco. Andy Seibert, president-publisher of SmartMoney, will retain the title of president. Time 100 Attracts Show Biz, Media Names NY Post Some of the most influential people in the world showed up Tuesday night at the Time 100 event, hosted by Time magazine. The black-tie affair attracted luminaries such as Bill Clinton, Gayle King, Martha Stewart, Charlie Rose and Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes. People Editor Elected President of ASME NY Observer People magazine managing editor Larry Hackett has been elected president of the American Society of Magazine Editors, a leading industry trade group. He takes over for Runner's World editor David Willey. "It's an exciting, challenging time," Hackett says. Atlantic Media Website to Take On Politico NY Observer The Atlantic Media's National Journal plans to relaunch its website in September with more editorial in front of the current paywall. The site appears to be an effort to take on Politico, which "introduced a whole new standard of velocity," admits Atlantic owner David Bradley. NY Observer Pays Journos for Web Traffic Awl The New York Observer is offering a new trial incentive program to its reporters. Bonuses will be dispensed to the staff as incentives for Internet popularity, web traffic, new Twitter followers and more. The first place will pay $500, with a $2,500 cap per employee. Bloomberg Exec to Join Chicago News Coop Chicago Tribune Jim Kirk, who left the Chicago Tribune 17 months ago to oversee Bloomberg News' Washington bureau coverage of the White House and Congress, is heading home to become managing editor of the nonprofit Chicago News Cooperative, an experiment in producing local journalism. Reuters CEO Says He Will Continue Blogging Baron Thomson Reuters CEO Tom Glocer is defending his comments on fraud charges against Goldman Sachs. He says he stands by what he wrote about the case on his blog, which has been a subject of scrutiny. Glocer warns of a rush to judgment by "our media-driven society." Gawker Media Blog's Court Records Sought CNET Media organizations plan to tell a judge this week that a secret court order sealing records relating to the search of a Gizmodo editor's home for an iPhone prototype violates California law. Gizmodo's owner, Gawker Media, has called the search warrant "invalid." Webby Awards Honor NY Times, New Yorker AP The Webby Awards, celebrating Internet achievement, will be presented in a ceremony on June 14. Among the honorees: The New York Times, the New Yorker, and Roger Ebert, for "raising the bar for online journalism" with his blog on the Chicago Sun-Times' website. Conde Nast Ex-Exec Lands at Reader's Digest Crain's NY Dan Lagani, the former president of Conde Nast's Fairchild Fashion Group, is moving to the Reader's Digest Association. In the new position of president of RD Media, he will oversee the publishing of the flagship magazine as well as other company businesses. Playboy Hires Exec to Expand Brand in Digital MediaPost Playboy is naming Paul Lee as managing director of new digital ventures. Lee joins the company from NBC Universal and GE Capital's Peacock Equity Fund. "By combining new digital business models and the iconic nature of the brand, Playboy can expand its digital footprint." Hachette Creates 'Emerging Platforms' Role Folio Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. is creating a position called VP of emerging platforms. Florent Peyre, Hachette's VP of business and corporate development, will assume the new role. The iPad, e-readers and tablets "present exciting opportunities," Hachette says. New Yorker Online Content Differs from Print Sparksheet The New Yorker's Internet edition differs a bit from its print counterpart. For example, an online contest called Critterati encouraged people to dress up their pets as their favorite literary character. "We're aware that people like looking at pictures of dogs and cats on the Internet." Wallpaper Readers to Design Their Own Cover Media Week IPC's Wallpaper magazine has launched a Web app giving readers the chance to create the front cover for the magazine's August issue and a back page ad for Rolex. Readers can access the app by registering at Wallpaper.com. "Wallpaper readers are a very creative bunch." American Spectator Seeks Reader Donations Media Matters The American Spectator, the conservative political monthly, is asking subscribers to pony up $26,000 in donations to help it offset increased printing costs. A letter sent to 60,000 e-mail subscribers states that the money is needed to "fill a $26,000 shortfall." Nation Launches Media Fix Blog by Mitchell Nation The Nation is launching a media blog by former Editor & Publisher editor Greg Mitchell. The new Media Fix vows to offer "opinion and analysis on the entire media spectrum -- MSM, blogosphere, cable news and alt media" and will "pay special attention to media politics." NY Post Hires B&C Journo for Media Coverage @pkafka The New York Post is bringing in Claire Atkinson, business editor at Broadcasting & Cable, to cover media business. She will fill the void created when Peter Lauria departed to join the Daily Beast. Atkinson, who joined B&C in 2008, also has covered media for Ad Age. Craigslist Eyed for Sex Ads, NYC Bomb Scare CNET Craigslist is being subpoenaed by Connecticut's attorney general, who is investigating whether the site is doing enough to quash prostitution. Also: The last registered owner of the SUV used in the Times Square bomb scare sold the vehicle to a "Middle Eastern"-looking man via Craigslist. IPC Mulls Magazine Sale in Strategic Review Press Gazette U.K. magazine giant IPC plans to launch a strategic review, leaving the company with more focus on "multi-platform" publishing. Some of its smaller titles may be sold off. IPC Media is one of the U.K.'s biggest magazine publishers, with more than 80 titles including NME. NY Times Eyes Facebook Model for Online nytpicker The New York Times plans to make more use of its readers' personal data as the newspaper moves toward a paid model online, according to digital chief Martin Nisenholtz. "Identity is a fundamental building block for engagement. Facebook has proven it to be true." Murdoch's WSJ Buy Explored in New Book Morning Herald "War at the Wall Street Journal," a new book by former Journal reporter Sarah Ellison, delves into Rupert Murdoch's battle to acquire Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones. "Interestingly, the Journal is losing more money than it was previously," she says. Gannett Digital Exec Bashes Online Paywalls Gannett Blog Gannett's departing digital chief Chris Saridakis slams the nascent newspaper online paywall strategy as wrongheaded in an exit memo to employees. "Newspaper companies should bundle their offerings and charge users for access to the local content in any form." Washington Times for Sale After Subsidy Cut WaPo The Washington Times is being put up for sale after the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's family cut off most of the annual $35 million subsidy that has kept the Unification Church-backed newspaper afloat. Several parties are said to be eyeing the Times for a sale or partnership. Ohio Publishers to Sell Assets in Bankruptcy AP Cincinnati-based Brown Media Holdings and Brown Publishing have filed for bankruptcy and plan to sell their assets in 10 states. The family-owned businesses publish newspapers including the Delaware Gazette and the Wilmington News Journal in Ohio. Freedom Exits Bankruptcy; CEO to Leave OCRegister Freedom Communications, the Irvine, Calif.-based owner of 100 newspapers including the Orange County Register, has emerged from bankruptcy relieved of $450 million in debt. The move will also relieve the founding Hoiles family ownership of the media chain. E5 Global Media to Unveil Strategy by July MIN Richard Beckman, CEO of new Billboard and Hollywood Reporter owner E5 Global Media, expects to finalize the company's three-year plan within the next six to eight weeks. "Definitely by July 4,” says the former Conde Nast exec. "That will define our long-term strategy." Variety's Former Film Critic to Go Online NY Times Todd McCarthy, the film critic laid off in March by the Hollywood trade paper Variety as part of a cost-cutting campaign, will start a new website called Todd McCarthy's Deep Focus. The site will be in association with SnagFilms as part of its IndieWIRE blog network. Hearst to Help Oprah Celebrate Magazine MIN Oprah Winfrey's O, the Oprah Magazine, published with Hearst, will celebrate its 10th year anniversary with several events in the coming days. In addition to a show at Radio City Music Hall, Winfrey is inviting the public to join her in a charity walk, which will go past Hearst Tower. Magazine Experts Say Beware of Apple iPad MW / Fortune Magazine experts warn that while the Apple iPad offers many publishing opportunities, they may come with strings attached. Publishers must negotiate strongly with Apple over publishing data. Also: Time magazine and Popular Science are "exploring" iPad pricing. Gawker Blog Faces Legal Threat from Apple Guardian Gawker Media blog Gizmodo faces a legal threat by Apple over publishing information about the lost next-gen iPhone prototype. The affair highlights legal issues about bloggers. "I think it will be discussed," says Gawker boss Nick Denton, "but resolved fairly quickly." Craigslist CEO Defends 'Casual Sex' Ads SF Business Following a report that sex ads could generate $36 million for Craigslist this year, company CEO Jim Buckmaster posted a blog entry defending "casual sex." Craigslist personals help users "find friendship, love, romance, companionship, and yes, 'casual encounters.' " Financial Times Wins Print, Online Subs Guardian Pearson, the publishing group that owns the Financial Times, has reported a 7% increase in revenues in the first quarter, helped by "volatile" but growing ad revenue at its newspaper operation. FT Publishing has seen strong demand for subscriptions in print and online. Philly Publisher to Push Digital Content Inquirer Greg Osberg, the new publisher and CEO of Philadelphia Newspapers, is expected to steer the company toward an emphasis on digital content. Osberg, formerly president and publisher of Newsweek, most recently ran a startup firm that delivered news to mobile phones. Reader's Digest Eyes Cost Cuts, Pay Walls Mediaweek Reader's Digest Association continues to shed upper-level execs as it focuses on cutting costs post-bankruptcy, stirring speculation that more layoffs are on the way. Also, the company plans to introduce a paid-subscription model for AllRecipes.com, its recipe portal. AP Seeks Revenue Boost from Registry AP The Associated Press says its net income plunged as revenue fell nearly 10% last year. As part of its new digital focus, the AP will launch a news registry it says will enable it and participating newspapers to track where and how their online content is being used. Conde Nast Assistants' 'Escape Stories' New York Onetime Conde Nast employee Lauren Weisberger parlayed her time as Anna Wintour's assistant at Vogue into a hit book and movie, "The Devil Wears Prada." But such success stories are not necessarily the norm among other former assistants at the glossy publisher. Future Publishing Sees Mags as Artifacts Press Gazette Future Publishing CEO Stevie Spring says the advance of digital publishing will lead print magazines to become "collectable artifacts" rather than information sources. "Darwinism continues, but it's Darwinism on speed." Future's titles include Guitar World and Maximum PC. Content Farms: Can Tech Make Online Pay? Economist Demand Media, Associated Content and other "content farms" take the view that online revenue from advertising or subscriptions will never cover the cost of journalism, "so journalism will have to change." The problem, critics say, is that they swamp the Internet with mediocre content. Sportswriters May Be Replaced by Software BusinessWeek Narrative Science, a startup in Evanston, Ill., takes sports box scores and spits out news articles. It's "less expensive" than beat reporters, says one customer. After tackling sports, the "machine-generated content" outfit could move on to medical and financial data. Forbes Seeks New COO in Digital Rethink Fortune Forbes CEO Steve Forbes and his brother, COO Tim Forbes, are searching for a new COO as part of an apparent effort to improve and rethink the company's digital presence. COO Tim Forbes "is staying with the company; he's just going to go to a higher level." Meredith: TV Growing Faster Than Mags RBR Meredith has reported advertising revenue growth for both its magazines and television group in its fiscal third quarter, but TV was much stronger than magazines. Look for that to continue in the current quarter. TV revenues were up 20%; magazine revenues rose 2%. HuffPost to Give Out Badges to Readers TechCrunch The Huffington Post is taking on more of the trappings of a social network. Borrowing from Foursquare, the "Internet newspaper" will start giving out badges to loyal readers who share many of its stories via Facebook and Twitter or post or flag a lot of comments. Martha: 'Body' Bested by 'Whole Living' WWD Body + Soul magazine changed its name to Whole Living and it appears advertisers approve of the switch, as the issue is up more than 50% in ad revenue compared with last year. Overall, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's publishing ad revenue rose 11% during the first quarter. Rodale: Prevention Editor Stepping Down Mediaweek Prevention editor Liz Vaccariello, who was widely praised for a redesign of the magazine and raised its profile through her books, is stepping down. The company is searching for a new top editor. Vaccariello is the latest high-ranking change in recent months at Rodale. Philly Newspapers Sold to Senior Lenders Inquirer Philadelphia Newspapers, owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News, has been sold to its senior lenders in a bankruptcy auction. "We didn't make it," says CEO Brian Tierney. "I think I'll go home tonight and sleep like a baby, which means I'll wake up every hour crying." Tribune Aims to Continue Cross-Ownership Chicago Tribune Tribune has filed applications with the Federal Communications Commission seeking to emerge from bankruptcy protection with its broadcast portfolio intact. The company wants the agency to sign off on continued cross-ownership waivers to the post-bankrupt Tribune. NY Times Names Psychotherapist to Board AP New York Times Co. shareholders have approved the nomination of Carolyn Greenspon, a fifth-generation member of the controlling Ochs-Sulzberger family, to the company's board of directors. Greenspon, a psychotherapist, was approved at the company's annual meeting. Gannett to Join Ariz Newspaper, TV Station Phoenix Business Aiming to cut costs, Gannett will consolidate KPNX-TV, NBC's Phoenix affiliate, into the building that also houses the company's Arizona Republic, azcentral.com, La Voz, and other print and digital publications. KPNX's building will be put up for sale. Murdoch UK Tabloid to Pay for Terror Slur Press Gazette News Corp.'s Sun newspaper in London is apologizing and paying "substantial" libel damages over false allegations linking a physician, Dr. Mohammed Asha, to terrorism. Asha had filed a lawsuit over a Sun front page article last August describing him as the "terror doc." Financial Times Launches Web Video Hub FOV The Financial Times is launching a Brightcove-backed video platform and dedicated video hub that the newspaper says will help users find relevant video from around the financial world. FT.com will feature an "editor's choice" selection of the top "must watch" videos. Reuters, Hachette Outsource Journalism Ad Age More major media companies are looking for ways to find cheap content. Thomson Reuters and Hachette Filipacchi have run articles supplied by Associated Content, one of several companies that mines reporting from masses of freelancers for as little as $5 a story. Gawker Blog Mulls Lawsuit in iPhone Raid CNET A lawyer for Gizmodo says the Gawker Media gadget blog could sue the sheriff's office in San Mateo County, Calif., for raiding an editor's home last Friday as part of a criminal probe into an errant iPhone prototype. "Search is not the appropriate method in this situation." Conde Nast Preps Relaunch of Vogue.com Wall St Journal Vogue magazine is "currently working very hard" on the relaunch of its Web site, which will have more interactive components, according to editor in chief Anna Wintour. The new Vogue.com launches in August. "Once we go through that, we'll focus on the iPad." Vanity Fair Editor Mulls Opening Museum Observer Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter is said to be trying to gather support to renovate the IRT Powerhouse, a onetime power plant on the far West Side of Manhattan, and bring a photography museum to its ornate interior. Carter is "hot and heavy" about a museum. Scripps in Deal to Sell Licensing of 'Peanuts' Business Courier E.W. Scripps is entering a deal to sell its United Media Licensing business to Iconix Brand Group for $175 million. Much of the licensing unit's $2 billion in annual sales comes from merchandise from the "Peanuts" comic strip, which was introduced in Scripps newspapers. Tribune Adds E-Commerce Links to Stories LA Observed The Los Angeles Times will begin testing e-commerce links in select online stories and blog posts as "both a reader service and a revenue opportunity," says editor Russ Stanton. The ad-link program is already underway at the Chicago Tribune, a sister newspaper. Murdoch Eyes Live Chats to Attract Readers Press Gazette The Times of London will offer daily live debates and discussions as an incentive to encourage readers to pay for access to its Web site when it begins charging in June. The site will also offer greater interaction with reporters. "You'll be able to do more than just read the news." WSJ Party Elicits Candid Remarks by Murdoch Observer Rupert Murdoch held a splashy party at New York's Gotham Hall to launch the Wall Street Journal's New York section. Murdoch commented that New York Times boss Arthur Sulzberger Jr. needs to "get a life" and that the Times's claims of more women readers are "bull----." Washington Post Opens Politics Web Site WaPo The Washington Post has introduced a new politics site, PostPolitics.com, aiming to offer "the best compendium" of U.S. political news from both the newsroom and aggregated content. "No other politics Web site in the capital reaches more people than we do." Philly Newspapers Bidding Finally Begins Inquirer The bankruptcy auction for ownership of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News began at 3:45 a.m. Wednesday, nearly 17 hours after three groups vying for them first gathered in a Manhattan law office. The three bidding groups are made up of 100 people. Gannett OK'd to Sell Honolulu Newspaper Advertiser The U.S. Justice Department is giving Honolulu Star-Bulletin owner David Black the go-ahead to purchase Gannett's Honolulu Advertiser. The move paves the way for Black to merge the two newspapers, leaving Honolulu as a one-newspaper town. Mass layoffs are expected. Modern Luxury Media Looking For a Buyer NY Post Modern Luxury Media, publisher of 26 regional magazines like San Francisco, which last week won a National Magazine Award, is up for sale. "Our shareholders have made a strategic decision to seek a new equity partner or buyer," says CEO William Cobert. Finke's Deadline 'Diluted' by New Reporters Variety Nikki Finke's distinctive -- and entertaining -- "pit-bull" tone of voice on her Deadline.com Hollywood news site is being "watered down" by the hiring of "well-schooled" reporters Mike Fleming and Nellie Andreeva, critics say. "Now, Deadline feels like a seriously diluted product." Hollywood Reporter to Change Edit Focus Daily Front Row The Hollywood Reporter aims to become a B2I -- business to influencer -- publication, as opposed to B2B, says new publisher Richard Beckman, formerly of Conde Nast. "I want it to be as arresting as Vanity Fair while providing the insight of a weekly like The Economist." Murdoch's London Sun to Publish in 3D Media Week The Sun will publish a 3D edition with 3D color ads and editorial, including Page 3, on June 5, a week before the start of this year's World Cup. Sun readers will receive a pair of 3D glasses with the newspaper. Owner News Corp. is the company behind the 3D hit film "Avatar." WSJ Circulation Defies Industry Declines Bloomberg The Wall Street Journal's circulation rose in the months preceding Monday's launch of a local section aimed at taking on the New York Times. "There's obviously an upside to entering the New York Times's turf," says Journal managing editor Robert Thomson. Philly Newspapers Attract Perelman Bid Philly Ray Perelman and his investor son, Ron Perelman, have joined a group of investors bidding to purchase the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News and take them out of bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Ron Burkle and his investment firm have withdrawn from the bidding. Sun-Times Sells NorthShore Magazine Crain's Sun-Times Media has sold the assets of its NorthShore magazine to Wilmette, Ill.-based online media company Make It Better.net. None of the nine NorthShore employees will be retained by Make It Better, but a few have been reassigned to the Chicago Sun-Times. WaPo Hesitant to Add Online Pay Walls Seeking Alpha The Washington Post will take a "watch and see" approach rather than rushing into a system to force its Internet readers to pay for content online, says company exec Boisfeuillet Jones Jr. Charging for online content could cause readers to flee to "substitutes." Variety, Newsday: Pay Walls Cut Traffic MediaPost The Hollywood trade publication Variety is seeing its online page views drop more than 40% since adding a pay wall, according to Nielsen figures. Separately, the Long Island-based Newsday newspaper is experiencing a lower level of page views since adding pay walls. NY Times: T&G Plans Fees for Web Site Telegram The New York Times Co.'s Telegram & Gazette, in Worcester, Mass., will begin charging some online readers for local news content on its Web site starting this summer. Non-subscribers will be asked to pay after they hit a predetermined number of local news articles. WSJ Teams with Foursquare in Local Push GigaOm The Wall Street Journal, battling for local New York readers with the New York Times, is teaming with uber-hip social media service Foursquare to offer news and reviews about local spots in the Big Apple. However, "it's an open question" that such offerings will bring "tangible results." NY Times Airs TV Commercial in WSJ Battle NY Times The New York Times is airing a new television spot as the newspaper prepares to take on the Wall Street Journal's New York edition. "You don't become the most respected news organization in New York overnight," the ad says. "Or set the agenda in New York overnight." Cowles, Wife of NY Times' Sulzberger, Dies Spokesman-Review Allison Stacey Cowles, a member of a Spokane family with large media holdings and wife of retired New York Times patriarch Arthur "Punch" Sulzberger, has died at age 75. Cowles married Sulzberger in 1996, four years after the death of first husband William H. Cowles III. H'wood Reporter Hires Chief for Transition Deadline The Hollywood Reporter is naming former OK! magazine publisher Lori Burgess as the trade publication's new publisher. Burgess, who has a background in consumer magazines, will oversee THR's purported transition to a monthly glossy magazine, abandoning the trade format. TheWrap Secures $2 Million in New Funding TheWrap TheWrap, the Hollywood news blog run by Sharon Waxman, has raised $2 million in new funding from parties including Maveron, a venture capital firm co-founded by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. The investment will help "accelerate continued expansion." 'Boy Genius' Blogger Unmasked, Acquired AllThingsD Mail.com owner Jay Penske has acquired Boy Genius Report, the three-and-a-half year-old site run by Jonathan Geller, 23, which covers the world of mobile phones. Geller will join Penske's stable of Web-site operators, which includes Nikki Finke and Bonnie Fuller. HuffPost Poised to Best NY Times Online AP The Huffington Post will mark its fifth anniversary on May 9 as an "Internet newspaper." With 13 million unique users in March, an increase of more than 94% over the year before, the Huffington Post could pass The New York Times' Web site in traffic this year. Gawker Editor Eyed by Police Over iPhone CNET Police have seized computers belonging to Gizmodo editor Jason Chen in an investigation that appears to stem from the Gawker Media gadget blog's purchase of a lost Apple iPhone prototype. Police officers "searched me to make sure I had no weapons," Chen says. Playboy Founder Saves Hollywood Sign LA Business Playboy founder Hugh Hefner made the final donation to give the trust behind the Hollywood sign enough money to buy the land surrounding the iconic billboard and preserve it from development. Hefner's $900,000 donation gave the trust the $12.5 million it needed. Washington Blade to Resume Publication WaPo Washington, D.C.'s long-running gay weekly will resume publishing under its original name, the Washington Blade, at the end of this week, after the acquisition of the Blade in bankruptcy court in Atlanta. In February, staffers bought the newspaper's assets for $15,000. Iconix, Schulz Heirs to Acquire 'Peanuts' Wall St Journal Brand manager Iconix Brand Group is expected to announce that it has acquired "Peanuts" from E.W. Scripps in partnership with the heirs of Charles Schulz, who created the comic strip featuring Snoopy and Charlie Brown. Iconix and the Schulz family will pay about $175 million. Murdoch Eyes NYT's Readers, Advertisers Reuters / Post The Wall Street Journal is unveiling its highly anticipated New York edition, deeply cutting the cost of a full-page ad and throwing in a full-page ad in sibling New York Post as a bonus. Also: News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch is throwing a bash to celebrate the launch. News Corp Exec Writes About Alcoholism Daily Beast David Yelland, a onetime senior VP of News Corp., writes about alcoholism in a new book, "The Truth About Leo." The ex-editor of the New York Post and London Sun writes: "One morning I had breakfast with Rupert having dressed in blackout over last night's clothes." Metro Newspapers to Syndicate Mashable Journalism.co.uk Mashable, the social media blog, has entered a syndication deal with Metro International, bringing the site's posts to print in U.S. editions of the commuter newspaper. Mashable's posts are "a natural fit for commuters looking to consume information in small bites." Playboy Returning to 12 Issues Per Year Mediaweek Playboy, which flirted with a sale just months ago, now appears a tad bullish. The men's magazine plans to publish 11 issues this year instead of the 10 it originally planned, and return to a 12-times annual frequency in 2011. However, Playboy "is still a long way from its heyday." Newsweek Cuts Costs via Cloud Computing Mediaweek Newsweek.com's new redesign will adopt a stripped-down look anchored by a newsfeed that gives equal weight to blogs columns and news. Also, the site expects to save $500,000 annually by outsourcing its hosting to Amazon, in an experiment with cloud computing. Reed Business Bosses Buy Shuttered Titles min Four of the 23 Reed Business Information titles that were closed by parent Reed Elsevier will continue to be published by a new entity formed by their management team. The team, led by publisher Brian Ceraolo, plans to maintain both the titles' editorial and sales staffs. Hearst Heir Signs With Wilhelmina Modeling NY Post Lydia Hearst, the publishing heiress who started modeling as a teenager, has switched agencies. The daughter of Patty Hearst has been repped by Ford, then One Model Management, then Elite. Now she has signed with Wilhelmina. Hearst is also pursuing an acting career. NY Times Streams Music as 'Added Value' WaPo The New York Times's Web site is streaming the entire new album of music by the National, an indie rock band, alongside the Web version of a story that the newspaper ran in its Sunday magazine. The cross-promotion, a first for the Times, is "added value for the print story." NY Times Eyes Local Editions in WSJ Clash Financial Times The New York Times is in talks to launch regional editions in five U.S. markets as it prepares for today's launch of a local version of the Wall Street Journal on its home turf. The Times is talking to other newspapers about tie-ups. "Ten to 15 markets we think is the limit." WSJ's NY Edition Takes Ads from NY Post Financial Times Some advertisers courted by News Corp. say that the Wall Street Journal's New York edition is cannibalizing advertising revenue at the New York Post rather than siphoning their ad dollars from the New York Times. So says Times media group head Scott Heekin-Canedy. Philly Newspapers Attract Three Bidders Inquirer Billionaire Ron Burkle and Canada's Stern Partners have emerged as players in the sale of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. A third bid is from a coalition of the newspaper company's lenders, who are seeking to recoup much of their $318 million debt. Washington Times Publisher Exits in Clash WaPo Jonathan Slevin, president of the Washington Times, says he has been fired by a board of directors that "has no experience in the newspaper business" after clashing with editor Sam Dealey whose behavior has "had a detrimental effect" on the Rev. Sun Myung Moon-funded newspaper. Tribune's ChicagoNow Finds an Audience TechCrunch ChicagoNow, Tribune's hyperlocal news site, has found success since its launch in August, the company says. The network of 350 local blogs pays its bloggers $5 per 1,000 page views. In addition to display ads, ChicagoNow allows advertisers to post "adverblogs." Bloggers Aren't Journalists, NJ Court Says Law Journal New Jersey's press shield law applies to online news reporters but not to bloggers merely claiming to be journalists, according to a state appeals court. "New media should not be confused with news media," say judges in the court case Too Much Media v. Hale. Craigslist: Sex Ads Seen Adding Revenue NY Times Craigslist is said to be on track to increase its revenue 22% this year, largely from sex ads. The ads, many of which blatantly advertise prostitution, are expected to bring $36 million this year. That financial success is reviving scrutiny from U.S. law-enforcement officials. Magazines Predicted to Die in 10 Years wowOwow Slate founding editor Michael Kinsley, among the attendees of last week's National Magazine Awards, predicts magazines will be "dead" in 10 years. "Have you seen the iPad?" Kinsley is the first digital inductee into the American Society of Magazine Editors' Hall of Fame. Students Aren't 'Addicted' to Old Media Reuters U.S. college students are "hooked" on the Internet, suggests a study by the University of Maryland. Students who were asked to give up media for a day complained most about their need to use text messages and Facebook. Also, students are not "loyal" to news brands. Conde Nast's Glamour Honored for Digital NY Post The magazine industry feted the usual suspects at the National Magazine Awards, presented by the American Society of Magazine Editors. New York magazine took home four honors; Glamour won the first-ever Magazine of the Year award for best use of print and Internet. Wired Magazine on iPad Lures Mobile Users Wired Less than three weeks after its launch, Apple's iPad accounts for 26% of the mobile devices accessing the website of Conde Nast's Wired, the magazine says. "One conclusion we can draw: iPad users are using it to browse the Web, and they're doing it a lot." BusinessWeek Mostly a 'Promotional Tool' Fortune The newly redesigned Bloomberg Businessweek is mostly a "marketing investment" for its owner, analysts say. Bloomberg LP, which depends on terminal sales for revenue, won't need to measure the money-losing magazine's success "in dollars and cents." NYT Stockholder Harbinger Reduces Stake Bloomberg New York Times Co.'s largest stakeholder, Harbinger Capital Partners, has sold 3.25 million shares, the second time in less than a month it cut its holding in the newspaper publisher. Harbinger now holds 13.6 million shares, down 16.9 million from March. WSJ Local Section May Win Ads from NYT BusinessWeek The Wall Street Journal's new New York City section is seen as a thrust at the New York Times's base -- a chance to poach department store and luxury advertising. The bottom line: "Given its stretched finances, the New York Times Co. can ill afford a costly war." McClatchy: More Job Cuts May Be Coming AP McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt says the publisher of the Miami Herald and other newspapers "will remain vigilant" on costs but admits that expenses are not expected to decline in the near future. The company will try to avoid further job cuts, but he doesn't rule them out. ABC to Audit Newspaper Mobile Audience E&P The Audit Bureau of Circulations' interactive unit will audit newspapers' mobile content in a partnership with Verve Wireless. "With the buzz around the iPad and use of mobile browsers exploding, advertisers are increasingly interested in mobile metrics." Allbritton Dubs Local News Site TBD.com DC Business Allbritton has given its new local news website a name: TBD.com. "We heard the question again and again in the months since it was announced: What are you going to name it?" In a mixture of humor and frustration, editor Erik Wemple began signing his emails, "Editor, TBD.com." Gawker: No Revenue Boost from iPhone Story Daily Finance Gawker Media boss Nick Denton describes his acquisition of the "lost" next-gen iPhone as "the biggest tech scoop ever." However, "there were no immediate revenue benefits." Besides paying $5,000 for the device, the company had to pay $7,000 in extra bandwidth. BusinessWeek Relaunches Under Bloomberg Wall St Journal The revamped Bloomberg Businessweek magazine is rolling out, with the Bloomberg name getting equal cover billing. After cutting and reshuffling staff, the magazine has just three New York-based writers. Also: Mike Bloomberg's advice to editor Josh Tyrangiel: "Don't screw it up." Newsweek Hires Former Editor of Gawker Wall St Journal Gabriel Snyder, the recently ousted editor of Gawker, is joining Newsweek as executive editor of its digital unit. Snyder is coming to Newsweek on the eve of the relaunch of Newsweek.com. Snyder is credited for transforming Gawker into "a source of real news." Rolling Stone Publisher Heads to Conde Nast Mediaweek Will Schenck is leaving Wenner Media, where he was publisher of Rolling Stone, to become VP, chief revenue officer of Fairchild Fashion Group, Conde Nast’s fashion b-to-b unit. Schenck is a former ad director at Conde Nast's Vanity Fair and previously sold ads for Gourmet. Conde Nast Makes Ads for Facebook, YouTube Ad Age Conde Nast is offering creative services to advertisers -- even for ads that don't run in its properties. The publisher created an online video series for Kenneth Cole, its first client in the venture, running on the fashion brand's Web site, on Facebook and on YouTube. Media General Argues for Cross-Ownership Tampa Tribune Media General exec John Schueler was among the participants of a Federal Communications Commission workshop on cross-ownership of newspapers and television stations. He argued that cross-ownership makes it possible to continue to fund journalism. Philly Newspapers to Go On Auction Block AP The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News are set to go on the auction block next week as current owners, led by Bruce Toll, and creditors remain locked in a dispute for control after more than a year in bankruptcy. Bids are expected from several parties. Newspaper Execs More Confident, Optimistic E&P A survey of mid-sized and small-market newspaper execs by brokerage firm Cribb, Greene & Associates finds increasing optimism about the business. The execs are divided, however, about whether this is a good time to buy a newspaper, with 53% responding no. TV Stations Surpass Newspapers Online RBR Web sales growth at broadcast television stations outpaced newspapers in 2009, as broadcasters gained ground against their principal in-market rivals and posted an 8.7% share of all local online advertising, according to a report by the Television Bureau of Advertising. Murdoch's Dow Jones Sues Briefing.com Dow Jones News Corp.'s Dow Jones has filed a lawsuit against Briefing.com, alleging the market analysis firm has "brazenly taking a free ride" on its "quality, real-time journalism." Briefing.com copied a "substantial portion" of at least 100 articles, Dow Jones says. Reuters Hints at Charging for Web Content Media Week Reuters plans to relaunch its U.K. site, reuters.co.uk, following the overhaul of its U.S. site in December, and hints at the possibility of charging for some of its content. "We think it's sensible that you can pay for niche, high-value content," says Reuters exec Tim Faircliff. Craigslist Used by Mob for Prostitution NY Daily News The mob has hit a "new low," say U.S. prosecutors, pimping out teen-age girls on Craigslist. The crime is among a litany of charges being leveled against 14 members of the Gambino crime family. "No crime seems too depraved to be exploited if it was a moneymaker." EBay Founder Launches Web News Site AP EBay founder Pierre Omidyar is entering the news business with Civil Beat, a new online service in Hawaii, charging $19.99 a month. "Reporter-hosts" will post articles, interact with readers, provide frequent updates and host discussions. The site officially launches May 4. Gawker Blog Steals Traffic -- Not iPhone NY Post The next-gen iPhone that fell into the hands of Gawker Media's tech site Gizmodo has been returned to Apple, likely putting to rest questions about whether Gawker might be in hot water for possessing stolen property. Gizmodo racked up 8 million unique visitors for the story. ASME Confab: We Made Big Goofs Online Mediaweek Panelists at the American Society of Magazine Editors' conference admit that the industry has made some big goofs in Web strategy. "We failed to get information on our users," says former BusinessWeek.com editor John Byrne, as Google "figured out how to kill us." Hearst Steals Redbook Editor from Conde NY Post Hearst has raided Conde Nast to hire Glamour's No. 2 editor, Jill Herzig, as the new editor-in-chief of Redbook. Herzig will have to try to reverse a slide in newsstand circulation at the 100-year-old women's magazine. Redbook is estimated to lose about $4 million a year. Hearst Heir Loses Mansion in Foreclosure KERO Veronica Hearst, widow of the chairman of the Hearst Corporation, has had to give up her 52-room, 28,000-square-foot Florida mansion. Although her husband had at least $1.6 billion, he was able to leave his wife only a small fraction, due to restrictions in his father's will. Tribune Buyout May Face More Scrutiny Chicago Tribune Tribune and its creditors have agreed to accept the appointment of an independent bankruptcy examiner in the Chapter 11 case, opening the door to further scrutiny of company chief Sam Zell's 2007 leveraged buyout of the Chicago-based media conglomerate. Bloomberg.com to Remain Free at Relaunch Business Insider Bloomberg.com is unveiling a preview of its redesigned site, which will remain free in effort to "kill" rivals such as the Wall Street Journal. "We are committed to the free ad-supported model." The revamped site also is considering "certain targeted subscriber products." NY Magazine Feature to Become TV Series NY Post One of New York magazine's most popular features, the back-page "Approval Matrix," is going to become a series on Bravo. The series, also called "Approval Matrix," will feature four "rotating pop culture pundits" debating the week's "buzzworthy news items." WaPo Launches Subscriber-Only Magazine B&C The Washington Post has launched Capital Business magazine as a weekly publication bundled in the newspaper exclusively for print subscribers at an extra cost. Only print subscribers are eligible for the magazine, which will cost $49 a year over the home delivery price. Weekly Reader Makes Web Ad Sales Push Mediaweek Weekly Reader Publishing, the 108-year-old educational publisher that shuns advertising in its print magazines, is making its first big push to sell ads on its Web site. Weekly Reader has refused print ads because of the sensitivity surrounding ads targeting children. Media Industry Journalists to Be Honored Media Matters The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University has announced its finalists for the Mirror Awards, which honor media outlets that cover the media. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on June 10. CBS News' Katie Couric will serve as emcee. Gannett Sees Revenue Declines Across Assets DC Business Gannett reported a 51% jump in first-quarter earnings as cost cutting and gains at its television stations offset a continued drop in newspaper advertising. The publishing giant saw revenue declines in every business segment except broadcasting. Newspaper ad revenue fell 7.9%. Reed Elsevier to Shut Down 23 Publications BtoB Reed Elsevier announced Friday that it is closing 23 controlled-circulation publications it has so far been unable to sell. These publications include b-to-b media brands such as Construction Equipment and Graphic Arts Monthly. Reed Elsevier confirmed its plans to keep Variety. Lagardere Mulls Sale of U.S. Media Assets NY Post Rumors are swirling that the Paris-based Lagardere may be in the midst of appraising its U.S. media holdings for a possible sale. Hachette Filipacchi Media has shut down a spate of magazines in recent years. The company's U.S. assets include Woman's Day and Elle. Hearst Near Deal for Digital Firm iCrossing Wall St Journal Hearst is said to be near a deal to acquire digital-marketing firm iCrossing, the latest sign of how publishers are going head to head with Madison Avenue to grab some of the growing revenues from online advertising. Under the deal, iCrossing is likely to fetch about $375 million. Wall St Journal Gets 3,200 to Pay for iPad App Business Insider The Wall Street Journal has already attracted 3,200 new subscribers to pay for its Apple iPad subscription, says a memo by managing editor Robert Thompson. "We chose to create a newspaper-like experience, in part, because we wanted readers to pay for our splendid content." Financial Times is Critical of Google News Bloomberg The Financial Times online chief Rob Grimshaw says users are seven times less likely to subscribe to the Web edition when they arrive via Google News pages, compared with Google's regular search page. Still, the FT has no plans to pull its content from Google. Christian Sci Monitor Eyes Web Video Fees Mediaweek The Christian Science Monitor in May will start charging for Web videos of its "political breakfast" series. The cost will be $14.95 per month or $99 per year to view videos of the events, which have featured interviews with U.S. presidents and other heavyweights and luminaries. BusinessWeek Offers Web Video Preview MIN Bloomberg BusinessWeek is scheduled to relaunch a new design and direction with the April 23 issue. As readers await the revamp, the website is posting videos of editor Josh Tyrangiel outlining what to expect: "Our mission is to be the indispensible magazine for our readers." People StyleWatch Gains as It Blurs Ad Lines NY Times Time Inc.'s People StyleWatch is booming as it tosses out old-fashioned ideas of what magazine editorial pages should contain and baldly sells products -- some from advertisers, some not. "The merging of 'church and state' in journalism is being reconsidered with People's experiment." Rolling Stone Puts Archive Online for a Fee AP Rolling Stone is putting its 43-year archive online along with the magazine's latest edition. The home page will remain mostly free. A one-month pass will cost $3.95 and annual access is $29.99. "We're taking control of our digital destiny," says a Wenner Media digital exec. Wired Magazine iPad App to Meet Guidelines AdAge Wired magazine's app will work on the iPad despite the restrictive new guidelines from Apple. Wired has been working with Adobe to develop interactive editions to run on tablet computers. But Apple has long frowned on Adobe Flash, so Adobe developed a sort of workaround. Magazine, Newspaper Closures Slow Down BtoB An estimated 44 newspapers closed in the first quarter of this year, compared with about 100 in the year-earlier period, according to the Vocus Media research database. Some 28 magazines folded, and 11 magazines made the switch to online-only. Newspaper Editors See Little Cash on Web AP Even as the Web upends business models, it has opened up new possibilities for newspapers to get news to readers all day, say attendees of the American Society of News Editors conference. But, "Revenue is a different story. It is extremely difficult and challenging." Bauer's In Touch Elevates Interim Editor Lee NY Post Michelle Lee, the interim editor who was running In Touch when the magazine broke the story that Jesse James was cheating on his wife Sandra Bullock has been rewarded with the permanent editor-in-chief title. "We're putting a bigger emphasis on breaking news," she says. Thomson Reuters to Launch Web Overhaul Financial Times Thomson Reuters will overhaul its markets division in a move to distinguish itself from rival Bloomberg. Web-based platforms will replace terminal commands with online search as part of a drive to cater to "the 23-year-old at Goldman Sachs who grew up with Google." Wall St Journal Is Evolving, Top Editor Says NY Observer The "stodgy" Wall Street Journal has changed, says managing editor Robert Thomson. The newspaper's New York edition, launching April 26, will expands its coverage into areas like sports, gossip and nightlife. "The New York Times is a difficult paper to read. Navigation is not easy." NY Times Leads Nominees for Webby Awards Reuters The New York Times leads the pack of nominees for the Webby Awards, sharing the spotlight for the "Oscars of the Internet" with the BBC and comedian Stephen Colbert. The Webby Awards, which highlight the best use of the Internet, will be presented June 14. Philly Daily News Aims for Younger Readers Philly Business The Philadelphia Daily News will launch a weekend edition in October aiming for younger readers with different coverage than its sister publication, the Philadelphia Sunday Inquirer. The new edition will offer "numerous quick read features" for reading "all week long." Tribune to Make JP Morgan a Media Player News & Tech If a U.S. bankruptcy court approves Tribune's reorganization plan, banking giant JP Morgan Chase will become a significant media player, owning more TV stations than News Corp. and CBS and becoming America's second largest newspaper publisher after Gannett. Hearst's Popular Mechanics Redesigns Site Mediaweek A cornerstone of the newly relaunched Popular Mechanics Web site is its step-by-step project guides, whose template will be rolled out to sibling Hearst sites. The new site also introduces an extra-large display banner ad, which Hearst has dubbed a "Master Masthead." EW's iPad App Lets Users Buy Media Content AdAge Entertainment Weekly's new app for Apple's iPad comes integrated with iTunes, Amazon and Fandango, allowing users to buy content recommended by the magazine. Entertainment Weekly, which is part of Time Inc., gets a share of revenue generated through iTunes sales. Time Inc Exec Seeks to Spin Off Magazines NY Post Time Inc. executive VP Sylvia Auton is said to have lobbied Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes to spin off the embattled magazine unit, saying it was hampered by being part of the media giant. Auton denies the move: "I have never approached Time Warner management." Alpha Media Names Mangione Its Latest CEO AdAge Maxim publisher Alpha Media has named Joseph Mangione its latest CEO, making him the fifth person to hold the post since Felix Dennis sold the company in 2007. Mangione says he plans to expand the company's business into television, events and other areas. News Sites Funded by Think Tanks Take Root AP A growing number of conservative groups are bankrolling Web news outlets, such as IdahoReporter.com, covering politics as newspapers cut back their statehouse bureaus. The phenomenon troubles some media watchdogs, who worry about biases and hidden agendas. Nikki Finke-Like Blogger to Be Cast for Series EW Diane Keaton is said to be in talks for the title role in HBO's "Tilda," a comedy series about a powerful and much-feared Hollywood blogger that is not based on powerful and much-feared Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke. Bill Condon and Cynthia Mort are shepherding the project. Murdoch's Web Paywalls Irks Prime Minister Financial Times U.K. prime minister Gordon Brown set himself in an opposite camp to Rupert Murdoch, saying he believed Internet users were so used to free news that paywalls would not work. "I don't think you are going to be able to put things behind paywalls in the way that people think." NY Times Revamps Business Section Online AdAge The New York Times on the Web is unveiling a new section front for its business coverage as the Wall Street Journal prepares a New York edition aimed at the Times's readers and advertisers. The online section front has been rebuilt to more closely resemble a home page. Tribune Bankruptcy Restructuring Attacked Chicago Breaking Tribune has filed a restructuring plan to transfer control of the company from Sam Zell to a group of large banks and hedge funds. However, a large group of disgruntled creditors has attacked a settlement proposal in the plan and may file an alternative restructuring scheme. Newsweek to Unveil Redesign of Web Site Mediaweek Newsweek is integrating its print and online editorial operations, expanding Mark Miller's editorial director role to include oversight of digital content. Both print and Web journalists will report to Miller. The move comes as Newsweek.com prepares to redesign this month. TV Guide Tunes In New Design, E-Newsletter MIN TV Guide has relaunched under a new design and organization. Most noticeably the magazine content is now organized around days of the week. The print re-design will be followed in coming months by a digital daily e-mail newsletter, which will link to the magazine's Web site. Elle Publisher, YouTube in Web Video Deal Dow Jones Elle magazine parent Lagardere Active and Google's YouTube have entered a partnership to promote online videos globally. Lagardere Active will make available video content to YouTube viewers with the aim to speed up the promotion and monetization of online video. Magazines' Slowing Closures 'Encouraging' BtoB Magazine closures slowed in the first quarter, with 22 titles folding, compared with 95 in the first quarter of 2009, according to data released by MediaFinder.com, an online database of publications. Seven magazine converted from print to online-only in the first quarter. CurtCo Nearing Deal to Sell Art & Antiques Folio Malibu, Calif.-based CurtCo Publishing is in the final stages of negotiations with three separate buyers to sell the magazines published under its Gulfshore Media group, as well as San Diego magazine and Art & Antiques. The other titles include Gulfshore Life. White House Journo Dinner to Attract Stars WWD Hollywood and the press haven't lost their love affair with the Obama administration, at least judging by the guest list for the White House Correspondents Association dinner on May 1. Time magazine has invited Steven Spielberg; Vanity Fair's table will have Tom Freston. Pulitzer Prizes Recognize Internet Reporting AP The Washington Post and the New York Times topped the list of winners of this year's Pulitzer Prizes, the most important awards in journalism, as usual. But they were joined for the first time by new media publications, such as the nonprofit ProPublica. "It is a validation." NY Times to Open Phoenix, KC Bureaus Bloomberg The New York Times will open bureaus this year in Phoenix and Kansas City, according to an internal memo sent to staff. The newspaper plans to name correspondents to the new offices by summer's end. The Times had closed its Kansas City bureau in 1992. Life & Style, People See Gains in Ad Pages Bloomberg The decline in U.S. magazine advertising sales revenue slowed last quarter, helped by gains at gossip and lifestyle titles, according to the Publishers Information Bureau. Life & Style and People posted ad revenue gains; Real Simple and Saveur both increased ad sales. Time Inc to Offer Subscriptions on IPad Bloomberg Time Inc., publisher of Time and People magazines, plans to offer a subscription service for publications sold on Apple's iPad within three months. The service may compel readers to buy more magazines at a time industrywide print circulation is falling. Google CEO: Newspapers Can Profit Online AP Google CEO Eric Schmidt, speaking at the American Society of News Editors' conference, says he is confident that newspapers will find ways to make money online. He predicted that the news business will find a new model, combining advertising and subscriptions. Philly Inquirer to Offer Web Sports Betting E&P The Philadelphia Inquirer's Web site, Philly.com, has become the first U.S. newspaper to offer online sports betting. In a partnership with FanDuel, visitors to Philly.com Instant Fantasy Gamescan play and win in online fantasy sports games that pay off in real money. Poll: News Needs New Revenue Sources NY Times Most newspaper and broadcast news editors think American journalism is in decline, and about half believe that their employers will go out of business if they do not find new sources of revenue, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. Financial Times to Tie Up with Foursquare NMA The Financial Times plans to use Foursquare, the location-based mobile social media platform, to lure younger readers. The FT will make its premium content free to Foursquare users who check in at certain venues, such as a coffee shop near Columbia University in New York. Dow Jones Launches WSJ Pro Edition TechCrunch Dow Jones is rolling out its previously announced WSJ Pro Edition, offering specialized news from the Wall Street Journal, Factiva and Dow Jones Newswires for $49 a month. Users will be able to access the service "without being tethered to a clunky terminal." Murdoch in Ad Price Attack on NY Times FT News Corp. is said to be offering discounts of up to 80% to advertise in its Wall Street Journal and New York Post as it prepares an aggressive attack on the New York Times. Ad sales are being bundling across the Journal and the Post in a new package called Journal Post +. Tribune Ends Dispute to Exit Bankruptcy Bloomberg Tribune has settled a dispute among its creditors and banks, paving the way for the company to exit bankruptcy. Also: Tribune officers are said to have received "special monetary incentives" for approving the flawed buyout that drove the publisher into bankruptcy. Cleveland Plain Dealer Sued for Web Leak Plain Dealer Cleveland judge Shirley Strickland Saffold is suing the Cleveland Plain Dealer and owner Advance Publications, seeking $50 million in damages. Saffold claims they breached a Web site privacy policy when stories linked her e-mail account to a series of online comments. Hearst: Redbook Editor Morrison to Exit WWD Redbook editor in chief Stacy Morrison is leaving the magazine. In a memo, Morrison says she is resigning "due to family illnesses that require my presence and full attention." Hearst Magazines president Cathie Black says: "A search for a new editor has begun." Meredith Cuts 20 Jobs in Digital Revamp DM Register Meredith is cutting about 20 jobs in a management realignment to better prepare for an increasingly digital world, the company says. The publisher of Better Homes & Gardens says it is working on “some things on the mobile platform" to announce later this spring. Reader's Digest Sells British Subsidiary FT The U.K. subsidiary of the Reader's Digest magazine has been bought out by Better Capital, a new private equity group. Reader's Digest U.K. filed for a form of bankruptcy in February after it failed to secure backing to support its long-standing pension deficit. Gannett Digital Chief Saridakis Steps Down ClickZ Gannett chief digital officer Chris Saridakis will exit the company by the end of this month "to pursue other interests." A Gannett spokesperson emphasizes it was Saradakis's decision to leave, and says its digital business remains strong. His position will be filled. Media Heavies Enter Restaurant Business NY Post NBC's Dan Abrams and Men's Health editor in chief Dave Zinczenko are entering the restaurant business. The two pals are investing in a location on West Ninth Street in Manhattan. MTV honcho Tony DiSanto is also an investor. The eatery is expected to be called The Lion. USA Today Outsources New Web Section Ad Age USA Today's Web site has started running travel editorial from the Demand Media content farm. The move makes the newspaper the latest traditional news publisher to incorporate editorial from an outside supplier. Demand Media is selling keyword advertising in the section. Media General Streamlines to Cut Costs Reuters Media General will consolidate editing and design operations for three of its largest newspapers -- the Tampa Tribune, Richmond-Times Dispatch and Winston-Salem Journal -- to slash costs. The move will allow its newsrooms to "focus on strong local news reporting." Conde Nast Steals Publisher from Elle NY Post Carol Smith, the Elle branding guru who struck TV tie-ins with "Project Runway" to revive the fashion magazine, is jumping to Conde Nast. Smith will be publishing director of a food group that consists of Bon Appetit magazine and the leftovers from the Gourmet brand. Reader's Digest to Lose Two Top Execs Mediaweek Reader's Digest Association is losing two big-name hires that CEO Mary Berner made to help turn around the company. Eva Dillon, a longtime lieutenant, is stepping down by the end of the year. Alyce Alston, who ran the home and health titles, is leaving in the coming days. Fairchild to Relaunch Menswear Magazine WWD Fairchild Fashion Group is enhancing coverage of the sector in WWD each Thursday while reintroducing Menswear magazine, a seasonal in-depth publication. Menswear, which had been a twice-a-year title, will return to its twice-a-year publishing schedule. Columbia Plans Journo-Computer Degree AFP New York's Columbia University plans to offer a dual master's degree in journalism and computer science. The new degree program aims to "prepare a new generation of professionals with skills in the technical aspects of both digital media and news production." Murdoch: Google to Stop Getting Free News MarketWatch News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch says he expects online content aggregators such as Google will soon halt the practice of posting content produced by others without paying to do so. "We're going to stop Google and others from taking our content" and using it for free. NY Times Attracts $1 Million for iPad App Business Insider Chase Bank paid the New York Times $1 million to sponsor its new app for the Apple iPad, according to Rory Maher, analyst at TBI Research. The app sponsorship is said to have a three-to-six month run as part of a larger advertising deal with the Times. McClatchy Eyes Online Marketing Program WebProNews McClatchy plans to roll out WebVisible's online marketing platform to all 29 of its U.S. markets in an effort to boost advertising revenue. WebVisible says it will give McClatchy's local advertisers a better way to get found in newspaper Web sites and search engines. Sacramento Bee Starts Local Blog Network Sacramento Business The Sacramento Bee has launched Sacramento Connect, a network that connects its users to a collection of "great blogs" and other news providers in the region. At least two other McClatchy newspapers, the Miami Herald and Charlotte Observer, also are creating blog networks. Washington Post Starts Conservative Blog WaPo The Washington Post is launching a blog called Right Now, which aims to go "inside the conservative movement and the Republican party." The new effort is in response to a "shortage of coverage that puts the movement in context," writes blog editor David Weigel. Honolulu Star-Bulletin Attracts Three Bids Star-Bulletin Three potential buyers, including Texas businessman Brian Ferguson, have submitted bids to buy the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Black Press is selling the newspaper to satisfy U.S. Justice Department requirements regarding a planned purchase of Gannett's Honolulu Advertiser. Craigslist Founder Discusses Future of News Missourian Who will create future journalism content? "Networks of bloggers working with networks from traditional newsrooms," according to Craigslist founder Craig Newmark. Newspaper publishers have told him that having classifieds as a revenue stream was "nice while it lasted." Hearst Mulls More Magazine Editor Changes NYP / WWD After announcing new top editors at Town & Country, House Beautiful and Veranda, Hearst is said to be looking to replace Redbook editor in chief Stacy Morrison. Circulation at the title is down. Also: Town & Country plans to add "new voices and ideas." Dennis Tests Financial Mag with The Week Media Week Dennis Publishing is launching a U.K. biannual magazine called Prosper, which will be distributed alongside its flagship weekly title The Week. Dennis is considering launching the biannual as a standalone paid-for title, if it receives positive feedback from readers. New Republic Adds Paywalls to Web Site Observer The New Republic says it will start charging for premium content on the magazine's Web site. While much of TNR.com will remain free, the new premium service will offer "home delivery, digital access, 95+ years of archives and other new perks" for $44.97. Atlantic Media Makes Move to Pay Interns Daily Finance Atlantic Media, parent of The Atlantic and the National Journal, has decided to begin paying all of its interns. The move was prompted by a story in the New York Times about the widespread use of unpaid internships. "We found ourselves revisiting the concept." NY Journalist Job Market Sees 'Hiring Thaw' Observer The New York media world appears to be seeing a "small boomlet" in hiring. Yahoo is hiring at least a dozen people; Bloomberg is active after cutting staffers earlier in the year. But BusinessWeek new top editor Josh Tyrangiel cautions: "I'm not seeing growth." B-to-B Media Suffer Multiple Revenue Declines BtoB All three major b-to-b media revenue streams -- print, events and digital -- declined in 2009, according to figures from American Business Media, an association of business information providers. B-to-b print revenue was hardest hit, plunging 24.0% to $7.5 billion. Newseum to Display OJ Simpson Trial Suit AP The Armani suit, white shirt and tie that O.J. Simpson wore on the day he was acquitted of murder have been acquired by the Newseum in Washington, D.C., for an exhibit on the "trial of the century." The display aims to "help people ponder the legal system and celebrity." Sun-Times: Newspapers Have 10 Years Left Bloomberg Printed newspapers will probably survive as long as a decade before being largely replaced by digital news, says James Tyree, who led the October buyout of the Chicago Sun-Times' publisher. Newspapers will "have to evolve into something else -- or you’ll just be out of business." NY Times Hikes Subscription Price on Kindle Reuters Perhaps in a sign of increasing confidence to stand up to Amazon, the New York Times has raised the monthly new subscription price of its Kindle edition to $19.99 from $13.99. The Times's launch on the iPad has been initially with a free "Editors' Choice" edition. Popular Science, Time Slammed for iPad Prices Mediaweek Magazine customers are howling over what they consider to be excessive prices for single issues on Apple's iPad, just days into the launch of the device. "I will not pay $5 per issue" to read Popular Science on the iPad, says one typical customer comment on Apple's iTunes store. Washington Post Shares Get Barron's Bounce Barron's Washington Post Co. saw its shares jump 6% Monday after Barron's called the company "dirt cheap" and suggested its stock could double to $900. Barron's argued that Washington Post is perhaps "the most undervalued media company" due to its Kaplan education division. Tribune Opposition Called an 'About-Face' Crain's Chicago Some of Tribune's lenders are seeking documents from bondholder Centerbridge Partners relating to the company's 2007 leveraged buyout, according to court filings. The lenders describe Centerbridge's current opposition to Tribune's buyout as an "about-face." Journal Register Mulls New Company Name E&P Journal Register CEO John Paton, who is leading a campaign to transform his firm "from a collection of newspapers into a true multi-platform media company," is floating the idea of changing its name as well. The Journal Register name "has certain connotations." Publishers Weekly Sold to Former Publisher PW Publishers Weekly has been acquired by PWxyz, a newly formed company headed by one-time PW publisher George Slowik. John Poulin, CEO of PW former owner Reed Business Information, says, "Given George's history with Publishers Weekly, this will be a great match." Craigslist Founder Predicts Shift in Power cnewmark People use social networking tools to figure out who they can trust, writes Craigslist founder Craig Newmark. "By the end of this decade, power and influence will shift largely to those people with the best reputations, from people with money and nominal power." Debate: Is Permission Needed to Retweet? Ars Technica When Google News publishes newspaper headlines, is it treading on thin ice? What about aggregators that publish headlines and a one-line excerpt? Some news organizations argue that they should be able to "set the parameters by which people can republish our stuff." Murdoch Is 'Still Steamed' Over NY Times WaPo The Wall Street Journal's decision to add a New York section to its edition is more than just a local dust-up. Those who know owner Rupert Murdoch say he is still steamed about the New York Times's coverage of his bid to buy the Journal's parent company. Hearst Eyes Seventeen for Teen Web Focus Mediaweek Hearst's network of teen-related Web sites will relaunch around Seventeen.com this summer, with other sites, like CosmoGirl.com, functioning as its channels. The site grouping will add social networking features, video and a variety of content to increase time spent. Playboy Ardor Cools as Licensing Heats Up Wall St Journal Playboy has come to rely more heavily on licensing as advertising declined from its magazine. The move has rankled some core fans, highlighting the delicate task facing struggling magazine companies: how to capitalize on their brands without diminishing their value. Economist Raises Its Web Paywall Higher Mediaweek Now, only subscribers of The Economist can read content from the magazine's weekly print edition online. Some content, however, remains free, including daily news and blog posts. The change is a run-up to a broader plan to reset pricing as e-reading options grow. TV Guide Breaks Up Program Listings Grid Mediaweek TV Guide plans to break up its back-of-the-book listings grid, a mainstay of the 56-year-old magazine, into day-of-the-week sections. TV Guide also will take stronger viewpoints, telling people what it recommends watching, and highlighting its recommendations on the grid itself. NME Unveils Redesign Under New Editor Media Week NME has had a major overhaul with a new design, logo and editorial content, as publisher IPC seeks to reverse the U.K. music weekly's declining circulation. The overhaul is the first major change to the title under its first female editor, Krissi Murison, who over last July. Meredith's More Shows Off New Facelift MIN The font is clearly different in the "new" More, begun in March. So, too, is the "For Women of Style & Substance" tag line, as editor-in-chief Lesley Jane Seymour says that it better reflects the image of the Meredith magazine targeted to women age 40 and over. BusinessWeek Team Folds as Staffers Exit TalkingBizNews The BusinessWeek softball team, which won the New York media league championship as recently as 2008, has folded for the current season because layoffs and departures have decimated its ranks. Dozens of staffers have left since Bloomberg acquired the magazine in December. Journalists' Duties Expand to Twitter, Blogs WebProNews More than a third of traditional journalists now contribute to Twitter and 39% produce content for a blog as part of their expanded duties, says a new PRWeek/PR Newswire survey. "Journalists are doing more with less." They have "heavier workloads and increased competition." Media Seeking to Circumvent Apple's iPad Wall St Journal While magazine and newspaper publishers rushed to prep their titles for the debut of Apple's iPad last weekend, some are also working to develop ways to sell their publications separately from iTunes. Some publishers fear Apple plans to create an iPad "newsstand." Apple iPad Wins Attention of News Media WaPo The launch of Apple's iPad made the cover of both Time and Newsweek. Even veteran Apple-watchers are shaking their heads: "Their ability to get press all out of proportion to news value amazes me." Many of the same media outlets covering the iPad also hope to profit from it. Newsweek Editor Rumored for Departure NY Post The news of the Washington Post Co.'s plan to relocate the offices of Newsweek yet again has spurred a fresh round of rumors that editor-in-chief Jon Meacham will be leaving. "He can't be happy about what is going on," says one source. The title lost $20 million last year. NY Times Sells Small Stake in Red Sox NY Post The New York Times, after searching for buyers for more than a year, has sold a small slice of its stake in the Boston Red Sox to Henry McCance of Greylock Partners. The small size of the deal underscores the difficulty of finding a buyer willing to pay up in down times. Gannett Made Illegal Firings, Union Says CH News Gannett violated Hawaiian law by firing more than 50 workers just days after selling the Honolulu Advertiser to longtime rival Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the Advertiser's employees' union is claiming in court. The law requires 60-notice prior to the termination, the union says. Salon Audience Jumps Following Redesign ClickZ Less than six months after its most recent redesign, Salon.com is releasing internal numbers that show sizeable jumps in its traffic. The new site bundles stories based on topic, a tactic designed to appeal to search engines and keep readers on the site longer. Apple iPad Unlikely to Save Print Media TBI Research Magazines will only realize a small percent of their overall print revenue from the Apple iPad, according to Rory Maher, director of TBI Research. "The revenue opportunity for magazines will likely not be enough to counter near-term revenue declines from print operations." Tribune Gains Time in Bankruptcy Case Chicago Tribune Tribune has bought more time to negotiate with its fractious creditors after it filed a motion in bankruptcy court to extend until April 30 its right to propose a reorganization plan in its 15-month-old Chapter 11 case. Tribune has already filed four extensions. Philly Newspapers Win More Time for Loan Philly Inquirer Philadelphia Newspapers, owner of the Inquirer and Daily News, has been granted a reprieve on its deadline for the company to repay a $15 million loan that has kept it afloat while in bankruptcy. The agreement now calls for the loan to be paid by June 30. Murdoch British Papers Eye New Metrics NMA News Corp.'s British newspaper arm has suspended its membership to Web traffic measuring firm ABC Electronic following the announcement of plans to introduce paywalls to the Times and Sunday Times. As more publishers adopt paywalls, established metrics could be ditched. Variety.com Paywall Is Easily Bypassed The Wrap Variety, the entertainment trade publication, recently changed its Web site to a subscription model. However, there is a "very simple way" to bypass the paywall: Replace the part in the article URL that says www.variety.com with 199.212.222.13. "Enjoy the entire site gratis." WSJ Cuts Prices In Battle with NY Times Reuters The Wall Street Journal is cutting new subscription prices by as much as 80% in some cases as it prepares to confront its rival, the New York Times, with a New York City edition. The Journal has mailed Times subscribers an offer for home delivery for $10 per month. Lee Enterprises Preps Culinary Magazine St Louis Business Lee Enterprises plans to launch a syndicated culinary and home-entertaining magazine that will debut early this summer and be based in St. Louis. Catherine Neville, co-founder of Sauce magazine, will oversee the title and its extensions on TV, radio and online. Newsweek Staffers to Lose New Offices Mediaweek Scarcely a year after Newsweek moved from its Midtown offices to cushier Tribeca digs, staffers are being told they will have to pack up again, to relocate uptown. Newsweek is trading places with Washington Post Co. sibling Kaplan, which is outgrowing its space. People Magazine Is Exported to Greece MIN Time Inc.'s People, the most profitable U.S. magazine since at least 1991, has yet to be a major force overseas because its concept is seen as very American. Thus, the new launch of People Greece sets a precedent in being published in a foreign language. Cosmo Editor Headed for ABC TV Movie NY Post Cosmopolitan editor Kate White will appear in an ABC movie, "Beauty and the Briefcase," along with Hilary Duff playing a freelance writer who lands an assignment with the magazine. While White makes a cameo, the editor-in-chief character will be played by Jaime Pressly. McKinsey: Glimmer of Hope for Newspapers McKinsey The Internet is driving increased consumption of news, according to research by McKinsey, but newspapers remain the most trusted medium. While young news consumers prefer to get their news from TV and online, newspapers "still hold significant advertising value." Survey: Most Believe Newspapers Will Vanish Radio Ink Arbitron and Edison's new "Infinite Dial" study asked respondents whether they agreed with the statement: "In the future, there will be no more newspapers because everyone will be getting their news over the Internet." Some 49% agreed, up from 27% three years ago. Conde Nast Considers 'iPad First' Policy Gawker Conde Nast is said to be planning to offer some magazine articles on the Apple iPad several days in advance of their release on the open Web. Wired magazine will "experiment with different options, ranging from short delays to long ones," says editor Chris Anderson. Dow Jones: No iPads Until We Test Them Barron's Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal, has issued guidelines regarding giving the Apple iPad access to corporate networks: "We will not permit any iPad access to the Dow Jones global enterprise network until our tests are complete" to ensure "no vulnerability." FT Chief: Consumers Will Pay for Online NY Times Financial Times CEO John Ridding says all newspapers might make of a go of charging for online access, in part because they have no choice. "You can build strong content businesses if you have product that differentiated enough and you take care in implementation." Wall St Journal Gets Its Own 'Page Six' Observer / NY The Wall Street Journal has hired Marshall Heyman, a freelancer from Los Angeles who worked at W magazine, to shepherd a new section that is expected to cover nightlife, high society and events. Also: The staffing at the Journal's New York section is almost complete. Washington Times: We're Not for Sale DC Business The Washington Times has denied an online report by Drudge Report that its owner had put the newspaper up for sale, saying it has been approached by buyers in the past but is not working on a deal now. The Times has made a series of severe cutbacks in recent months. Hearst, MediaNews Sell Classified Stakes Denver Business Hearst and MediaNews have sold part of their stakes in Kaango, an online classified-advertising software vendor, to Atex of Reading, England, for an undisclosed sum. Hearst and MediaNews will continue as shareholders while Atex expands Kaango worldwide. American Media Rejoins Magazine Group NY Post National Enquirer publisher American Media is rejoining the Magazine Publishers of America after a two-year absence, providing the trade organization a needed win as it rethinks its future. The MPA is the chief U.S. lobbying group for consumer magazines. U.S. News & World Report Makes Cuts NY Post Mort Zuckerman is making more cuts at his U.S. News & World Report. In the latest moves, about a dozen people on the business side have been given the ax, among them the entire marketing department in New York. The Chicago and San Francisco offices are also being closed. Vogue Staffs Up Online with New Editor WWD Vogue magazine's Web site has hired Alexandra Mack, formerly managing editor of Interview, to be managing editor of Vogue.com, a new position. The site is adding more Web-only features, videos and editor blogs. "As Vogue.com grows, we will staff it accordingly." Conde Nast's Former Editors Go Online Observer Former top editors whose magazines were shuttered by Conde Nast are planning online ventures. Ex-Cookie editor Pilar Guzman is creating a Web site called Mom Filter; Domino's Deborah Needleman is developing a commerce site with Huffington Post chief Ken Lerer. BusinessWeek.com Ex-Editor Eyes Web WebNewser Former BusinessWeek.com editor-in-chief John Byrne says he plans to launch an online hub for the "global business professional" in May or June. The online network will be "sort of like a HuffPo for business," with separate Web sites that serve specific business niches. Bay Citizen News Site Sets Launch Date SF Business The Bay Citizen, the nonprofit news organization formerly known as the Bay Area News Project, plans to officially launch May 26. The news organization has morphed into a combination news and community resource. Students and volunteers will provide much of its content. Time Inc, NY Times Eye Video for iPad Ars Technica Video services company Brightcove says it will support HTML5 for its customers, which include Time Inc. and the New York Times. The move means that the two media outlets will have the option of dropping Flash in some cases in order to be more compatible with the Apple iPad. Cosmo, Atlantic See Big Growth Online MIN Many magazine brands enjoyed double- and even triple-digit growth in their Web traffic numbers over the past year. Among some of the leading gainers: TheAtlantic.com expanded its audience by 47%, Hearst's Cosmopolitan.com saw its unique visitors rise 65%. Entertainment Weekly Goes to Bed Earlier Mediaweek Entertainment Weekly is tweaking its delivery schedule to get copies to subscribers earlier, aiming to fight irrelevancy as it competes with 24/7 Web news. Starting with the April 9 issue, 97% of subscribers will get delivery by Friday. EW will move its close 12 hours earlier. Hollywood Reporter Publisher to Leave TheWrap Eric Mika, publisher of the Hollywood Reporter, is expected to be shown the door this week, along with several sales people. Richard Beckman, CEO of owner e5 Global Media, declines to comment. Among other changes, the showbiz trade is expected to become a weekly. Deadline Hires from Hollywood Reporter Deadline Nikki Finke's Deadline is hiring Nellie Andreeva, the Hollywood Reporter's TV editor, to cover the television industry full-time for the Web site. Andreeva "intends to continue to deliver high-profile scoops and on-the-spot analysis about the small screen's new programs." Tribune Cash Flow Soaked Up by Lawyers LA Times In the 15 months since Tribune filed for bankruptcy, law firms and other professionals have billed the company $138 million, or about one-quarter of the media giant's cash flow last year. Chicago's Sidley Austin, the lead debtor's attorney, filed a top rate of $925 an hour. St Louis Post-Dispatch OKs Wage Cuts St Louis Business The union for St. Louis Post-Dispatch newsroom and advertising staffers has approved a 5 1/2-year contract, calling for a 6% wage cut and three unpaid, one-week furloughs over the next 2 1/2 years. Owner Lee Enterprises expects to save $1.3 million through September. Chicago Tribune to Sell Archived Photos News & Tech The Chicago Tribune is kicking off an effort to turn its archived photographs into a new revenue opportunity. The publisher plans to digitize and license more than 7 million prints for search and sale, dating back to the early 20th century. The process may take up to five years. WSJ Joins Newspaper Battle at Starbucks AdAge The Wall Street Journal is going on sale in 450 Starbucks stores in New York City area, expanding its distribution less than a month before it introduces a New York edition. Starbucks already distributes the New York Times and signed up USA Today just two weeks ago. iPad Rules Prohibit Magazine Subscriptions Wired Apple has revised the terms of service for its iTunes software, prohibiting the gifting of "in-app subscriptions" -- meaning users won't be able to buy iPad magazine subscriptions. The change may be disappointing to publishers hailing the iPad as the future of magazines. Publishers Differ on iPad Business Models FT The iPad's early apps display a wide variety of business models, suggesting that there is little consensus among publishers about how to exploit the new device. Time magazine will offer its print issue for the same as its newsstand price; Esquire will be $2 below its cover price. Apple May Plan 'iNewsstand' for Periodicals Gawker Apple is believed to be working on its own built-in iPad store for magazine and newspaper content -- a sort of "iNewsstand" to complement iBooks, the bookstore, and iTunes, the music store. Pricing, interface, format, revenue split and content rules are still unknown. Newsweek Cover Story Gushes Over iPad Fortune Newsweek's April 5 cover story proclaims that the iPad "will change everything -- the way you use computers, read books and watch TV." Interestingly, the story's writer, Dan Lyons, was underwhelmed about the device when the iPad was unveiled in January. Google Accuses Journo of Leak to CNET CNET Bob Tur, the Los Angeles broadcast journalist whose company sued YouTube in 2006 over a copyright complaint, has been accused by Google-employed lawyers of leaking confidential court documents in the Viacom-YouTube battle to the tech news site CNET. NY Times Chiefs' Pay 'Insults' Boston Globe Boston Globe The Boston Globe's employee union wants members to protest the multi-million dollar pay of New York Times Co. bosses Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and Janet Robinson. Last year, the Times Co. threatened to shut down the Globe if workers did not agree to $20 million in cuts. News Corp Digital Plan Gets Tepid Response Wall St Journal News Corp., whose U.K. Times plans to charge for online news, also has been pitching to offer bundled digital subscriptions with other news providers. Digital exec Jon Miller has been seeking collaborators for months. Companies appear to be staying on the sidelines for now. Adweek Tweaks 'Hot List' Amid Ad Declines Mediaweek In response to magazine industry declines, Adweek says it altered the criteria for its annual "Hot List." Ad-page growth alone "no longer does justice to magazines' relevance." Time Inc.'s People is the No. 1 title on the 2010 list, due in part to its numerous brand extensions. Vanity Fair Editor Carter: Print Isn't Dying Mediaweek If print media's business model is changing, editors must double down on delivering what readers have always wanted: compelling stories and iconic photos, writes Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter. On vanityfair.com, longer articles routinely are the most popular, he notes. Esquire, People Win Adweek Hot List Honors NY Post Adweek's Hot List, due out on Monday, is said to honor Esquire's David Granger, whose innovations include an augmented reality cover in December, as editor of the year. The No. 1 magazine is People, which is credited with blowing away rivals with brand extensions. Time Magazine: iPad Awaits 'Its Orson Welles' Wall St Journal Time magazine plans to roll out its edition for the Apple iPad shortly after the hotly anticipated launch of the tablet device on April 3. Managing editor Richard Stengel admits that early iPad content may not meet the hype: "The medium is waiting for its Orson Welles." Time Inc Top Editor Removed from Masthead NY Post Time Inc. editor in chief John Huey and Real Simple executive VP Sylvia Auton are said to be battling over editorial independence stemming from a Wal-Mart advertising insert. Real Simple is charged with giving information about editorial to an ad agency in advance. Elle Magazine Owner Targeted by NY Activist FT Guy Wyser-Pratte, a veteran New York activist who has led assaults on several companies, is targeting a seat on the board of Elle magazine parent Lagardere, in an attempt to shake up the French media giant. The company's structure "is archaic and undemocratic." Variety Warns Studios About Online Rivals LA Times Variety editor Tim Gray is telling publicity execs that if they give casting scoops to any of the trade's online rivals, the paper won't run their big announcement stories in print. Studio publicity execs are unimpressed: "It's a terribly analog way of thinking in a digital world." Hollywood Reporter Denies Nikki Finke Offer HR / Deadline E5 Global Media CEO Richard Beckman says there is "no truth" to the report by Deadline founder Nikki Finke that she was offered the job of editor in chief of The Hollywood Reporter. Finke responds: "Huh? Let me reaffirm that the offer was real" and included a $450,000 salary. HollywoodLife's Bonnie Fuller Has Followers WWD HollywoodLife.com, the new celebrity Web site edited by Bonnie Fuller, is steadily drawing readers, garnering nearly 2 million uniques in February. Fuller is also active on Twitter, where she boasts more than 8,700 followers, while HollywoodLife has more than 4,500. Murdoch to Launch UK Web Pay Walls in June BBC Rupert Murdoch's U.K. Times and Sunday Times newspapers plan to start charging access to their Web sites in June. Users will pay £1 for a day's access and £2 for a week's subscription. News International chief Rebekah Brooks promises: "This is just the start." Conrad Black Florida Mansion on the Block Sun-Times Conrad Black, jailed for looting his former newspaper empire, has lost his oceanfront mansion in Palm Beach, Fla., as well. The ex-Sun-Times chief "can't pay bills." His $32 million estate, now up for sale, has five bedrooms, a tennis court and a movie theater. Independent Owner Pays to Offload Papers Telegraph Alexander Lebedev, a Russian millionaire and former KGB spy, has acquired the U.K.'s Independent and Independent on Sunday newspapers for the sum of £1, roughly the same price of their cost on the newsstand. He also will receive £9.25 million to assume liabilities. Roger Ebert Plans New Movie Review Show Sun-Times Roger Ebert and his wife plan to produce a new movie review TV show with the working title "Roger Ebert presents At the Movies." Ebert may make "occasional appearances" on the air. "We will go full-tilt new media: net streaming, cell phone apps, the whole enchilada." Conde Nast, Time Inc Jump on Apple iPad Wall St Journal Magazine publishers and advertisers from lining up for the launch of the Apple iPad. Wired is offering different levels of ad functionality depending on how many ad pages a marketer buys. Sports Illustrated is showing advertisers three video-heavy ad prototypes. WSJ iPad Edition to Cost $17.99 a Month Bloomberg The Wall Street Journal plans to charge $17.99 a month for its edition on Apple's iPad. The Journal has sold four-month ad packages to Coca-Cola and FedEx for $400,000. Also, Time magazine has signed up several major advertisers for single ad spots costing $200,000. Hearst's Skiff: A Platform, Not a Gadget MIN The forthcoming Hearst-incubated Skiff e-reading project will be a platform for digital distribution across a range of devices, says head Gil Fuchsberg. Skiff will be the "e-reading partner" for Samsung devices, with content from the New York Times, Forbes, Esquire and others. NY Times Pays Damages Over Op-Ed Piece Reuters The New York Times has apologized to Singapore's leaders, including prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, and paid $114,000 in damages for an op-ed in the Times's International Herald Tribune. An inference that Lee "did not achieve his position through merit" was unintended. Boston Globe Unveils Web Video Newscast AP The Boston Globe will start producing a mid-day, 90-second newscast on its Web site, offering a quick look at the day's top stories and the weather. "We see a regular newscast as a major step forward." Corporate sibling New York Times recently started a mid-day video show. Washington Post CEO Pay Cut Nearly in Half AP The Washington Post cut the pay of CEO Donald Graham by 49% last year as the newspaper publisher trimmed its staff and reined in other costs amid a severe advertising slump. Graham's compensation package totaled $412,740 last year, down from $811,960 in 2008. WSJ Local NY Section to Arrive on April 26 NY Times The Wall Street Journal will begin printing a local news section for New York on April 26, not April 12, as previously reported. The change could be related to plans to switch the Journal's printing for the region from a plant in South Brunswick, N.J., to one in the Bronx. SF Chronicle Inks Deal for Bloomberg News SF Business The San Francisco Chronicle will add stories from Bloomberg News to its business pages and Web site starting March 28. Hearst, the Chronicle's owner, recently made a similar deal to publish sports reporting from "citizen sportswriters" firm Bleacher Report. Daytona Beach News-Journal OK'd for Sale AP Despite being worth $300 million in 2006, a federal judge has approved the sale of the Daytona Beach News-Journal to Halifax Media for $20 million. Attorneys for the newspaper's parent company, PMV Inc., had asked for a delay of the sale to allow the economy to improve. Newspaper Ad Revenue Drops to 1986 Level AP Newspaper advertising revenue plunged 27% last year to its lowest level since 1986, according to figures released by the Newspaper Association of America. Newspapers sold $27.6 billion worth of print and online ads in 2009, which is down from $37.8 billion the year before. Huffington Post Seeks Ads from Automakers ClickZ The Huffington Post has entered a partnership with Detroit-based ad rep firm Focus Media and Marketing, which could help automakers gain more social media traction. For HuffPost, the goal is to lure advertising dollars from top automakers Ford, Chrysler and GM. Deadline Founder Rejects Hollywood Reporter Deadline Nikki Finke turned down a "very lucrative" offer in January to become the new editor in chief of Hollywood Reporter, she says. The founder of the Deadline showbiz news site says that her "surprising editorial and financial success opens up a lot of opportunities almost daily." GlobalPost Journalists Paid $1,000 a Month WaPo GlobalPost, the year-old online startup that employs journalists in 50 countries, aims to fill a void as many U.S. newspapers cut back on foreign bureaus. The pay, however, is generally $1,000 a month, meaning that GlobalPost staffers must find other sources of income. Monocle Podcast Inspires New Radio Show Media Week Monocle magazine will launch a 24-hour radio show called "Monocle 24" later this year. The move is an effort to build on the success of the design title's weekly podcast. "We've had an overwhelming response from our listeners," says editor and podcast host Tyler Brûlé. Forbes Backer Bono Named 'Worst Investor' SF Business U2 singer Bono's investments into Elevation Partners have helped make him the "worst investor investor in America," according to the online publication 24/7 Wall Street. Forbes, Palm and Move.com have been "an unprecedented string of disastrous investments." McGraw-Hill Former CEO McGraw Jr Dies Bloomberg Harold McGraw Jr., the former CEO of McGraw-Hill who once fought off a hostile takeover of the family business, died at his home Wednesday morning at age 92. McGraw was chairman emeritus of McGraw-Hill. His son Harold "Terry" McGraw III has served as CEO since 1998. Apple iPad Buyers 'Will Read Print Media' AppleInsider More than a third of consumers eyeing Apple's forthcoming iPad say they plan to use the device to read books, newspapers and magazines, says a poll by comScore. Also, consumers who are already "iOwners" are more likely to pay for newspaper and magazine subscriptions. Gannett's USA Today to Run Ads for iPad ClickZ Gannett rich media advertising firm PointRoll has teamed with mobile ad platform AdMarvel to enable interactive ads on the Apple iPad. Gannett's USA Today, which is an AdMarvel publisher, will be among the sites launching on the iPad with ads served up by the partners. Hearst Helps Turn Phones Into E-Readers Wall St Journal Hearst e-reading firm Skiff has signed a deal with Samsung to become its "e-reading service partner" for mobile phones. The deal means that users of future Samsung smart phones will be able to view periodical content in a format designed for 4-inch screens. Conde Nast Names Tonchi Editor of W NY Times Stefano Tonchi, the editor of T, the New York Times style magazine, has been appointed editor of W, the fashion magazine published by Conde Nast. Tonchi says he wants to make W more accessible: "More general interest, less of a fashion-obsessed publication." Dow Jones: SmartMoney.com Editor Exits TBN SmartMoney.com editor Tom Weber is leaving the personal finance publication in the wake of Dow Jones & Co.'s acquisition of the 50% stake from Hearst it didn't already own. The Dow Jones purchase "means there will be a different set of challenges ahead," according to Weber. National Enquirer Appoints Frost Editor NY Post Tony Frost has been named editor in chief of the National Enquirer and its smaller, more ribald tabloid sister the Globe. He replaces David Perel, who last year took over the American Media-owned Web site Radar Online. Frost previously co-edited the Globe in 2004. Baltimore Sun Editor Cook to Step Down Baltimore Sun Baltimore Sun editor J. Montgomery Cook, who oversaw a reorganization last year to merge print and online operations, is leaving the Tribune newspaper after about 15 months in the position for a job in academia. The Sun laid off 61 employees last year. Tribune Gets OK to Drop Bonus Motions AP Tribune will be allowed to withdraw a motion seeking court approval of two management bonus plans worth $20 million and instead include them in its reorganization plan, a judge has ruled. A union for Baltimore Sun staffers is among those opposing the bonus plans. NY Times Offers Inside Look via Web Video AFP The New York Times has introduced a daily online video program offering an inside look at its editorial decision-making process. The program, called TimesCast, will appear every day on NYTimes.com at 1 p.m. ET. The video show "will give viewers unprecedented access." Murdoch British Newspapers Lose Millions Telegraph News Corp.'s U.K. newspapers are reporting a loss of about $132 million in the year to June 28, 2009, as advertising collapsed. The company, which plans to introduce pay walls to its Web sites, expects more revenues "to be derived from direct relationships with readers." Financial Times Modifies Metered Model BtoB The Financial Times has tweaked its metered model for enabling access to content on FT.com. Previously, users could access one FT.com article before they were acquired to register. Now they must register before accessing any articles. The FT.com's blogs remain open. Gannett's USA Today Bows Ad Campaign BtoB USA Today has kicked off a new trade campaign, "What America Wants," designed to highlight its connection with readers. The campaign includes print and online ads. It is running in trade publications targeting advertisers and media buyers, as well as social network sites. Philly Newspapers: No Lender Credit Bid Inquirer An appeals court has ruled that Philadelphia Newspapers, the owner of the Inquirer and Daily News, can bar its senior lenders from using their debt to try to buy the company at auction. CEO Brian Tierney calls the decision a victory for "the company and our community." Hearst Sees Big Bounce in Print, Web Ads Forbes Hearst Magazines says advertising sales for April rose 12% compared to the same period last year. "We're seeing a moving recovery in the ad market." Also, Hearst's digital properties are expected to see a rise in ad sales of about 30% for the first half of the year. Cosmopolitan Resort Renamed in Lawsuit LV Sun The $3.9 billion Cosmopolitan resort under construction in Las Vegas has a new name: "The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas." Previously known as "The Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino," the new name is the result of a settlement in a trademark lawsuit filed by Cosmo owner Hearst. Forbes News Anchor Jumps to TechCrunch TechCrunch Evelyn Rusli, an anchor reporter for the Forbes Video Network, is leaving to join the writing team of the technology blog TechCrunch. TechCrunch plans to launch its own online video project, TechCrunch TV, for which Rusli will serve as the main anchor for breaking news. The Onion Brings Web Video Style to TV NY Times Cablevision's IFC is developing a television series based on The Onion, the satirical newspaper and Web site, as part of a new comedy-heavy slate of programming. The "Onion News Network" will bring the sensibility of the Web site's popular video clips to TV. Perez Hilton Plans Third Site, Music Show Billboard Perez Hilton plans to launch a weekly music countdown show in the coming months, aiming to offer "a cooler alternative to 'On-Air With Ryan Seacrest.' " Also, the celebrity blogger says he will launch a third Web site besides the original PerezHilton and fashion site CocoPerez. NY Times Not Worried About Google, WSJ TBN The New York Times is not worried about what technology it uses to reach its readers as long as it reaches them, according to chief Arthur Sulzberger Jr. "I am not that other guy who rails against Google. Railing against Google is sort of railing against oxygen." Dow Jones Union Agrees on Labor Contract Bloomberg Dow Jones & Co., the Wall Street Journal's publisher, has agreed to a contract with union workers that will freeze wages for 17 months and include salary increases of at least 2%. The tentative agreement, which will require worker ratification, would run through June 30, 2014. MediaNews Parent Emerges from Chapter 11 Denver Business Affiliated Media, the holding company for MediaNews Group, has emerged from bankruptcy protection after less than two months. The company's pre-packaged reorganization plan will allow Affiliated to greatly reduce its debt and leave CEO William Dean Singleton in charge. Seattle Times Strives to Get Online to Pay Puget Sound The Seattle Times is reaching toward digital horizons far beyond just posting its stories on seattletimes.com, such as expanding its e-reader and mobile-phone capabilities. However, turning those efforts into a robust, growing revenue stream has so far proved elusive. Conde Nast Expected to Select W Editor NY Post Conde Nast says it expects to name the new editor for W early this week. Joe Zee, the creative director of Elle, is seen to be in a neck and neck race with Stefano Tonchi, the editor of the New York Times fashion magazine T, to replace the departing Patrick McCarthy. Meredith's Family Circle Eyes GH's Seal Mediaweek In a nod to the iconic Good Housekeeping Seal, Meredith's Family Circle has launched an awards program that it hopes will boost ad sales. The new Family Circle of Excellence program allows marketers to buy the rights to use the seal in their own promotional efforts. Time Inc Hires Publisher from The Week MIN Jed Hartman, who as publisher of The Week magazine produced a +10% ad-page differential in 2009, will return to his Time Inc. roots in the new capacity of group publisher of Fortune and CNNMoney.com. Hartman once served as Fortune Money Group New York sales director. Playboy Web Editor Exits Over Differences Chicago Trib Scott Smith is out after a year at Playboy.com, the last seven months as its editor. Playboy cited "creative differences" and said his responsibilities would be split by two current editors. The move comes as Playboy continues to struggle with its online identity. Interview Magazine Sees iPad as Future Journalism.co.uk Interview magazine will roll out an app for the Apple iPad, available the day the digital device is released next month, for $1.99. "Interview will be the showcase magazine application," says Interview's Scott Lambert. Each issue will have audio and video, he adds. Bloomberg Rolls Out Online Baseball Stats NY Post Bloomberg LP has launched its first consumer products -- two online baseball statistics tools, one aimed at fantasy baseball players and another produced for baseball fans. The products are being rolled out in partnership with Major League Baseball's online operation. Clinton Names Politico, HuffPo as Favorites Computerworld Bill Clinton, the former U.S. president, names Politico, Daily Beast and Huffington Post as among this favorite Web sites. The political sites "don't have to do what a newspaper does every day," he adds, which is why he is "really worried" about the future of newspapers. Magazine Execs Discuss Tablets, E-Readers AdAge If a magazine's Web site and its print edition share the same content, some recalibration may be necessary before the tablet edition succeeds, say execs at an industry gathering. Sports Illustrated editor Terry McDonell notes: "The platform itself becomes part of the content." New York, National Geo Top Digital Mags WWD New York magazine and National Geographic, with two honors each, lead the American Society of Magazine Editors' first-ever National Magazine Awards for digital media. Also, Michael Kinsley, founding editor of Slate, is being inducted into the Magazine Editors' Hall of Fame. Hearst Seeking Editor for Town & Country NY Post Hearst Magazines boss Cathie Black is said to be quietly searching to replace Pamela Fiori, the longtime editor-in-chief of Town & Country. Like all magazines tied to the luxury market, Town & Country has been reeling. Fiori is one of the longest-serving chief editors at Hearst. Conde Nasties Jumping to e5 Global Media NY Post Richard Beckman, CEO of Hollywood Reporter owner e5 Global Media, is staffing up at his new gig with ex-Conde Nast colleagues. "He's Conde Nast-izing the company." Rumors say The Hollywood Reporter will be made over into a cross between The Economist and Vanity Fair. Harper's Magazine Loses Two Top Editors NY Times Two high-ranking editors are leaving Harper's Magazine: Jennifer Szalai, a senior editor handling reviews, and Paul Ford, an associate editor who oversaw the Web site. Harper's circulation has been slipping, and it missed rate base in the last six months of 2009. Reed Business Sells Furniture Trade Titles Greater Triad Florida publisher Sandow Media is acquiring trade newspaper Furniture/Today and several sibling publications from Reed Business Information. RBI's Greensboro, N.C., office will become part of Sandow Media, which will take on the publications' 100 staffers. Sporting News Today Shifting to Pay Model SportsBusiness Daily Sporting News' digital daily news service Sporting News Today on April 1 will shift to a pay model in which users will be charged $2.99 per month. The subscription will allow for full transferability between any wired or wireless device, including the iPad and other devices. Murdoch's London Times Prepares Pay Wall Channel 4 Staff at News Corp.'s Times and Sunday Times in London are being given access to a preview of the newspapers' coming paid-for service. Rebekah Brooks, CEO of News International, admits that site traffic will plummet once the company introduces "fair pricing for digital content." Gannett Raises Pay Package for CEO in 2009 AP Gannett, the troubled U.S. newspaper publisher, increased the pay package of CEO Craig Dubow by nearly 41% last year. Gannett gave Dubow pay valued at $4.4 million, up from $3.1 million the year before. However, that is still far below the $7.4 million he got in 2007. Reuters Offers Data Service to Newspapers BtoB Reuters is now offering U.S. newspapers print-ready financial data layouts via automated delivery. The new service, Reuters Financial Infographics, uses Thomson Reuters information to provide camera-ready pages and graphs that can be customized to individual newspapers. Wired Magazine Unveils iPad Prototype Reuters Wired magazine is unveiling a demonstration of how the Conde Nast title will appear on the forthcoming Apple iPad. The Wired iPad app "marks a clear retreat back towards what were once known as walled gardens," some observers say. "An iPad story can never go viral." W's Editor to Exit as Magazine Revamps NY Post Patrick McCarthy, chairman of Conde Nast's Fairchild Fashion Group and editor of W magazine, is stepping down at the end of the year. His departure is part a shakeup that returns W to Conde Nast's magazine unit. W has been harder hit than most fashion titles. Hearst: Seattlepi.com Is a 'Learning Lab' AP Seattlepi.com, the online successor to the print version of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, marks its first birthday Thursday. About 4 million people visit the site each month. But whether there is enough money to be made as an online only publication remains an open question. NY Times Turns to Blogs to Boost News FT The New York Times is entering a deal with Fwix, a local news and blog aggregator start-up, as a low-cost method to supplement the newspaper's news gathering. Fwix was founded in 2008 by Darian Shirazi, a 23-year-old former software engineer at Facebook and eBay. St Louis Post-Dispatch Seeks Wage Cuts St Louis Business Lee Enterprises' St. Louis Post-Dispatch is presenting its unionized newsroom staff its "last, best and final offer" as managers and employees strain to reach a new labor agreement. The offer calls for a 6% wage reduction plus a week-long, unpaid furlough, among other cuts. Conde Nast: W Magazine to See Shakeup WWD Conde Nast plans to move all editorial and business operations for W magazine out of the Fairchild Fashion Group. Longtime boss Patrick McCarthy will continue as head of the group through the end of the year. As part of the restructuring, an editor in chief of W will be named. AOL Hires Conde Nasties for New Blogs WWD AOL is tapping into Conde Nast's shuttered Gourmet to help staff its new Web site KitchenDaily. The site will be edited by Gourmet alum Cheryl Brown. Also, former editors from the now-defunct Modern Bride and Elegant Bride are joining AOL's new bridal blog AisleDash. NY Times Looks to Licensing Web Video MIN The New York Times is making available raw footage and stories from its video library for licensing to other video producers, filmmakers and commercial makers. Video syndication and licensing could become the next incremental revenue stream for many publishers. Apple iPad Could Boost Mag Circulation AP Magazine publishers may have a new way to boost flagging circulation: the iPad. The Audit Bureau of Circulations is changing its definition of a digital magazine to accommodate the devices. The new rules allow publishers to count paid digital subscriptions. Hearst Exports Cosmopolitan to Vietnam Min Hearst is launching Cosmopolitan in Vietnam, published in partnership with Vietnamese publisher Sun Flower Media. The 60th edition of the young women's magazine will initially be distributed in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, targeting 20 to 35-year-old working females. Meredith Exec Jumps to American Media NY Post Meredith is losing the VP/group publisher of Parents and American Baby magazines to American Media. Diane Newman will be the new executive VP and publishing director of American Media's Active Lifestyle Group, which includes Shape, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. The Nation Hires Ex-E&P Editor for Blog Nation The Nation is naming Greg Mitchell, former editor of Editor & Publisher, as writer and editor of its new media blog, launching in April concurrent with a redesign of the magazine's Web site. Mitchell served as editor of E&P from 2002 to 2009 and is the author of nine books. Washington Post to Launch Business Weekly Wa Business The Washington Post plans to launch a subscription-only business weekly called Capital Business. Dan Beyers, a 20-year veteran of the Post, will be editor. The launch of Capital Business is a turnabout for the Post, which killed its business section a year ago to cut costs. Gannett to Sell USA Today at Starbucks Stores Wa Business Gannett, battling a circulation decline for its newspapers, has a new outlet for its flagship USA Today: Starbucks. Beginning Monday, USA Today will be sold at 6,500 U.S. Starbucks outlets. Currently, Starbucks sells the New York Times at its stores. NYT Takes Aim at WSJ in New Ad Campaign Crain's NY The New York Times is taking aim at the forthcoming New York edition of the Wall Street Journal in a new series of print and online advertisements. The ads never mention the Journal's new section. "Doing business in New York?" reads the copy in one ad. "So are we." Seattle Times Struggling to Find Profit Puget Sound Business The Seattle Times, the city's only metro daily print newspaper after rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer went online only a year ago, is still not making a profit. Advertising revenue continues to struggle and the Times still posts a "net loss or break-even bottom line." Nielsen Shutters Another Trade Magazine BtoB Nielsen Business Media is shutting down Sales & Marketing Management magazine. Nielsen is in the process of exiting the trade publishing business, closing titles such as Training and selling others, including Billboard, Hollywood Reporter and Kirkus Reviews. Traditional Media Declining, Report Says RTT Traditional news gathering suffered severe losses in 2009, according to the new "State of the Media" report by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. Advertising revenues from newspapers fell 26%, local television 22%, magazines 17%, network TV 8%. NY Times More Than Doubles Chief's Pay Dow Jones New York Times Co. chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and CEO Janet Robinson received big increases in their 2009 compensation despite company layoffs and broader worries about the future of print media. Sulzberger's overall pay more than doubled to $6 million. Sulzberger Nephew to Run NY Times Online Wall St Journal David Perpich, a nephew of New York Times Co. chief Arthur Sulzberger Jr., is being hired as an executive director for nytimes.com. Keeping the younger generations engaged in the business is seen as a way to make the Sulzbergers less vulnerable to fissures. Canwest Newspapers Chief Stepping Down Vancouver Sun Dennis Skulsky, president and CEO of Canwest Global Communications's newspaper and publishing division, is resigning. The longtime print exec says he is leaving company, which is restructuring under creditor protection, in order to spend more time with his family. Hearst, Conde Nast Seek Twitter Followers Min Fashion magazines are seeing a big boost in followers on Twitter, thanks largely to their aggressive use of the microblogging service during the recent New York Fashion Week. At Harper's Bazaar, the entire fashion, features, market and accessories teams tweeted live from the tents. Conde Nast May Open Teen Vogue Stores Mediaweek Teen Vogue's Haute Spot, the popup retail outlets it operates at upscale malls, is introducing $100 1-hour, private sessions where teens can get makeup, hair and style services from makeup pros. Teen Vogue may pursue permanent brick-and-mortar stores for the service. Hachette's Elle Seeks Local Ads in Deal AdAge Elle magazine and is teaming up with C, a lifestyle magazine focused on California, to collaborate on selling more advertising pages. The deal will allow Elle to offer its big national advertisers the chance to reach key California markets such as Los Angeles or San Francisco. Variety, Hollywood Reporter Struggling NY Times The insider knowledge that was once the stock in trade of show-biz industry publications Variety and The Hollywood Reporter has become ubiquitous, and free, on the Web. Dozens of new entertainment-specific sites include IndieWire, TheWrap, Deadline and TMZ. Newspaper Comic Strips' Future in Doubt ABC Many newspapers are cutting back on comic strips due to economic woes. While "B.C." cartoonist Mason Mastroianni says he doesn't believe that comics will die off completely, "comics in the form they are now, syndicated in the newspaper, might disappear at some point." Google Adding 'Browse This Newspaper' SER Google News is adding a feature that allows users to browse thousands of scanned newspapers in its archives for free. Users simply click on the "Browse This Newspaper" link when looking at a Google News archived article to view other editions from that newspaper. Media Heavyweights Differ on Web Pay AFP Media professionals differ sharply on whether Internet users are ready to pay for news content they are accustomed to getting for free. Newser founder Michael Wolff argues: "You're not going to pay for news because it's something you already get -- it's everywhere." Hearst Sees Dollars in Developing Apps Wall St Journal Hearst is jumping into the business of developing apps for Apple's iPhone. The company eventually expects to offer thousands of apps that pull together news and photos about narrow slices of information -- from sports to celebrities -- selling for 99 cents and up. NY Times Seeks Revenue from Web Site Bloomberg / VB The New York Times Co. won't be sold or split apart and the company sees opportunity for "a great deal of revenue" from NYTimes.com, say top execs Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and Janet Robinson. Also: The Times is hiring 12 techies and a social media manager. Canwest Newspapers Eyed by Aspers Globe and Mail The Asper family, who once controlled Canwest Global Communications, is bidding to regain control of the insolvent company's newspaper division. The Aspers are among about six bidders for the newspaper chain, which includes the National Post and Ottawa Citizen. Bloomberg BusinessWeek Begins Layoffs TalkingBizNews BusinessWeek is kicking off its expected second round of layoffs, cutting some 25 employees as the magazine relies more on content from new owner Bloomberg. "Anyone in the business would have been foolish not to be planning for a day like today," says one staffer. Time Magazine Loses Heir Apparent Editor NY Post Time magazine is reshuffling its masthead after the exit of top staffer Romesh Ratnesar, who is leaving to pursue writing projects. Ratnesar is departing on the heels of Josh Tyrangiel. "They were both groomed to be future editors of Time magazine. It's a tremendous loss." USA Today Develops Social Media Team USA Today Gannett's USA Today is creating a marketing team to explore use of social media. New staff assignments will encompass making digital partnerships and using social media for public relations. Updates on the group's efforts are available on Twitter: @USATMediaLounge. Media Outlets Get 'Creative' for Revenue Portfolio News outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Salon.com are turning to wine and travel clubs and even selling coffee mugs as advertising sales plummet. One exec warns: "You don't want to turn yourself from a content source to a shopping mall." Hearst, Tribune Accused of Online Spam GigaOm The San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times are said to be among the news outlets using start-up firm Perfect Market, which helps publishers stuff their articles archived online with pay-per-click ads and keywords for search engine optimization. Conde Nast Won't Add Online Pay Walls AAP Julie Michalowski, VP for business development at Conde Nast, says erecting online pay walls is not a move being considered by the magazine company. "All of a sudden walling off our content and saying you can't have it, I don't think that's the right strategy." Elle Magazine Publisher Mulls Asset Sale Bloomberg Elle magazine publisher Lagardere says it is considering sales of assets to raise cash. Operating profit at the Paris-based company's media division may fall 10% this year. "The performance of the media division was lower than forecast," says CEO Arnaud Lagardere. Forbes Names NY Times Holder as Richest Forbes Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim Helu, the largest individual shareholder of the New York Times Co., is he wealthiest person on earth, according to the 2010 Forbes list of the world's billionaires. The Times Co.'s stock jumped in early March on talk he might buy a controlling stake. NY Times Outlook Now Stable, Moody's Says Reuters Moody's Investors Service is changing its outlook on the New York Times Co. to stable from negative, saying the newspaper publisher's revenue declines are likely to moderate. A stable outlook indicates the company is less likely to be downgraded in the coming months. NY Daily News Mulls Multi Mobile Strategy Mobile Marketer The New York Daily News is taking a cross-platform approach to its mobile strategy with the launch of mobile apps for iPhone, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile. The newspaper hopes to launch apps for Android, Palm webOS and high-end Java smartphones. Murdoch Jr Digs In Over Battle with Google Times / Reuters James Murdoch, at the Abu Dhabi Media Summit, reiterated the threat made by his father to yank content from Google: We "may have to withdraw access." Also: News Corp. will add online pay walls to its British newspapers "within the next few weeks to months." News Corp Exec: Pay, Free Will Co-Exist Guardian Jon Miller, head of digital media at News Corp., says that dual revenue streams are likely to co-exist as media try ways of making money online. "The choice between pay wall or free is not mutually exclusive. They can co-exist based on quality of content and geography." Sony Adds More Print Media to E-Readers ReadWriteWeb Sony is expanding its selection of newspapers and magazines in its e-book store. Users of Sony's e-readers will be able to subscribe to 20 new print media outlets, including the New York Times, Boston Globe, San Jose Mercury News, PC Magazine and Foreign Affairs. SF Weekly to Pay Off Rival Over Ad Fixing SF Chronicle The San Francisco Bay Guardian is entitled to half the advertising revenue of the Village Voice Media's SF Weekly to help collect $21 million in damages after a jury verdict of illegal price-cutting. The Weekly sold ads below cost to try to drive its locally owned rival out of business. New York, New Yorker Lead Magazine Nods NY Post New York magazine and The New Yorker dominate this year's nominations for the National Magazine Awards with 10 apiece, followed by National Geographic with seven. The American Society of Magazine Editors will present the awards April 22 at Alice Tully Hall. Google, HuffPo Bosses to Address Newsies E&P Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington are among the speakers slated for the American Society of News Editors' annual conference next month. "There is almost nothing on the program that doesn't relate in some way to digital media." Reuters Issues Guidelines for Social Media Reuters Reuters is publishing social media guidelines that aim to lay out basic principles and offer recommendations for the news service's journalists. Among them: "You should make sure that if you have hard news content that it is broken first via the wire. Don't scoop the wire." Bloomberg BusinessWeek Eyes Job Cuts New York Post Bloomberg BusinessWeek is bracing for a sweeping restructuring that will see many of the magazine's editorial staff reassigned within owner Bloomberg, while around 30 people are slated to get pink slips. The moves come amid a major redesign of the magazine. Hearst's Country Living Cuts Frequency Mediaweek Country Living will unveil a bigger trim size, beginning with the September issue, to better position for an eventual advertising recovery. To help offset the cost of the increase, the title will publish two fewer issues this year, for a total of 10, and raise its price to $4.50 from $3.99. Hachette Opens Internal Social Network New York Observer Elle publisher Hachette Filipacchi is launching a companywide social network designed to better facilitate communication among employees: "The goal of this online community, which functions like Facebook, is to bring us closer together and establish new relationships." Newsweek Editor in Talks for PBS Show New York Times Newsweek editor Jon Meacham is said to be in final talks to be the co-host of a new PBS Friday night public affairs series called "Need to Know." The new series, which will be an extension of a PBS Web site with the same name, replaces "Bill Moyers Journal" and "Now." Forbes: Print's Biz Model Will Change Mr Magazine The Apple iPad and other devices will not be the magazine industry's salvation, predicts Forbes CEO Steve Forbes. "But they will enable us to reach audiences we were not able to reach." Regarding the future of print: "The business model will change." Variety Gets Sued Over a Bad Review New York Times The maker of "Iron Cross," an independent film that has yet to find a distributor, had charged that the trade paper Variety damaged the movie by luring it into last year's awards race with the offer of an expensive promotional package, then savaging it with a bad review. Nielsen Business Sells Food Magazines CSNews Stagnito, a Deerfield, Ill.-based publisher, is acquiring Convenience Store News and three other food-related trade magazines, Web sites and conferences from Nielsen Business Media. Stagnito says its goal is to "introduce a new business model to the food market." USA Today on iPad: 'Fast-Moving Project' News & Tech USA Today says it plans to have software ready to support Apple's forthcoming iPad device. Other newspapers, including the New York Times, are reportedly cobbling together their own iPad apps. The app's development is "a fast-moving project" at the Gannett paper. NY Times Poaches Wall St Journal PR Exec Reuters Bob Christie, the longtime spokesperson for the Wall Street Journal, is jumping to the New York Times. Christie is described as a PR rep who "doesn't try to pretend that bad news doesn't exist." With Christie, the Times "might try to tell its own story in a more active way." AP Hires NY Times Exec to Boost Digital Associated Press Nick Ascheim, an exec who helped run the New York Times's Web site, has been hired to guide an effort by the Associated Press to sell consumer applications for the Apple iPad and other devices. Ascheim will oversee a new business unit called AP Gateway. Pearson Hires NBC Exec for Digital Role New Media Age Financial Times owner Pearson has named Juan Lopez-Valcarcel to the new role of director of global digital product and consumer technology, overseeing mobile content and e-books. He previously was VP and general manager of NBC Universal sites including iVillage. Sun-Times Tech Upgrade May Cost Jobs Crain's Chicago Sun-Times Media, which operates the Chicago Sun-Times, is pressing ahead with a $5 million upgrade of the company's technology for both print and Web content and back-office operations. But the improvements, says CEO Jeremy Halbreich, may result in job cuts. Google Exec: Newspapers Must Experiment Google Public Policy As the news industry faces financial difficulties, "the best thing newspapers can do now is experiment," says Google chief economist Hal Varian, in a presentation for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. "The transition to a fully online news will be difficult." Freedom Gets OK to Exit Bankruptcy Orange County Business Freedom Communications, publisher of the Orange County Register, has won court approval for a reorganization plan that will give key lenders ownership of the company. The lenders, led by JPMorgan Chase, are to cut Freedom's debt by 60% to $325 million. Bay Area News Project Has High Hopes Los Angeles Times The Bay Area News Project plans to launch its Web site within months, backed by philanthropist Warren Hellman. The site aims to make money from memberships and syndication. But with only 15 employees, it is unlikely to "replace the San Francisco Chronicle any time soon." Drudge 'Responsible' for Senate PC Virus Fox News The U.S. Senate's sergeant-at-arms is warning staffers not to visit Drudge Report, claiming the conservative news aggregator could spread computer viruses: "The Senate has been swamped with this issue." But Drudge Report suggests that politics could be behind the move. Tribune Eyes Clear Channel's Biz Model Chicago Tribune Tribune's Daily Press newspaper in Newport News, Va., plans to outsource the editing and designing of much of its content to company flagship Chicago Tribune, in a bid to reduce costs. Tribune execs compare the move to Clear Channel's radio-station programming model. Bloomberg, Dow Jones to Broaden Reach BtoB Bloomberg and Dow Jones & Co. are busy making acquisitions and unveiling ventures that are only peripherally related to their core business-information products. "Both companies are trying to broaden their revenue streams. They can't stop swimming. If they do, they'll drown." Financial Times Mulls Fees for Web Video Journalism.co.uk The Financial Times could move its online video content behind its pay wall, according to product manager Stephen Pinches. The FT's videos are currently free to view. "We're going to see a transition of video behind that pay wall, but it's going to be a gradual thing." Barnes & Noble Creates Job for E-Reader Bloomberg Barnes & Noble is naming Jonathan Shar to a new position overseeing the development of digital content from newspapers, magazines and other publishers for hand-held reading devices. Shar previously was senior VP and general manager for CNNMoney.com. NY Times Preps Book Review for E-Readers Mobile Media The New York Times plans to offer its Book Review as a separate e-reader product, disaggregated from the rest of the newspaper's content on mobile devices. The "disaggregation" effort aims to identify which content categories should remain as part of the core product. Variety Lays Off Two Critics in Overhaul New York Times Todd McCarthy, chief film critic at Variety, and David Rooney, chief theater critic, are losing their jobs amid a staff cut of eight employees and a reorganization at the entertainment industry trade publication. Says Variety president Neil Stiles: "It's economic reality." Conde Nast's Vogue Launches in Turkey WWD Conde Nast is launching an edition of Vogue magazine in Turkey. The 562-page debut issue boasts 252 pages of advertising, among them ads from Christian Dior and D&G. Turkey "is definitely an emerging market," says Conde Nast exec Jonathan Newhouse. Playboy Images Set for New Video Game AFP Playboy is entering a deal with 2K Games to allow the gamemaker to use some of its vintage covers and centerfold photos in the video game "Mafia II," due out later this year. Characters in the game will be able to collect virtual versions of Playboy magazine. Magazine Web Sites Profitable, Survey Says Guardian More than half of the consumer magazines with a monthly traffic of 1.5 million unique users or more are profitable, according to a survey from Columbia Journalism Review. Almost two-thirds of the magazine sites that do make a profit offer their content for free. Craigslist Founder Marks Site's 15th Year cnewmark "I really don't know when I started, early '95 I think," writes Craigslist founder Craig Newmark on his personal blog about the launch of his online classified advertising service. Newmark quotes a memo on Craigslist's origins: "The approach is as minimalist as I could make." Study: Digital Ads to Surpass Print Media Forbes U.S. advertisers will spend more on digital media than on print this year, according to a new study by Outsell. "It's a watershed moment," says Outsell VP Chuck Richard. Digital ads will see a 9.6% boom in 2010. Still, ad spending for magazines will manage to rise by 1.9%. Conde Nast's GQ First Magazine on iPad New York Post Following Apple's announcement that the iPad tablet will debut in stores on April 3 comes news that the first magazine to be available on it will be the April issue of GQ. The men's title beats out Conde Nast siblings Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Glamour and Wired. Reader's Digest UK Attracts 100 Buyers Telegraph The British edition of Reader's Digest is said to be attracting almost 100 potential buyers after entering a form of bankruptcy last month. At least 25 of the offers are from parties with a "credible interest." The title's circulation, once at 2 million, now stands at 465,000. Tribune Attracts Disney Dollars, Debate CNN Tribune's Los Angeles Times on Friday published a cover-wrap advertisement promoting Disney's "Alice in Wonderland." The colorful, fake front-page ad is estimated to have cost Disney "well over $100,000." Journalism purists are criticizing the ad as deceptive. Time Magazine's '09 Worst-Seller: Jay Leno MinOnline The death of Michael Jackson resulted in top-selling magazine cover stories in 2009 for many titles, including Newsweek, Time, People, and Entertainment Weekly. Among the year's worst-selling covers: Time magazine's Sept. 14 story: "Jay Leno is the Future of TV." CanWest Former CEO Working on Bid Globe and Mail Leonard Asper, the former CEO of CanWest Global Communications, is working on a bid to stay on as a key investor in Canada's largest media company, rivaling a deal by Shaw Communications. Asper resigned late last week from CanWest to "pursue other opportunities." NY Times to Launch Lunchtime Webcast Daily Finance The New York Times is said to be planning to launch a daily TV-style webcast. The show, which could debut as soon as a month from now, will be produced on the fourth floor of the Times's offices and air around lunchtime, when consumption of online video peaks. Newsday Names amNewYork Publisher Associated Press Cablevision's Newsday is naming Paul Turcotte as publisher of amNewYork, the free New York daily newspaper. Turcotte previously was VP and advertising sales director for Sirius XM Radio. He also has held management and sales posts at Hachette and Rodale. Scripps Exec to Leave Newspaper Biz MediaPost Rusty Coats, Scripps Newspapers' VP of content and marketing, is leaving the company after 20 years in the newspaper business. "I would like to explore the broader interactive world," he says. Coats is credited with helping to establish Yahoo's newspaper consortium. Penton Media Poised to Exit Bankruptcy Reuters Penton Media, the publisher of 113 trade magazines such as Ward's AutoWorld, expects to emerge from bankruptcy within days after winning court approval of its reorganization plan. Penton is owned by MidOcean Partners and a Wasserstein & Co. investment fund. Bloomberg BusinessWeek Shortens Stories Mediaweek Bloomberg BusinessWeek is prepping for a relaunch April 23 that it boasts will "reinvent" the category, with shorter stories, 20% more editorial pages and three more issues. The moves come as rivals are retrenching: Fortune and Forbes have cut their frequencies. Good Housekeeping Goes Live on Stage New York Times Hearst's Good Housekeeping will produce a one-performance show at the New York City Center in April, saluting the achievements of women during the last 125 years. The show, "Shine On," featuring the likes of Fran Drescher and Meryl Streep, will help honor GH's 125th year. Reader's Digest Launches User Recipe Site Mediaweek Reader's Digest Association is launching a user-generated Web site called Man Tested Recipes, which will serve up more than 2,500 recipes from male visitors to the publisher's Allrecipes site. Men "approach cooking differently from the way women do." Conde Nast: Ad Blocking Hurts Web Sites Ars Technica Blocking ads can be devastating to the Web sites you visit, writes Ken Fisher, editor in chief of Ars Technica, the Conde Nast tech site. "Most sites are paid on a per view basis. If you have an ad blocker, you consume resources from us but provide us with no revenue." Conde Nast to Launch New Print Products Supermarket News While Conde Nast develops digital versions of its magazines for the iPad, the company isn't taking its eyes off print. "We are working on a plan to introduce new quality print products into the marketplace," writes CEO Chuck Townsend in an industry e-newsletter. Meredith Magazines to 'Outpace' Rivals Associated Press Shares of Meredith rose Thursday after Benchmark analyst Ed Atorino raised his rating on the stock on the belief that advertising revenue is improving at the diversified media company. Meredith's magazines, such as Ladies' Home Journal, will "outpace rivals." Martha Eyes New TV Show, Digital Magazine Home Accents Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is announcing several new initiatives. Among them: "Help Me, Martha!," a new unscripted television series starring Stewart. Later this year, the company will launch Boundless Beauty, a digital magazine designed for tablet devices. Newsweek to Launch Edition in Pakistan Financial Times Newsweek, a subsidiary of the Washington Post Co., plans to launch an edition in Pakistan, marking the first such move by a Western magazine in the country. Newsweek Pakistan will be published under a licensing deal with local publisher AG Publications. Entertainment Weekly Adds Digital Edit WWD Time Inc.'s Entertainment Weekly is marking its 20th anniversary with three special issues this year. The magazine is also expanding its coverage to include apps, games and Web sites, says managing editor Jess Cagle. "We're going to keep expanding the stuff we cover." Tribune Creditors Sue Over Buyout Loans Bloomberg A group of Tribune creditors is filing a lawsuit against the banks behind the publisher's 2007 buyout, claiming the $8 billion in loans they arranged for the deal doomed the company to bankruptcy. Separately, Tribune wants to dismiss a proposed management bonus program. MediaNews Wins OK to Exit Bankruptcy Denver Business A bankruptcy court judge has approved the reorganization plan of the holding company of Denver Post publisher MediaNews. "We knew we had a good plan going in," says CEO William Dean Singleton. "Our company is well-positioned for the changing days ahead." NY Times Journo's Book Heading to HBO Deadline HBO has acquired rights to make a movie out of "Too Big to Fail," the bestselling book by New York Times reporter Andrew Sorkin. "You see their human sides, the hubris, the ego," says Sorkin. "You see Dick Fuld crying with his wife as their world fell apart." International Herald Tribune Sees Protests New York Post Staff picketing is expected for a second day Friday outside the offices of the International Herald Tribune in Paris. Employees are upset that the newspaper plans to drop its sports editor and other positions. Four staffers will be spared if they accept similar jobs in Hong Kong. Murdoch's London Times Preps Pay Wall Guardian The Times of London is said to be telling media buyers it cannot give guarantees to advertisers about its Web site audiences in May, suggesting that the long-expected pay wall will be activated at that time. An online pay wall will go up "around May or June," says one ad buyer. HuffPost Claims 40 Million Monthly Visitors AllThingsD The Huffington Post attracted a staggering 40 million unique visitors in the last month, according to the news and opinion site's own numbers. Verticals are driving growth, says cofounder Arianna Huffington. The new tech and sports sections already account for 10% of traffic. Roger Ebert Looking to Monetize His Blog VentureBeat Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert may have lost his voice, but he found it again on the Web. Ebert aims to monetize his blog by starting "The Ebert Club." An annual fee of $5 will offer Ebert fans a variety of content, including advance notice of ticket sales to Ebertfest. Tribune Leads New Funding in Web Start-Up TechCrunch Perfect Market, a start-up that markets solutions aimed to help publishers in growing revenue from their online content, has raised $6 million in new funding led by Tribune. Perfect Market's proprietary technology helps publishers optimize their content in online searches. Washington Post 'Bullish' on Mobile Future Mobile Media The Washington Post is using its new Apple iPhone app as a test of the market for paid mobile news, says Goli Sheikholeslami, the newspaper's digital exec. "We think that -- fingers crossed -- it is finally the year for mobile." The new app costs $1.99 for one year's access. Time Inc's Fortune Considers Web Pay Walls AllThingsD Time Inc.'s Fortune magazine is unveiling a redesign that will include new fonts, heavier paper stock and a matte-finish cover. "We've invested in the physical properties of the magazine," says managing editor Andy Serwer. Also: "We're discussing pay walls for the Web site." Conde Nast, Time Inc Lead Digital Nominees WWD The American Society of Magazine Editors is unveiling the finalists for the first Digital Ellies, or the National Magazine Awards for Digital Media, to be presented March 18. Hearst received just one nomination, compared with Conde Nast and Time Inc., which tied with six. Daily Beast Nabs NY Post Media Journalist AllThingsD Peter Lauria, the media beat reporter for the New York Post, is jumping to the Daily Beast, where he will also cover the media business. Instead of working for Rupert Murdoch, Lauria will be working for Barry Diller, whose IAC funds the Tina Brown-edited site. Conde Nast's Wired Sees iPad as Savior Mediaweek Wired editor in chief Chris Anderson says the magazine industry stands to benefit from Apple's forthcoming iPad. Magazine staffers will be editing for print and tablet devices simultaneously, he predicts. The iPad will "meet the Google Generation where they live." Time Warner 'Optimistic' About Magazines Dow Jones Time Inc. parent Time Warner is more optimistic than most about the troubled magazine publishing business, says CFO John Martin. "We have a high degree of confidence that we can create that same dual revenue stream in an electronic way" via e-reading devices. Magazine CEOs Plug Print in YouTube Video Mr Magazine The leaders of five major magazine companies are appearing in a video promoting magazines and the power of print. "The bloggers and the pundits continue to predict the death of the magazine to anyone who'll listen," they say. "It's time to replace the myths with facts." Dow Jones Buys Hearst's SmartMoney Stake Dow Jones News Corp.'s Dow Jones is buying the half of SmartMoney magazine it didn't own from partner Hearst. Dow Jones, which didn't disclose financial terms of the deal, calls the magazine "a natural fit" within the company. SmartMoney's ad pages fell 23% in 2009. Conde Nast to Continue Publishing Details Observer As Details marks the 10th anniversary of its redo as a young men's magazine, insiders are wondering why the small-circ title survived while six Conde Nast siblings folded last year. Sources say: "It doesn't make any money, but it doesn't lose a lot of money, either." Time Inc's Fortune Magazine to Redesign New York Post Fortune magazine hopes its fortunes will change with a newly redesigned magazine that hits newsstands this week. "We're redesigning it from a graphic and design point of view and to some extent from an editorial point of view," says managing editor Andy Serwer. Hearst's Esquire Launches Home Collection Home Accents Hearst is extending the Esquire magazine brand into a new line of luxury home furnishings and accessories. The Esquire Home Collection, "inspired by the Esquire man," includes tailored furniture, upholstery and rugs, "delivering the ultimate man space.” Village Voice to Release App for Happy Hour Village Voice Village Voice Media, which publishes 14 metro alt-weeklies, is releasing a free "Happy Hours" mobile app for iPhone and Android-optimized phones. The app serves as a database for 15,000 happy hours in 30 cities. "We want to be everywhere our readers are." Us Weekly Ex-Editor Eyes Move to Online WWD Janice Min, who left Us Weekly in July, is said to be making the rounds with Ben Silverman pitching Web-site concepts to online media, such as AOL. Min "could be interested in launching a celebrity mom-based site." Silverman is part of Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp. Wall St Journal Confirms New York Section Wall Street Journal News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch confirms that the Wall Street Journal will launch a section covering New York next month, in the company's first public acknowledgment of the project. "A certain other New York daily has essentially stopped covering the city," he says. Financial Times Eyes PayPal for Web Site Financial Times The Financial Times will begin using eBay's PayPal online payments system for daily or weekly access to its Web site, according to CEO John Ridding. At present, FT.com charges annual subscriptions. Micropayments for individual articles could follow, he says. Washington Post: No Charge for Web Access Dow Jones The Washington Post has no plans to charge for its online edition, says company CEO Donald Graham. The company makes "pretty good money" from its online advertisers. Also, the print edition will continue "for a very long time" because older readers prefer it. Gannett to Lift Staff Wage Freeze in April Washington Business Gannett says it is lifting a wage freeze at its newspapers on April 1, a year after the company imposed it, "thanks to the outstanding efforts across our division." Gannett in December ordered most employees to take one week furloughs during the first quarter. BBC Expected to Sell Magazine Portfolio Guardian The BBC is expected to sell its stable of magazines, which includes some of the biggest-selling U.K. titles, such as Radio Times and Gardening World. This week's strategic review of the BBC's operations says the corporation must "move away from physical media." Bloggers May Get Press Passes in New York MediaPost In a nod to the growing influence of online journalists, New York City says that bloggers and others who publish on the Web will now be eligible for press credentials. The move comes as a result of a 1998 lawsuit by three Web journalists who were denied press passes. Murdoch Rumored to Eye Monster.com Barron's Monster Worldwide, a frequent subject of takeover speculation, traded higher on Monday following rumors that News Corp. could make a bid to acquire the parent company of the online job board. Just last month, Monster.com acquired Yahoo's HotJobs for $225 million. NY Times Shares Jump on Takeover Talk Bloomberg New York Times Co. shares rose 11% Monday following speculation that the publisher may be acquired. Billionaire Carlos Slim, a major shareholder, says he has no plans to change his investment: "We are very happy with the performance of the company." Financial Times to Examine Micropayments Marketing Week Extending the Financial Times brand into conferences and events and a greater focus in digital subscriptions has helped the Pearson division weather the recession, says global commercial director Ben Hughes. The FT, he adds, would like to examine online micropayments. Vanity Fair Preps for Annual Oscar Bash MinOnline Vanity Fair will hold its Academy Awards party this Sunday at Los Angeles' Sunset Tower Hotel, where an elite guest list will dine as the telecast begins at the nearby Kodak Theater. Also: For those who aren't invited, Vanity Fair is offering a free Hollywood iPhone app. BusinessWeek Touts Effort to Reinvent BtoB Bloomberg BusinessWeek is running an advertising campaign vowing it will "reinvent the business magazine." While some business titles are cutting back, BusinessWeek "will have more stories and a more global focus, thanks to Bloomberg's 145 bureaus in 70 countries." Hearst's Food Network Magazine Prospers Mediaweek Food Network Magazine, one of the few magazine success stories this year, is increasing its rate base again. The title will go to 1.25 million with the July/August issue from 1 million. The magazine, begun in October 2008, is a joint venture of Hearst and Food Network. Sports Illustrated Adds Video Newscasts Ad Age Time Inc.'s Sports Illustrated is the latest traditionally print brand to fire up video newscasts running live on its sites multiple times a day. "SI Inside Report" will be anchored by sports journalist Maggie Gray, one of six new full-time employees hired to support the effort. Monocle Funds New Bureau on Shop Sales Guardian Monocle magazine, the culture and design title founded by Tyler Brûlé, is opening a bureau in Hong Kong, funded by the proceeds of its two branded retail stores in London and Los Angeles. The two shops have sold 8,000 Monocle tote bags in the past three years. Emmis Publishing President Steps Down Folio Emmis Publishing, publisher of Texas Monthly and Los Angeles magazine, says president Gary Thoe is stepping down to focus on his family business. He will be replaced by strategy exec Greg Loewen. Texas Monthly saw its advertising pages decline 18.5% in 2009. Reed Business Sells Library Trade Titles BtoB Media Source, owner of the Junior Library Guild, is acquiring Library Journal and School Library Journal from Reed Business Information. Editor in chief Brian Kenney and publisher Ron Shank are "important to the success" of the titles and "will remain in their roles." Internet Bests Newspapers, Radio for News BBC News The Internet has surpassed newspapers and radio in popularity as a news platform among Americans, says a new survey by the Pew Research Center. The Internet now ranks just behind television. News aggregators such as Google News are "most commonly used." Associated Press to Launch Digital Division Associated Press The Associated Press is starting a new business unit, called AP Gateway, to help the news service, newspapers and broadcasters sell digital products to readers on new Internet-connected devices. The AP is already at work on its own app for the Apple iPad. NY Times Brings Content to Video Screens New York Times The New York Times is entering a deal with RMG Networks to display its Web site's content on 850 video screens in coffee shops, casual eateries and airport newsstands in five major U.S. cities. The NYTimes.com Today network will be supported by advertising. Financial Times Appoints Top Editor for U.S. Press Gazette The Financial Times is naming Gillian Tett as U.S. managing editor overseeing print and online editions. Tett, currently assistant editor responsible for the FT's markets coverage, will succeed Chrystia Freeland, who is leaving for a position at Thomson Reuters. Conde Nast to Test iPad Editions of Magazines New York Times Conde Nast plans to roll out Apple iPad versions of several of its top magazines in the coming months. They include Wired, GQ, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and Glamour. Different prices and types of advertising will be tested: "We need to know how consumers will respond." Hearst Magazines Boss Black Talks Biz Future Forbes Hearst magazine editors ask themselves if there are platforms in which the brand "can move out of just being, literally, the printed magazine as we know it," says company magazine boss Cathie Black. Cosmopolitan, "our biggest brand," has "been our most profitable." Magazine Giants Team to Tout Power of Print Wall Street Journal Time Inc., Hearst, Conde Nast, Wenner Media, and Meredith are teaming up on a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign to promote the "power of print." The ads claim that magazines remain an effective ad medium: "The Internet is fleeting. Magazines are immersive." Playboy to Shrink Magazine, Staff Headcount Chicago Tribune Playboy still features the centerfold that made the magazine famous, but it is now in a slightly smaller print format. The parent company may shrink as well: Playboy says it could cut its headcount of 573 employees by half as it enters partnerships and outsources production. Reader's Digest May Sell Off British Edition Media Week UK Administrators for the U.K. company behind Reader's Digest are in talks with potential buyers for the 70-year-old magazine. There is "significant interest" from potential investors, according to the administrators, who say they are "reasonably optimistic" about a sale. Atlantic Star Blogger Bashes Web Site Re-Do Atlantic The Atlantic magazine unveiled a redesign of its Web site last week, sparking many comments from both readers and contributors. Star blogger Andrew Sullivan is among those criticizing the site's new "channels" format, which appears to deemphasize "individual bloggers with style." Variety Pulls Negative Review Off Web Site Gawker Variety reportedly yanked a negative review of the movie "Iron Cross" from its Web site after the film's producers paid the Hollywood trade publication $400,000 for an awards campaign. Publisher Brian Gott "ordered it removed after the producers called to complain." Daily Beast Nabs Hillary Clinton for Summit Daily Beast Hillary Clinton will help kick off the Daily Beast's "Women in the World" summit next week. The three-day event, held by the Barry Diller-backed, Tina Brown-edited news and opinion Web site, will also feature notables such as Meryl Streep and Madeleine Albright. WSJ to Battle NYT for Major Advertisers Ad Age The Wall Street Journal's New York metro section, expected to launch in April, will give advertisers a new place to spend money that once went to the New York Times. The Journal is believed to have secured commitments from Bloomingdale's and Bergdorf Goodman. Gannett in Deal to Sell Honolulu Newspaper Pacific Business Honolulu Star-Bulletin owner David Black is buying crosstown rival Honolulu Advertiser from Gannett. Black will purchase the morning newspaper in a deal that will include Gannett's interest in Hawaii.com. Black plans to sell the smaller Star-Bulletin, an afternoon paper. Murdoch's Help Haiti Single Tops UK Charts Sun Rod Stewart and Miley Cyrus are among the performers who recorded vocals for "Everybody Hurts," a charity single to benefit victims of the earthquake in Haiti, produced by Rupert Murdoch's U.K. tabloid the Sun. The song can be downloaded from the newspaper's Web site. Forbes Names Exec Chief Revenue Officer MinOnline Kevin Gentzel, Forbes Media president and group publisher since 2008, is being appointed chief revenue officer, a newly created position. Gentzel will lead all sales and marketing for North America and Europe for Forbes, Forbes.com, ForbesLife and Forbes Woman. Newsweek Struggling With Its New Image New York Post Attempts by Newsweek CEO Tom Ascheim and editor-in-chief Jon Meacham to reshape the magazine into a lower-circulation weekly with a more Economist-like feel do not seem to be paying off. Newsweek is said to have lost $28 million in 2009, the first year of the process. Conde Nast Staffer Exits in Pilfering Probe New York Post An unnamed Conde Nast employee resigned this week after the company launched a probe into allegations the person pocketed cash advances instead of using them for expenses. To hide the pilfering, the person allegedly had lower-level staffers take out cash advances. Nielsen Business Media to Sell Travel Titles New York Post The bust-up of Nielsen Business Media is expected to continue. The company's travel group, which includes Business Travel News and Successful Meetings Magazine, is being sold to Secaucus, N.J.-based North Star Publishing. The deal is expected to close this month. UK Lads Mags Should Be 'Treated Like Porn' Independent The sale of British "lads' mags" such as Zoo and Nuts should be banned to youngsters under age 15 to prevent children from being sexualized, says a government report. Also, games consoles "should be sold with parental controls already switched on." Magazine Day to Be Celebrated on Saturday Mr Magazine Kevin Smokler, a San Francisco-based writer, is the creator of what he hopes will be an annual holiday event. Magazine Day aims to be "a celebration of magazines." The idea is to "spend the day having fun and forming community around a shared love of magazines." Conde Nast Hires Social Media Strategist Marketing Week Conde Nast Digital Britain, the U.K. arm of the publisher's new media division, is appointing Louise Howells to the newly created role of social media strategist. Howells will be tasked with implementing a social media strategy across Conde Nast's magazine portfolio. Vogue App Turns Ads Into Shopping Links Wall Street Journal Vogue's new iPhone app, "Vogue Stylist," is primarily a shopping application, enabling users to scroll through every advertisement in the magazine, click to buy and get styling advice on the season's trends. The app is intended to help draw in younger readers. Meredith Moves Into Digital Ad Business Wall Street Journal Meredith has been buying up digital-advertising agencies to create a full-service marketing shop for major marketers, such as Kraft Foods and Chrysler. The business is providing Meredith with a new revenue stream. Rival publishers are mulling similar moves. Wenner Media to Rejoin Magazine Group Ad Age Wenner Media is rejoining the Magazine Publishers of America after staying away for two decades. The publisher of Rolling Stone, Men's Journal and Us Weekly says that it is "important for the industry to join together to support magazines," without elaborating. Meredith's Former CEO Resigns from Board Associated Press Former Meredith CEO William Kerr has resigned from its board of directors after accepting a job as CEO of Arbitron, the media and marketing research company. Kerr will step down from the board March 5. Arbitron asked that he limit outside board appointments. Active Interest Corrals Horse Magazines Boulder Business Active Interest Media, an El Segundo-Calif.-based publisher, is acquiring the magazine titles of Horse Media Group, as well as the equine titles of Source Interlink Media. The acquisitions will make Active Interest a leading publisher of horse industry magazines. Advance Publications Cuts Jobs in Oregon Portland Business The Oregonian newspaper is, for the first time in at least 40 years, laying off newsroom workers. The Advance Publications title is letting go 37 staffers, most of them in editorial. The paper's publisher cites declining revenue and the "migration of ads to the Internet." Washington Post Finds Profit in Cost-Cutting Washington Post The Washington Post Co.'s newspaper division returned to profitability in the fourth quarter of 2009 for the first time in nearly two years, even though the paper lost money for the entire year. Continued cost-cutting boosted the Post back into the black. Belo Reports Loss of $110 Million for Year Dallas Morning News Belo, owner of the Dallas Morning News, says it earned $5.6 million in the fourth quarter, its first quarterly profit since 2008. However, Belo is also reporting that it lost more than $110 million for its 2009 fiscal year, including $106 million to write down the value of its assets. Guardian Will Be 'World's No 1 Newspaper' Campaign Plans by the New York Times and Rupert Murdoch to erect pay walls around their online newspapers are "dubious," and will likely result in the U.K.'s Guardian becoming the world's biggest English-language newspaper, says Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger. Newspaper Web Sites Top Source -- for Now E&P More people go to newspapers Web sites for local information than any other source, according to a survey from the Newspaper Association of America and comScore. However, while 57% identified newspapers as the top source, 54% cited online portals. Scripps to Explore Sale of 'Charlie Brown' Business Courier Good grief, Charlie Brown! Scripps is exploring the potential sale of its profitable United Media unit, whose major asset is licensing rights from "Peanuts" cartoon characters. Also: The company is reorganizing its newspaper division, with 100 employees to be affected. Hearst to Farm Out Some Sports Reporting San Francisco Business Hearst Newspapers is entering a deal with "citizen sportswriters" business Bleacher Report for some of the news in its sports sections. Local sports sections will have articles written by Bleacher's "fan" reporters, along with "aggregated content from across the Web." Dow Jones Seeks SmartMoney from Hearst Wall Street Journal News Corp.'s Dow Jones is in talks to buy the half it doesn't own of SmartMoney from partner Hearst. A deal could be announced within days. Dow Jones plans to integrate the magazine's editorial employees into its own staff. A small number of layoffs are expected. Murdoch Newspapers 'Obstructed' Probe Financial Times Execs from Rupert Murdoch's U.K. newspaper arm are under fire over evidence they gave about so-called telephone-hacking by a News of the World reporter. A panel of lawmakers says: "We encountered an unwillingness to provide the information we sought." WSJ to Launch Live Web Video Series Mediaweek The Wall Street Journal is launching "Digits," a live weekday online video series focused on technology. The series is an offshoot of the Journal's Digits tech blog. Viewers are attracted to the "sense of immediacy" of live video, says top editor Alan Murray. FT, Economist Lead 'Superbrands' List Media Week The Financial Times and The Economist are among the big winners in the new Superbrands survey, determined by a panel of U.K. branding and marketing experts. The FT and The Economist are the only two media companies -- aside from Google -- to make the top 25. NY Daily News Seeks New Headquarters NY Observer Mort Zuckerman's New York Daily News is hiring brokerage Cushman & Wakefield to look for new office space. Rumor has it that the newspaper wants offices comparable in size to the 120,000 square feet it now occupies at 450 West 33rd Street, at 10th Avenue. Hollywood Reporter May End Print Daily New York Post Richard Beckman, CEO of e5Global Media, is said to be considering dropping The Hollywood Reporter's daily print version, keeping Web coverage and a weekly print version. "It's way premature to say that," he says, adding, "We have very ambitious plans." Allbritton Local News Site Names Editor Washington Post Erik Wemple, editor of the weekly Washington City Paper, will be the top editor of the yet-to-be named local news Web site launching this spring by Allbritton Communications. The venture comes from the same company that launched Politico.com in early 2007. DailyCandy Hires Editor from New York AllThingsD DailyCandy, the lifestyle newsletter business, is hiring Janet Ozzard, editor of New York magazine's "Strategist" shopping guide, to be the company's new editor-in-chief. She replaces Eve Epstein, who is leaving for Swirl.com, DailyCandy's new sample sale site. Star Tribune's Site Infected with Virus WCCO The Minneapolis Star Tribune says that its Web site is safe to surf again after someone potentially infected it with an advertisement appearing to have contained a Trojan-style virus. The newspaper removed all ad networks from its Web site to combat the issue. Manhattan Magazine Owner Pushed Out New York Post Michael Kong, founder of Modern Luxury Media, publisher of Manhattan and Angeleno magazines, is being pushed out, an apparent victim of a superheated expansion that could not be sustained in the recession. The company is shouldering about $120 million in debt. Laptop Magazine Owner Files Chapter 11 Crain's New York Bedford Communications, the Manhattan-based parent of Laptop magazine, is filing for Chapter 11 protection. The gadget magazine will continue to operate as before, says Bedford boss Edward Brown. "The economy and the media economy have created pressures." Publishers: We Need to Reinvent Ourselves BtoB Execs at the Interactive Advertising Bureau's annual conference discussed the changing media environment and the need to reinvent themselves. "The traditional value chain has been disrupted," says Jack Griffin of Meredith. "Ongoing reinvention is the only way forward." Reader's Digest Emerges from Bankruptcy Reuters Reader's Digest Association is emerging from bankruptcy after cutting debt by 75%. The company, which filed for Chapter 11 in August, comes out of bankruptcy with $525 million in exit financing and a new board of directors that includes former CBS CFO Fredric Reynolds. Ebony, Magic Johnson End Acquisition Talks Bloomberg Magic Johnson says his company held "advanced" talks to buy Johnson Publishing, the owner of Ebony and Jet magazines, but was unable to reach a deal. Johnson says he remains interested in African-American media, without disclosing whether he is looking at other assets. New Yorker Editor Pens Obama Biography AP New Yorker editor David Remnick is writing a biography of President Obama, "The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama," due out in April from Knopf, an imprint of Random House. Remnick conducted hundreds of interviews for the book, including with Obama. Vogue's Wintour Set for Industry Honor ASME Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour will be inducted into the Magazine Editors' Hall of Fame at the 45th annual National Magazine Awards in April: "She has defined style for a generation of magazine readers and come to epitomize the essential qualities of editorial leadership." NY Times, NYU Team to Launch News Blog NYU Local The New York Times and New York University are entering a deal to allow journalism students to launch and oversee a hyperlocal news blog covering the East Village. Rich Jones, a former Times reporter, will be the editor of the site and will teach part time at NYU. Miami Herald Stops Donation Program AFP The Miami Herald is ending a program asking online readers to make a contribution to support the newspaper just two months after it was launched. The paper declines to say how much money the effort had raised. The McClatchy paper cut some 200 jobs last year. Monster Job Site Cutting 200 Positions Boston Business Monster Worldwide, the parent of online job site Monster.com, is cutting 200 jobs from its global work force. A spokesperson says that the job cuts are "consistent with our ongoing strategy" and unrelated to Monster's recent acquisition of HotJobs from Yahoo. Magazines: E-Reader May Be Next Big Rage MinOnline Some magazine publishers seem to be going full throttle with their plans to exploit the Apple iPad. AARP publisher Jim Fishman is looking into how his magazine can leverage the e-reader to incorporate color and video. "If anybody tells you how it's going to [pan out], it's a guess." Playboy Eyes New Clubs in Latin America Bloomberg Playboy is looking toward overseas growth in Latin America, China and India, including new clubs in Brazil, says CEO Scott Flanders. "The local Brazilian culture is more open toward sexuality. In those environments, the Playboy brand has its strongest resonance." Bloomberg Acquires Eagle Eye Publishing BtoB Bloomberg's latest expansion is into the government market. The financial media giant is acquiring Eagle Eye Publishing, which provides databases on federal procurement. Government spending is one area of the economy that continues to see reliable growth. Martha, Oprah Mark Magazine Milestones MinOnline Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey are billionaire owners of media companies who are switching from "free" television to cable.. The also both have self-branded magazines. Martha's 1990 launch came a decade before Oprah's. Both titles will celebrate anniversaries in 2010. Hearst Harnesses Web Video for Fashion Mediaweek Marie Claire and Harper's Bazaar will run Web video series on their sites in a behind-the-scenes approach to Fashion Week coverage. Marie Claire is arming editorial staffers with flip-cameras to create video diaries, while Bazaar editors are discussing collections on video. Elle Editor Defends Viability of Magazines WWD "Charlie Rose" on Friday interviewed several top fashion industry figures. Given the speed of the Web, Rose questioned the viability of a fashion publication such as Elle. Robbie Meyers, editor in chief of Elle, argued that her magazine is a "media agnostic" filter. Deadline Owner Preps Showbiz Site in India Indiantelevision Jay Penske's Mail.com Media Corp. is entering a joint venture with Zee Entertainment to launch an online entertainment portal in India. The launch date and name of the site are yet to be disclosed. Penske owns Nikki Finke's Deadline and Bonnie Fuller's HollywoodLife. HuffPost Signs Up College Newspapers Washington Post The Huffington Post is launching a College section in collaboration with more than 50 campus newspapers, such as the Harvard Crimson and Stanford Daily. The section, which will include bloggers, has the goal of becoming "a virtual hub for college life in America." Craigslist Sex Trade Flourishing, Police Say WCVB Arrests at a Boston hotel last week shows the sex trade is still thriving on Craigslist, police say. Two women were charged with prostitution after using the site to place ads. The arrests come nearly a year after Boston police arrested the so-called "Craigslist killer." Laid-Off Journo: Have Keyboard, Will Travel New York Times Paul Smalera, a 29-year-old journalist who was laid off from his job at Conde Nast Portfolio in 2008, is now furiously blogging, tweeting and writing for Web sites. He earns about half of his former $63,000 salary. "The economics are bleak right now," he admits. Hearst to Take E-Readers 'Much Further' Wharton Skiff, the Hearst-backed e-reading startup, will be superior to Amazon's "serviceable" Kindle e-reader, says Hearst Magazines president Cathie Black. Skiff will offer content from multiple publishers, along with analytics to measure the effectiveness of advertising on e-readers. Tribune Wins Extension in Bankruptcy Case Chicago Tribune A bankruptcy court judge is expending until March 31 Tribune's exclusive right to file a reorganization plan in its Chapter 11 case. The extension gives Tribune more time to try to forge a compromise between an increasingly belligerent group of senior and junior creditors. NY Times Dissident Plans to Leave Board Reuters Scott Galloway, the leader of a 2008 dissident shareholder campaign against the New York Times Co., will not seek re-election to the company's board. He declines to say why he will quit, leaving unanswered the question of whether he was successful at his quest. USA Today to Launch Puerto Rico Edition AP Gannett's USA Today on Monday will launch a Puerto Rico edition catering to travelers and tourists on the island. Besides the regular USA Today newspaper, the new edition will include translated articles from the Spanish-language Puerto Rican daily El Nuevo Dia. Time Inc Strikes Back at Rival Conde Nast New York Post Time Inc. is staging a counter-raid after Conde Nast snagged four execs for Lucky magazine. The company is luring Tim O'Connor away from Vogue to be associate publisher at InStyle. He replaces Karin Tracy, who had jumped to Time Inc.'s People StyleWatch. Playboy Mag Seeks to Break Even by 2011 WWD Playboy CEO Scott Flanders says the goal for the magazine is to break even by next year. Playboy got a boost from musician John Mayer's controversial interview in the March issue, which was "picked up by 1,500 media outlets, leading to 500 million media impressions." National Enquirer Eligible for Pulitzer Prize HuffPost The Pulitzer Prize Board is said to be accepting the National Enquirer's submissions for breaking the John Edwards scandal. In a historic move, the board concedes that the American Media-owned tabloid is qualified to compete for journalism's top honor. Conde Nast's Brides Takes On The Knot Wall Street Journal Conde Nast's Brides magazine and Web publisher The Knot are taking steps to increase their rivalry, hoping to snatch readers and advertisers from each other. Conde Nast "is the 800-pound gorilla," says The Knot CEO David Liu. But, "we run a very lean operation." Hearst Exports Harper's Bazaar to Spain WWD Harper's Bazaar is launching an edition in Spain, the debut issue of which hits newsstands today. Published by Hearst with Madrid-based Spainmedia, Harper's Bazaar Spain is the title's 31st international edition. The partnership already publishes Esquire in Spain. Reader's Digest UK Puts 117 Jobs at Risk Times of London The British arm of Reader's Digest is filing for a form a bankruptcy protection after more than 70 years on the newsstand. Reader's Digest Association says it is no longer able to support the British edition following a regulator's decision not to OK plans to fund its deficit. Meredith to Give More to More Magazine WWD The March issue of More magazine will introduce a new logo and tagline, "For Women of Style & Substance." While past issues were aimed at women in their 40s, the new look is intended to reach women of any age and broaden the magazine's appeal to advertisers. Reed Elsevier Eyes Cuts, Magazine Sales Bloomberg Reed Elsevier, which has been in talks to sell dozens of U.S. trade magazines, says it is "working to continue to restructure that ad-based print portfolio." The company is in "relentless pursuit" of cost efficiencies, and cuts at Variety parent Reed Business Information will continue. Martha Stewart: Digital is a Good Thing WWD Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is planning a "re-platforming" for MarthaStewart.com. Changes to the site will involve more tagging, better search optimization and more video. Also, the company is launching its first iPhone app, offering recipes for 99 cents. Gannett to Keep Revenue Goal a Secret Business Journal Gannett is being allowed to keep its digital revenue goals secret by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC granted confidential treatment of the data under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Gannett "wants to keep the data from competitors." Tribune: Trustee Backs Probe of Buyout Chicago Sun-Times With a bankruptcy hearing bearing down on Tribune, the U.S. trustee's office overseeing the case is endorsing a call for an independent investigation of Sam Zell's buyout of the company. An outside probe could help the warring parties in the case reach a settlement. Daily Beast to Salute Women in Summit Daily Beast The Daily Beast, the Barry Diller-backed news site edited by Tina Brown, is hosting three-day summit, Women in the World, in March. The event will showcase outstanding women leaders, featuring the likes of Meryl Streep, Madeleine Albright and Queen Rania of Jordan. Slate Bows Reader Collaboration Project CyberJournalist Slate, the Washington Post Co.'s online magazine, is launching The Hive, the first in a series of projects to harness "the collective intelligence" of its readers. The project asks readers to propose ways for people to use less energy. Top ideas will be presented to policymakers. Custom Publishing Council is Renamed BtoB The Custom Publishing Council is changing its name to the Custom Content Council, reflecting the rise in importance of digital. " 'Publishing' sounded ancient," says group head Lori Rosen. " 'Content' is a more accurate reflection of what marketers are using." NY Times's Accused Plagiarist is Resigning New York Observer Zachery Kouwe, a 31-year-old New York Times business reporter accused of plagiarizing other news sources, resigned Tuesday. "I write essentially 7,000 words every week," he says. "In the essence of speed, I'll look at various wire services. I was stupid and careless." Craigslist Acted in 'Bad Faith,' eBay Says Bloomberg Craigslist execs reneged on a deal to give eBay a board seat for its stake in the classified ad site, eBay's lawyers claim in new court papers. Craigslist execs were "motivated by a desire to harm eBay." Craigslist's lawyers will file their closing brief in the lawsuit next month. Freedom to Sell Phoenix Free Newspaper Phoenix Business Freedom Communications, publisher of Phoenix's East Valley Tribune, is near a deal to sell the newspaper and related titles to Thirteenth Street Media of Boulder, Colo. Freedom filed for bankruptcy last fall and had announced the paper would close if a buyer was not found. NY Times Exports Style Magazine to Qatar AP The New York Times is launching a bilingual Arabic-English version of T: The New York Times Style Magazine in Qatar. The lifestyle and luxury title will be published every two months this year and every month in 2011. It will offer local features and commentary. Tribune, Beatty Battle Over 'Dick Tracy' Variety Warren Beatty's long battle with Tribune over the rights to "Dick Tracy" will continue now that a judge has refused to dismiss the actor-director's lawsuit. Beatty, who directed and starred in the 1990 film "Dick Tracy," insists he still holds the rights to the comic character. NY Times in Turf War Over iPad Control Gawker A heated turf war is said to be going on inside the New York Times over the Apple iPad, pitting print die-hards against execs focused on the newspaper's digital future. The outcome is expected to determine the pricing for some of the marquee content on the new device. Wired Magazine Shows Off iPad Edition Ad Age Wired editor in chief Chris Anderson used an appearance last Friday at the TED conference to show off how the Conde Nast magazine will look as an edition for tablets and other devices. Wired's video clip shows the product using live code, not just a vision of what might be. Conde Nast Fights Writer Over Copyrights Big Money Conde Nast lawyers want Barry Estabrook, a writer for the company's now-shuttered Gourmet, to remove columns from his personal blog that he had written for the magazine. Estabrook claims he holds the copyrights. And his blog, he says, "has revenues of absolutely zero." Time Inc: Three More Exit for Conde Nast New York Post Three more top advertising execs are following Michelle Myers from Time Inc. to Conde Nast. Julie Arkin, Kim Conrad and Sarah Menninger are exiting on the heels of Myers, who last week jumped from publisher of People StyleWatch to publisher of Lucky magazine. Forbes Editor's Column Gets Web Sponsor Milwaukee Business Northwestern Mutual, a financial services company, is sponsoring a new section on Forbes.com called "Fact & Comment with Steve Forbes." The section runs within the Opinions channel and is an extension of Forbes editor in chief Steve Forbes' magazine column. Amazon E-Book Market Share Due to Fall Bloomberg Amazon will likely see its market share of e-book sales slip to 72% this year from 90% in 2009 as competition intensifies from Apple's iPad and Google, say analysts at Credit Suisse. "We envision a scenario where Apple, Amazon and Google eventually split the market." Apple: Publishers Wary of Deals for iPad Financial Times Newspaper and magazine publishers are stumbling over key issues such as sharing subscription revenues and consumer data as they consider deals to offer versions of their products on Apple's upcoming iPad. Also: Publishers have "lots of questions about the revenue model." Conde Nast Preps iPad Versions of Mags Macworld Conde Nast is planning Apple iPad versions of popular titles including GQ, Vanity Fair and Wired magazines. "We look at [iTunes] as a digital newsstand," says Sarah Chubb, president of CondeNet. Wired magazine plans to have its iPad version ready by summer. Hearst to License Family Name for Wine San Luis Obispo Tribune The Hearst family, which has one of the largest beef cattle operations in California on top of its billion-dollar media empire, is licensing its name for a wine label. Six wines selling between $25 and $70 a bottle will be sold with names associated with the Hearst Ranch. San Jose Mercury News vs Tech Giants San Jose Business Google, Yahoo, Apple and other tech giants have successfully kept data about the gender and racial makeup of their work forces secret. They argue that complying with a Freedom of Information request by the San Jose Mercury News would reveal "competitive secrets." Financial Times May Move Staff to China Press Gazette The Financial Times is proposing that British journalists working on FT Chinese move to China and work for reduced salaries. The move is prompting union members to threaten a strike. FT journalists have been told they face possible dismissal if they decline to relocate. Observer Mulls Staged Release to Online Press Gazette The Observer, the Sunday British sister newspaper to the Guardian, is looking into adopting a policy of delaying the release of newspaper content to its Web site ahead of its cost-cutting relaunch this weekend. "You might need to actually leave the house and buy the paper." Sporting News' New Boss Eyes Multiplatform SportsBusiness Journal Sporting News is naming Jeff Price as its new president and publisher. Price, a consultant for the Advance Publications biweekly since October, formerly ran Sports Illustrated's digital unit. He says he intends to heighten Sporting News as a multiplatform title. Gawker Media Acquires Cityfile Site, Editor Gawker Gawker Media, the blog publisher, says it is making its first acquisition: Cityfile, the New York City personality news site. Cityfile's 2,000-plus profiles will be the centerpiece of new topic pages. Also, Cityfile founder Remy Stern will take over as Gawker's editor-in-chief. Blogs Moving In On Old-Media Territory Oxford Analytica The rise of the blogosphere poses a challenge to old media, says Oxford Analytica. "But over the longer term traditional media will probably find themselves at the heart of a more diverse media landscape in which blogs play an important, but not dominant, role." New Media Sites Can Help Fight Repression Reuters An increase in online journalists has made the press more vulnerable to repression, but new media are also helping raise awareness about such attacks, says watchdog group Committee to Protect Journalists. Blogs and social networking sites "help fight" censorship. Ebony Magazine Eyed by Magic Johnson Bloomberg Earvin "Magic" Johnson is in talks to acquire Johnson Publishing, the publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines. The basketball star would make the company a part of his Magic Johnson Enterprises. Advertising revenue at Ebony magazine declined 38% to $35.5 million last year. Wired Magazine for iPad a 'Game Changer' Wired Chris Anderson, editor in chief of Wired, is unveiling a prototype of the Conde Nast magazine's content on the Apple iPad, which will be available by summer. The iPad will allow periodicals to do digital content with the same values of print titles, he says. "This is a game changer." Vogue: Tina Fey Promotes Cover via E-Mail AP Vogue subscribers are getting an e-mail from NBC "30 Rock" star Tina Fey promoting her March issue cover story. Fey uses her self-deprecating humor to describe her Vogue experience. The e-mail includes links to renew a Vogue subscription and to give one as a gift. Fashion Bloggers Seated Next to Vogue Editor AOL / WWD Once regarded as pests, fashion bloggers -- like teen Bryan Boy -- are now "industry darlings" and given front-row seats at runway shows next to Vogue's Anna Wintour. Also: Major fashion designers are blogging, tweeting and live streaming their shows. Reed Business to Sell More Trade Magazines BtoB Canon Communications, a B-to-B publisher focused on manufacturing, is said to be in talks to acquire several trade publications from Reed Business Information. The titles include Control Engineering, EDN, Design News, Packaging Digest, and Test & Measurement World. NY Times Reporter Accused of Plagiarism New York Times The New York Times says that reporter Zachery Kouwe appears to have improperly reused text from the Wall Street Journal, Reuters and other news sources without attribution or acknowledgment. "It should not have occurred. The matter remains under investigation." NY Daily News Owner Mulls Run for Senate New York Times Mort Zuckerman, publisher of the New York Daily News, is said to be considering a run for the Senate seat now held by Kirsten Gillibrand. Zuckerman is reportedly convinced that his background as a political outsider will appeal to the state's electorate. Financial Times Holds Confabs at Olympics BtoB The Financial Times is developing "significant" new business by producing conferences for global business execs at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Also, the FT is adding a temporary printing site in Seattle to meet anticipated increased demand in Vancouver. Le Figaro Unveils Pay Strategy for Web Site New Media Age Le Figaro is unveiling details of how it plans to charge for online content, but says news will remain free. The French national newspaper plans to charge for services such as newsletters, access to its online archive and the best of the New York Times translated into French. Nielsen: People Will Pay for Online Content Financial Times A third of 27,000 people surveyed in 52 countries say they would consider paying to access newspapers' Web sites, according to a global survey by Nielsen. Consumers under 35 are "more willing" to pay than their elders. Few consider online-only news worth paying for. Old Media Brands: 'Time is Running Out' Adweek General-interest media is coming to an end, thanks to the rise of "self-directed, always-on" Web content, writes former Forbes.com CEO Jim Spanfeller. A "whole era of media brands" could disappear. "And they'll be replaced by more and more Huffington Posts." Digital Coupon Growth Outpaces Newspaper BizReport Coupon clipping appears to be moving online. Digital coupon growth is now outpacing newspaper coupon growth by a margin of 10 to 1, according to research from Coupons.com. Also, more consumers are sharing coupons through blogs and social networks. Daily Beast Helps Penniless Former Editor WWD Alexandra Penney, former editor in chief of Self magazine, lost her life's savings in Bernie Madoff's ponzi scheme. Panicked, she started to blog for The Daily Beast and authored a book on how to reinvent herself. Her book launch party will benefit Women in Need. Time Inc: SI Swimsuit Issue Sets Records TheWrap Sports Illustrated's 2010 Swimsuit Issue went live online Tuesday, with 1,500 bikini-clad photos and more than 100 videos of swimsuit models, including cover star Brooklyn Decker. As expected, it set all sorts of traffic records for SI.com, including a big boost in video views. Conde Nast Gets Lucky with New Publisher New York Post People StyleWatch publisher Michelle Myers is jumping to Conde Nast, where she will replace Gina Sanders as publisher of Lucky magazine. Sanders last month became CEO of Conde Nast's Fairchild Fashion Group, after Richard Beckman left to be CEO of e5 Global Media. Foursquare to Get Lucky with Magazine TechCrunch Foursquare's partnerships with media companies continue to add up. The location-based social network is expanding to the magazine sector with a new deal with Conde Nast's Lucky magazine. Foursquare users attending New York Fashion Week will get tips from Lucky editors. Gannett: Staff Unpaid Leave at USA Today Washington Business Nearly 1,500 employees at Gannett flagship newspaper USA Today are being required to take one week of unpaid leave before July. Also, an existing pay freeze, implemented in February 2009, will be extended by at least 90 days. USA Today cut two dozen jobs last year. Examiner.com to Enlist 85,000 This Year Kansas City Business Philip Anschutz's Examiner.com network of local news sites plans to have 85,000 "examiners" serving 240 markets throughout North America by the end of the year. The sites enlist so-called expert local contributors as "examiners" to write news and feature articles. Berkeley Daily Planet to Go Internet-Only Daily Californian The Berkeley Daily Planet, a free, independently published weekly newspaper in Berkeley, Calif., says it plans to stop print production next month. The paper will continue its online publication and maintain one staff reporter paid with funds from donations. Conde Nast Sends Scolds Teen Blogger Washingtonian Conde Nast sent a cease-and-desist warning to a 19-year-old blogger for using the company's GQ brand in the name of his fashion blog, kidGQ. Other bloggers "told me it meant that I was doing something right," says the anonymous blogger behind the renamed District Cut. Dow Jones Gets $608M in Index Biz Sale MarketWatch News Corp.'s Dow Jones & Co. is selling 90% of Dow Jones Indexes to exchange operator CME Group. The two firms will form a joint venture to operate the index services business. News Corp. will get $608 million from the deal and retain control of the Dow Jones brand. NY Times Expects More Layoffs This Year TheWrap The New York Times, which reduced its headcount in December, may see more layoffs this year. When asked by an analyst at J.P. Morgan if the company's headcount would be reduced again in 2010, CFO James Follo responds: "I think we would expect that to be the case, yes." CanWest Newspapers Eyed by Two Groups Globe and Mail Two groups are expected to bid on 46 newspapers owned by Canada's insolvent CanWest Global Communications. One group is being led by Paul Godfrey, the president of CanWest's National Post. The second group may include Vancouver-based Glacier Media. Kirkus Reviews Rescued from Shutdown New York Times Kirkus Reviews, the book review journal slated to be shuttered by Nielsen Business Media, is being acquired. New owner Herb Simon, a "voracious reader," co-owns a bookstore in Montecito, Calif., and is chairman emeritus of shopping mall developer Simon Property Group. Daily Beast Writer Exits Amid Allegations Miami Herald Gerald Posner, the lead investigative reporter for the Daily Beast, the year-old online news outlet co-founded by Tina Brown, is resigning amid charges of plagiarism. Posner says he blames the "warp speed of the net" and his "master electronic files" system. The Age of Tablets: The Future of Reading Fortune While the Tablet Age promises to smooth the transition of old media from paper to digital, traditional publishers still face obstacles, writes Josh Quittner. "Will anyone be willing to pay for content delivered to a tablet when they can get information for free on the Web?" Penton Media Plans Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Bloomberg Penton Media, a trade-magazine publisher and Web site operator, will seek bankruptcy protection within days to implement a plan to cut debt by about $270 million. Penton, founded in 1892, publishes titles including Radio magazine and Broadcast Engineering. Lee Enterprises Gets Tough in St Louis St. Louis Business Lee Enterprises is continuing to push St. Louis-Post Dispatch union members to take a 15% wage cut in the first year of a new contract followed by 5% reductions in each of the second and third years. The publisher also wants to eliminate retiree health care. Hearst Invests in Chinese Fashion News Site Dow Jones Hearst and venture-capital firm IDG Ventures are investing in Yoka.com, a Chinese portal for fashion and celebrity news. The site, which includes a database of fashion retailers, is also acquiring the digital rights to content from Hearst magazines published in China.