Results tagged “media”

In reporting its parent company's $35.6 million third quarter loss, the NY Times notes that it "collect[ed] more from readers than from advertisers, in an industry where advertising traditionally outweighed circulation in revenue by at least three to one. At the company’s New York Times Media Group, which includes The Times and The International Herald Tribune, circulation revenue reached $175.2 million in the third quarter, while ad revenue dropped to $164.5 million." Earlier this week, the Times announced 100 newsroom positions would be slashed.

The New York Times announced today that it will cut 100 newsroom jobs—about 8 percent of the total—by year's end. In a memo to the news room, executive editor Bill Keller said, "Like you, I yearn for the day when we can do our jobs without looking over our shoulders for economic thunderstorms." Employees already took a 5 percent pay cut for most of this year, which was intended to avoid layoffs.

Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden told reporters that the "Balloon" Boy incident of October 15, 2009 that riveted the world was a just a big ploy for attention (mission accomplished!), "It has been determined that this is a hoax, that it was a publicity stunt and we believe we have evidence at this point to indicate that this was a publicity stunt in hopes to better market themselves for a reality show." He also said Richard and Mayumi Heene "put on a very good show for us, and we bought it."

On Wednesday, Lazard Freres chief Bruce Wasserstein died, leaving questions about the fate of New York magazine. Wasserstein bought the magazine in 2003 for $55 million and an expert suspects he "invested much more money along the way. [If his heirs were to sell, they] would probably want a minimum of $75 million to $100 million." Even though "money-losing media vanity ownership is usually the exclusive preserve of the mature rich, not their progeny," Gawker wonders if his family will be less inclined to sell since they'll get an automatic $188 million payout from Lazard.

Is the media frenzy over the balloon boy stunt making you sick? You're not the only one! Parents Richard and Mayumi Heene are very busy pimping themselves out to the networks, and they're not about to let their li'l star's stomach virus stand in the way of their precious 15 minutes. This morning Falcon—the six-year-old boy who was hiding in the attic while America was voyeuristically titillated worried sick that he was in a runaway helium balloon—vomited twice on two different talk shows this morning, just like a pussified wus. Here's the Today Show spew, at 5:50 in:

The Daily News is so pumped about the first game of the ALCS that it put CC Sabathia on the front page—however, there's an unfortunately placed PC Richards sticker on the front page as well.

After looking for bids since July, the NY Times Co. has decided not to sell the Boston Globe. The NY Times reports, "The Globe did not draw high bids, and the company chairman, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., said last month that the paper’s finances had improved enough that the company no longer believed it had to sell if the offers were not attractive enough."

The New York Times thinks so; the company's own payment rules bar execs from getting over $3 million in bonuses and 400,000 stock options. Yet publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. and CEO Janet Robinson have both been paid under a plan that allows for $3.5 million in bonuses and over half a million stock options. Maybe that seems a tad excessive, but it's been a stressful year for the Times execs, what with all the staff cuts and ad losses they've sustained, so leave Pinch alone!

Everyone loves to "Keep fucking that chicken!" Well, at least say the bizarre yet irresistible catch phrase coined by WNYW Fox 5 anchor Ernie Anastos. If it's not Jon Stewart being jealous that Anastos got to use it first, then it's the Reverend Al Sharpton guessing that term's meaning. The Reverend told City Room, "It could be a kind of phrase: ‘Well, keep doing what you are doing. Keep going after it.' Even if you are tired or distracted, keep on doing that chicken, that kind of thing." We don't think fatigue or distraction will ever keep us from saying "Keep fucking that chicken!" (and then giggling for a few minutes).

ABC has announced that Charlie Gibson will retire in January, to be replaced by Diane Sawyer as anchor of the ABC World News evening broadcast. The two had worked together closely since reviving Good Morning America in 1998; Gibson left that program in 2006 to take over ABC World News after Bob Woodruff was injured in Iraq and the network decided to replace his co-anchor, Elizabeth Vargas. Sawyer has long sought the anchor chair, so this must be exciting for her, though ABC now has some big shoes to fill at GMA. In email to his staff, Gibson wrote, "I love this news department, and all who work in it, to the depths of my soul... I have received much comment, and quite a few emails and letters referring to the signoff Eddie Pinder convinced me to use—wishing that everyone has had a good day. But the proudest part for me has been saying '...for all of us at ABC News...', since those words signify in my mind that I have been in a position to speak for an entire news department that I consider second to none." And, after the jump, video of a very giddy Sawyer the day after President Obama's inauguration:

Governor Paterson was back at the scene of the crime today, attempting to wipe the slate clean and put the lid on what has been a disastrous campaign on his part of critiquing the "orchestrated" treatment of him from the media and how it illustrates that we are not in a postracial society. Paterson returned to the Errol Louis's radio show where he first made the remarks last week. Today he said, "I was wrong to get into an assessment of how the media views me. I do not think that race has anything to do with my poll numbers anything to do with my political issues in this day, and shouldn’t have said it. Straight out."

After Governor Paterson has accused the media of racism as it details his political problems, more and more people are telling Paterson to stop. First it was President Obama—of course Paterson didn't pay any heed to that, later saying, "Part of what I feel is that one very successful minority is permissible, but when you see too many success stories, then some people get nervous,"—and other politicians and commentators. Now it's former NYC mayor David Dinkins, who says, "Definitely he should get off the racist thing. Right or wrong, it’s a fight you sure can’t win."

Spurred by the raucous town hall debates about health care, the Daily Show went to the archives to look at the time-honored tradition protesting the president...and wonders about Fox News' sudden transformation in the liberal media! But can it be? Hmm—one of the early examples is Bill O'Reilly saying on August 10 that when Fox News covers the town hall meetings, "We don't describe the protesters as loons"— then there's a September 1, 2004 (in the middle of the Republican National Convention here in NYC) clip of O'Reilly saying, "Surveys show many protesters are simply loons."

Not shocking: Reality TV show producers heighten the dramatic potential by leaving copious amounts of alcohol around or depriving contestants of sleep! A NY Times article explores the world of tortured reality TV contestants. Contestants on the 2006 season of The Bachelor said that after waiting many hours for a 12-hour party, "there was little food but bottomless glasses of wine. When producers judged the proceedings too boring, they sent out a production assistant with a tray of shots," with one pointing out, "If you combine no sleep with alcohol and no food, emotions are going to run high and people are going to be acting crazy." Perfect for ratings! And on the 2005-2006 season of Project Runway, with "multiple 18-hour days of shooting," Diana Eng was once very startled by a crew, "One morning they scared me so bad I jumped and screamed. They said that wasn’t good, so I had to pretend to wake up again." A University of Iowa communications studies professor sums it up, "The bread and butter of reality television is to get people into a state where they are tired, stressed and emotionally vulnerable." Hear that, reality TV fans? You might be sadists for watching it! Then again, the contestants might be masochists, so it works out.

We're looking for one more enthusiastic intern to work out of our Brooklyn office (or from the comfort of your own home/dorm room, depending on the task at hand) on Tuesdays and Fridays for the rest of the summer, and, who knows, maybe beyond. Responsibilities vary widely, hours are very flexible. Bloggers, journalism students, English majors, autodidacts, quick wits, and anyone with a passion for NYC and the skills to write about it are encouraged to drop us a line. No pay, but occasional perks and college credit available. For more details inquire within, and please email your resume and any other relevant information to info (AT) gothamist (DOT) com, subject "internship." (No attachments, please.)

Legendary CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite's death is still being mourned by the country. In a statement released by CBS News, President Obama said, "He brought us all those stories large and small which would come to define the 20th century. That’s why we love Walter, because in an era before blogs and e-mail, cellphones and cable, he was the news. Walter invited us to believe in him, and he never let us down."

Walter Cronkite, known as the "most trusted man in America" as CBS News anchor, died at age 92 last night. The NY Times' obituary states, "From 1962 to 1981, Mr. Cronkite was a nightly presence in American homes and always a reassuring one, guiding viewers through national triumphs and tragedies alike, from moonwalks to war, in an era when network news was central to many people’s lives." His son told the Times that the cause of death was complications from dementia, while the AP reports, "Cronkite’s longtime chief of staff, Marlene Adler, said Cronkite died at 7:42 p.m. at his Manhattan home surrounded by family. She said the cause of death was cerebral vascular disease."

To accompany its Michael Jackson package of articles, the Village Voice put a 1976 photograph of the music legend on its cover. The Voice's Runnin' Scared blog explains that the picture of a dynamic Jackson against the city was "taken on a balcony on the Upper East Side by music photographer Michael Putland. Whatever brought him to town, Jackson was a tough subject, Putland says. He could hardly believe that someone who projected such a giant personality on stage could be so fragile and soft-spoken in person. 'I felt almost sorry for him while taking the photos. I wanted to say, "It's OK, Michael."' Putland also said that it was hard getting Jackson to show his personality, noting that he seemed "very child-like." Also: "It was Jackson's request to wear the deerstalker. Putland remembers thinking that it was a silly hat, but he didn't have the heart to say no." Also check out the Voice's archives of Jackson reviews and articles. In other MJ news, tickets for Jackson's memorial in LA next Tuesday will be randomly drawn (enter here), the powerful sedative Diprivan was found in his home, and he will be buried in a $25K casket.

Yesterday, NY Times reporter David Rohde returned to the NY Times newsroom, a week and a half after escaping seven months of captivity in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Taliban kidnappers. He appeared with his fellow kidnap victim, Tahir Ludin, a reporter who worked as his translator and guide; the Times' Clyde Haberman wrote, "In an intensely emotional moment, the two men walked into the Times newsroom to enormous waves of applause from scores of reporters and editors... As the long ovation continued, Mr. Ludin wiped away tears. Some in the newsroom seemed near tears themselves."

According to the FCC, the switch to digital television has been smooth. FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said, "It's looking more like Y2K than the Bay of Pigs," while acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps used a baseball analogy, "We're safe on third right now... We all need a bit of patience and perseverance. This is a momentous change and it'll take time to get it right." About 800,000 people have called the FCC's hotline in the past week and a little over 400,000 called on the Friday and Saturday, which is lower than the 600,000-3 million calls the agency expected for the first day of transition; on Friday, most calls came from the NYC market. However, some people found themselves needing to buy new, stronger antennas. The FCC says it will keep staff available to answer questions on the hotline until the end of June, at least. Here's the FCC's DTV guide.

As of midnight, TV stations made the switch to DTV. WABC 7 said it started its transition at 12:30 p.m. yesterday, "Many people calling WABC-TV on Friday needed to rescan their converter boxes or had antenna. In some cases, the fix was as simple as moving or expanding the antenna. In other cases, a new antenna was need." (The FCC says to make sure all channels are rescanned.) In Baltimore, one station's programming director said, "One person called in, and it turned out she hadn't turned her converter box on." While those with cable or satellite connections are fine, it's estimated that 1 million people are unprepared for the switch. Cincinnati's Freestore Foodbank gave away free converter boxes; one man who waited over four hours but was told they ran out spoke to the AP, "I'm on disability, and I can't really afford to buy one. I can't get anything on my TV now, so I guess I'll have to go to friends' houses if I want to watch anything." The FCC's DTV site is here; here's the converter box troubleshooting guide.

In a funny and incredibly sad Daily Show segment, the New York Times opened its headquarters up to Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones, who questioned the value of "aged news" (pointing out nothing in the day's newspaper actually happened that day) and asked executive editor Bill Keller if the Times was making "Huffington Post money." Jones was also flummoxed by the sight of a landline phone.

After the Boston Globe's largest union rejected a contract on Monday, the Globe's owner, the New York Times Co., is now seeking bids for the newspaper. According to the Globe, the Times Co. was interested in getting bids no matter how the Guild, which represents "nearly 700 editorial, advertising, and business office staff," voted, but a potential bidder said, "That doesn't mean they have said they are going to sell it. They've just said they are willing to entertain bids. But it sure indicates an interest." In the meantime, because the Guild fell short of voting for the contract with concessions, the Times Co. will save $10 million by imposing a 23% pay cut. Three other unions for the mailers, the pressmen, and the delivery truck drivers had agreed to concessions. The Times Co. has projected it will lose $85 million with the Globe without cost savings.

Of course: Mayor Bloomberg calls a reporter a disgrace one day, then on the following days, other reporters want to ask him about it on other days! In the days since Observer and PolitickerNY reporter Azi Paybarah's question about the Bloomberg's decision to overturn term limits was rebuffed by the mayor—who called Paybarah "a disgrace"—Bloomberg has been called third worst person in the world by Keith Olbermann, was described as reaching "new heights of peevishness" by the NY Times and, today, was asked by a Thomson-Reuters reporter, "Do you think it’s disgraceful for reporters in an open society to ask questions of people in power about their actions and motives?”

Some follow-up to Mayor Bloomberg's exchange with Observer (and PolitickerNY) reporter Azi Paybarah. The NY Times described that the mayor "seemed to reach new heights of peevishness, calling a reporter who posed a question he did not like 'a disgrace.'" (The question was whether the mayor, who spoke of an economic turnaround, oversold his pitch for overturning term limits.) CBS 2 reported, "Many would say the reporter's question was relevant, especially since the city's failing economy is one of the reasons Bloomberg sought an exemption from term limits." Paybarah's editor Josh Benson told the Daily News, "It was a reasonable question. We're comfortable leaving it to everyone else to judge the quality of the response." A spokewoman for City Comptroller and mayoral hopeful Bill Thompson said, "What’s disgraceful is the Mayor’s refusal to answer the tough questions. Calling people names, having staff block cameras and bullying the press aren’t going to stop people from asking the mayor to explain his term limits bait and switch." The Mayor apologized, though indirectly; according to Paybarah, Bloomberg's press secretary Stu Loeser "called to relay an apology from the mayor."

Is the unofficial first rule of Mayor Bloomberg-Press Fight Club "Don't ask Mayor Bloomberg about term limits"? That's what it seems like when you watch this video from PolitickerNY's Azi Paybarah. Bloomberg, at a press conference touting how the city received $32 million in federal stimulus money for job training, said of the economy, "I’m reasonably optimistic that we’ve turned the corner" on the recession. So Paybarah asked if, since the economy was turning around, that meant Bloomberg oversold his pitch for overturning term limits—which the mayor didn't think was a "serious" question.

According to Fortune, David Geffen, the record executive turned Dreamworks co-founder, made an offer to buy the 19% stake in the NY Times owned by hedge fund Harbinger Capital. The Financial Times says, "His offer was rebuffed, two people familiar with its details said. One of these said the offer was made at the prevailing market price but Harbinger wanted a premium, adding that Mr Geffen remained interested in owning the company and would be "a patient buyer'." Geffen previously made a $2 billion pitchto buy the LA Times, which was rejected by the Tribune company. Fortune, which also mentions that Google briefly considered buying the Times but then passed, details the Times' financial and "esoteric" troubles; the latter is described as how the "company suffers from a kind of genetic disorder stemming from the high-minded public goals of the Ochs-Sulzberger trust...and the demands of running a public company." Gawker thinks a Geffen-owned Times is great news for the Times' gay mafia.

The NY Times' financial woes are well-known, but now the NY Post reports, "The family that controls The New York Times empire has lost more than 86 percent of its fortune and may have sell their controlling stake to get out of debt. The Ochs-Sulzberger family, which has run the venerable paper since 1896, may also face unusual pressure from about two dozen descendants to cash out and restore their comfortable lifestyles snatched away suddenly by hard times." The Post has a graphic detailing things like how the family fortune was once $425 million and how their annual income is just $4.5 million (down 50% from recent years), complete with an actual image of Times publisher Arthur "Pinch" Sulzberger with a black eye (Sulzberger's dad's nickname was Punch). The tabloid also explains that Mexican media mogul Carlos Slim, who loaned $250 million to the Times, "is poised to become the biggest Times shareholder of common stock because he's allowing his loan to be repaid in six years with stock -- either from the family's main trust or a weakened corporate treasury."

Now that the MTA's fare hike may just be 25 cents, you can put your savings towards the NY Times. The AP says the paper is raising its prices: Starting June 1, weekday and Saturday editions will cost $2—up from $1.50—and the Sunday NYC edition will be $5—up from $4—and the Sunday national edition will be $6—up from $5. The paper last raised its prices in July. The NY Times' parent company, the NY Times Co., has lost $74 million during the first quarter and is looking to make cuts and even threatened to shut down the Boston Globe if union concessions weren't made. Yesterday, the NY Times' members of the Newspaper Guild agreed to a 5% pay cut in order to avert layoffs and today management sent employees a thank you memo.

Last month, the financially battered NY Times Co. had suggested it would close the Boston Globe, Massachusetts' biggest paper, because the paper lost $50 million last year and was on track to lose $85 million this year. Late last night, the Globe reports the Times made this threat: "Agree to major financial and contract concessions, including the abolition of lifetime job guarantees for some workers, or the Times Co. would begin the shutdown process." Currently two unions have made deals but negotiations are still continuing with the pressmen's union and the Boston Newspaper Guild. The Times bought the Globe in 1993 for $1.1 billion; it is also looking to sell its stake in the Boston Red Sox.