An MSNBC power-flack is leaving the network after weathering publicity storms like the departure of Keith Olbermann. Why would he want to leave a job like that? Also, Colin Myler is having one hell of a Monday, a former Observer reporter has resurfaced, and a Conde Nast legend has passed away. Here is your Monday lunchtime Media Brief:
One’s Loss is Another’s Gaines: MSNBC flack Jeremy Gaines, who has mastered the art of the “no comment” and who has had a figurative Red Phone to the New York Times‘ Brian Stelter over the years he’s been at the network is now leaving. Gaines is departing the cable news network for a far more boring and no doubt lucrative job: VP of corporate communications for the Gannett Company, reports Brian Stelter. Fans of cable news network flacks who never give reporters anything of substance, or who don’t speak on record with any other outlet than the Times—who Gaines has more or less used as a publicity bullhorn in exchange for scoops—will miss him dearly.
Myler Col-ing: That’s a Clash joke. Obviously the read of the morning is Steve Fishman’s profile of NY Daily News editor Colin Myler for New York, which we’ll dive into in-depth later. But we can’t say we don’t like what we’ve already read, especially the bits about Colin being the “Good Cop” to Col Allan in the Post newsroom.
‘Chutzpah’ is the Word You Are Looking For: While you’re at it, don’t forget to read The Guardian‘s latest on Colin Myler, who apparently tried to intimidate people into backing off of investigating News of the World. And not just people, but members of the British Parliament.
Free(man) Bird: A New York Observer hatchling has found a new nest! Our erstwhile Wee Hours columnist and noble heir to George Gurley‘s unpaid bar tabs, Nate Freeman, starts his new job at ArtInfo today, where he will be “a Lifestyle Writer, focusing on fashion and culture.” We wish him the best of luck in his new position, where they will hopefully be far more merciful about bumming cigarettes to him than anybody here was.
Nast Brass Goes on to The Great Conde Cafeteria in the Sky: Once the chairman of Conde Nast International “who blazed publishing trails in new markets,” Daniel Salem has died at 87. WWD has a great obituary about the man that is well worth reading.
Peacock Surrender: This week’s David Carr-penned Media Equation column is about the NBC/George Zimmerman audio edit kerfuffle. Carr rang up the president of NBC News, Steve Capus, to ask why they never corrected an edited audio tape on air. Response: “‘You’re probably right,’ Mr. Capus said right away.” This sometimes happens.
Except, One Thing: “No one has more respect for journalists than other journalists,” notes a guy who received a quick response from Roger Ebert after emailing the legendary film critic for a Q & A. This is true, unless you are actually reporting on other journalists, in which case, they often turn into thin-skinned pathological narcissists who forget that they do the same thing to other people—that is, report on them—on a regular basis, otherwise known as Lesson Number One of Media Reporting.
Lesson about Deleting Things on The Internet: It’s not just stupid, it’s cheesy. Especially if you work for a presidential candidate.
A Very Long Engagement: Andrew Beaujon at Poynter reports that the Wall Street Journal has added onto their social media—or, excuse us, “social engagement”—team yet again in the form of “prolific Tweeter” Neil Mann. In other news, people are still paying tons of money for social media help.
Open Memo to Ron Paul Supporters: Thank you for calling me with blocked IDs and leaving creepy and vaguely threatening voicemails on my phone over the weekend, in addition to further email bombardment. It gave me something to show my friends during brunch. Also, this will not convince me to write about Ron Paul any more than I have. For the official New York Observer policy on writing about Ron Paul per your requests, please refer to editor-in-chief Elizabeth Spiers‘ take on the matter.
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fkamer@observer.com | @weareyourfek
