The New York Times ombudswoman—yes: woman!—has made her first mark at the paper. What’s it look like? What’s up with Cosmo‘s new look? What do campaign reporters think about this year’s campaign? What piece absolutely needed to be written today that was finally written? All that, and more, in your Thursday Evening Media Briefs:
Meet Margaret: The New York Times has a new ombudsperson who is not Arthur S. Brisbane, who was given the old “don’t let the door hit you” on his way out. In his place?
Former Buffalo News editor Margaret Sullivan, who has already filed her first entry on her blog. The kicker:
Whatever the conclusions, whatever the effectiveness, of challenging facts, the idea that we have to debate the necessity of doing so strikes me as absurd.
What is the role of the media if not to press for some semblance of reality amid the smoke and mirrors?
Consider this her marking her territory, one that initially seems to stand in stark opposition to that of her predecessor, who once successfully trolled New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson after asking if it was the Times‘ job to report aggressively. Improvements: They happen. [Public Editor / NYT]
Cos-metic Changes: Cosmopolitan has a new editor, and it’s former Marie Claire editor Joanna Coles. She got the job after Hearst brass David Carey was told by now-former Cosmo editor Kate White that after fourteen years in the position, she was ready to hang up her Twenty Heels That Will Make This The Best Fall Ever, or whathaveyou.
Lest you doubt Coles’ credentials for what may be the most prominent editing spot in the Hearst empire,
(A) She’s British and
(B) This:
Ms. Coles is a former reporter — who are not necessarily prized for their fashion sense — and has worked for both The Guardian and The Times of London. She reported for The Guardian here and then eventually went to work as an editor at New York magazine.
Meanwhile, Anne Fulenwider of Brides is moving into Joanna Coales’ old spot at the top of Marie Claire (she used to work there as executive editor under Coales). This comes on the heels of another big turning-0ver of power in the fashion world—Sally Singer parting ways with T—if you so care to recall. Fashionista did; they put together a slideshow of recent turnovers in glossies. Must be something in the air. [Media Decoder, Fashionista]
People Don’t Like Jobs: Politico’s Dylan Byers brings us the sad story of campaign reporters who aren’t fans of the 2012 campaign (the words “devastating joylessness” come into play, here). Which is to say nothing of how the general public feels about 2012 campaign coverage or how the candidates feel about the media, all of which goes to say: Nonshocker. [Politico]
Futility of Large-Scale Endeavor Questioned, Part II: The National Journal has finally published the long-awaited companion piece to all of those “Why Are So Many Journalists Covering The RNC?!” pieces, which is titled—what else?—”Why, Exactly, Are 15,000 Journalists in Charlotte?” Why, Exactly, indeed. [National Journal]
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Are you a truth vigilante? Are you not a conspiracy theorist? Do you have something you think we might not delete more or less sight-unseen because doesn’t concern about Ron Paul or hydrofracking as an alien conspiracy to probe our natural gasses? Basically: You have any media gossip? Give it to us now. Please.
fkamer@observer.com | @weareyourfek
