Blame it on the High Holy Days around the corner, but Jews are certainly getting their fair share in the press recently for reasons other than owning the entire industry. Not that you couldn't do this exercise any old week, but just looking back in the past five days, count how many Jew-centric stories are in the news: Harvey Weinstein in the press again, Sarah Silverman shlepping for America, hell, even Bill O'Reilly feels the need to comment on the Jewiest show about Jews, albeit a decade too late.

Now, in honor of Rosh Hashanah this weekend, The Jewish Channel launched a series of webisodes, featuring New York elite Jews talking about their yearly mitzvahs. Unfortunately, Woody Allen isn't involved, but Rachel Sklar is, so things equal out? Maybe?

First of the episodes, after the jump:

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Sep 26, 2008 · posted by drew · Link · 2 Responses
Look for "I Love Chicago" pins to identify Murdoch staffers

Fox News just wants to make sure you knows who loves you, baby. The network took out a page in the Chicago Tribune yesterday to print this CNN attack ad, which references the historic Gerald Ford smear campaign.

Despite this, and vocal criticism from the media that CNN's "expansion" project is just another word for cutbacks, the network is doing just fine: Its Biden-Obama announcement coverage on Saturday was 137 percent ahead of Fox in the ratings, and with 743,000 viewers in the coveted 25-54 demographic, was the highest-rated hour on cable.

A difficult feat, considering Fox won the lottery to provide all the raw footage from the DNC to the other networks. This is one of those scenarios where the numbers speak for themselves; flies, honey, vinegar, and all that.

(Click to Enlarge)

Aug 26, 2008 · posted by drew · Link · 1 Response

This clip of Keith Olbermann, on Wednesday's Countdown, has Huffington Post media crit Rachel Sklar in a huff. It's because Keith sums up an argument about how to end the Barack vs. Hillary fight – Newsweek's Howard Fineman says the "adults" of the party must finally make a decision – with, "Somebody who can take her into a room and only he comes out."

For Sklar, that sounds a bit too close like beating up a defenseless woman and leaving her for dead. To us, that sounds a bit overreactionary.

CONTINUED »

Apr 25, 2008 · posted by david · Link · 12 Responses

PET NAMES Rachel Sklar's vernacular so far includes: Brian Williams as "BriWi," Katie Couric as "KaCo," and, as of today, Tom Brokaw as "ToBro." What's next? Diane Sawyer as "DiSaw" and Robin Roberts as "RoRo"?

Dec 17, 2007 · posted by david · Link · 1 Response

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While Judith Miller has shown she's on board with breaking the Harry Potter embargo, one other saucy brunette is piping up to say she's not down.

It's Rachel Sklar, shrine to all that is good in media, and she's giving the New York Times (and not the Baltimore Sun because, well, they're the Baltimore Sun) flack for snagging an illicitly purchased copy of the book and – egads! – reviewing it.

And spilling plot lines!

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Jul 19, 2007 · posted by david · Link · Respond

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• If they ever do make a tv movie about Bob Woodruff, the role of ABC news president David Westin will be played by a Desperate Housewives "hunk."

• The Post gets to the heart of the U.S. News/Sarah Lawrence controversy by reminding everyone that U.S. News and World Report is actually owned by Mort Zuckerman.

• Last week, the two biggest news stories were the Scooter Libby verdict and the presidential race. (And lest you thought our country had smartened up too much, it's worth noting that Antonella Barba grabbed the #3 slot.)

• Turns out CBS Evening News' new exec producer is actually friends with the Clintons. Conflict of interest? Or just boring coincidence?

• "[Keith] Olbermann types with one finger. His right pointer. Eighty words a minute." Just think about that.

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Mar 13, 2007 · posted by · Link · 7 Responses

okmag1215.jpg

OK! doing OK better.

• TVNewser's Brian Stetler is Jon Friedman's online journalist of the year. Because he, like, totally doesn't spread gossip.

• Virus attacks email inbox of skinny people everywhere.

• NYT promotes top execs, finds less room to pay for newsroom types.

• Rachel Sklar takes a moment away from her Joe Scarborough playdates to do online radio.

• CBS relaunching music label to cherry pick tracks for its shows.

Dec 15, 2006 · posted by David Hauslaib, Jossip · Link · Respond

• Seth Mnookin joins parade calling bullshit on NYT's anonymous source policy.

• Ken Auletta can't call others smug when he himself, is you know, that too.

• Katie Couric isn't the only diva at CBS News.

• HuffPo's Rachel Sklar throws down with Graydon Carter, who has no idea that media blogs everywhere are watching his every chortle.

• BlackBerrys will cause your children to resent you and your spouse to leave you.

Dec 8, 2006 · posted by David Hauslaib, Jossip · Link · Respond

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You remember Nick Douglas, don't you? He's the plucky fella who was launch editor for Nick Denton's tech gossip site Valleywag. He also hates when you call him "plucky fella." Last month, he abruptly left his Silicon Valley chattering ways, fueling speculation of "did he resign or was he fired?" The 8-Ball points to the former, but today there's also good fortune: news that he's joined deep pocketed Huffington Post as an Eat The Press contributing editor. Also joining the payroll: Opinionista sblogger (and BFF of ETP editor Rachel Sklar) Melissa Lafsky. Which means Dave Zinczenko will soon have two beauties on his arm at those never-ending calendar of book parties. Half of which are for him, anyhow.

Dec 1, 2006 · posted by David Hauslaib, Jossip · Link · 1 Response

Paris Hilton

• Those crazy Russians prove they are more crazy than Madonna. [AP]

• Look, having Kate Moss' career really isn't that hard. You probably just have to date Fernando Gil or something. [FBNY]

• Is it worse that Matthew Broderick fell off a horse, or that the press is still referring to him as "the Ferris Bueller star?" [TMZ]

• Obviously, no awards show is complete without a good B-List nip slip. [Mollygood]

• Oh lord. Everyone knows, if you stick your thingy in Paris Hilton, it's gonna' take somethin' a lot stronger than Tilex to cure whatever you're bound to catch. [Us]

• Leave it to Rachel Sklar to keep blogging from the middle of a lake in Canada. That girl is nuts, yo. [ETP]

Aug 28, 2006 · posted by · Link · Respond

HuffPo

The Huffington Post is reportedly getting a boost. A $5 million boost at that. Like we said this morning in regards to Bono buying Frobes, investing in online media is all the rage right now, and "venture capital group" Softbank is putting its money where Arianna Huffington's mouth is.

It actually took us a few minutes to actually process the number …. $5 million? Into a blog? A non-Denton owned blog? This is kind of huge, people. The major investments comes a year or so after Huffington launched her political-based site, filled with big-named contributors and new right hand woman Rachel Sklar.

Huffington Post is in the midst of an expansion: it has added a media section called "Eat the Press" and is now offering online video. Its list of more than 750 bloggers includes Al Franken, Bill Maher, the Hollywood talent agent Ari Emmanuel and Nora Ephron.

And just think — they still want to invest even though George Clooney isn't blogging. Girl must be doin' something right.

BUCK$ FOR BLOG [Tim Arango, New York Post]

Aug 7, 2006 · posted by · Link · Respond

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Last night we hit up Pravda for an hour or so of white wine chatter hosted by Best Life EIC Stephen Perrine. It never takes more than three sips of pinot to forget what party you're at and why you're celebrating, so we were sure to write it down ahead of time: we were mingling among a sea of PR types to honor Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex?, the new tome by Mark Leyner and BIll Goldberg. Sure, they weren't giving the the book gratis to any partygoers – you had to buy it! for $14! and it was only in paperback! – but who cares? Men's Health's David Zinczenko was there letting his pecs burst through a white button down, which is about all we need to hear to RSVP.

There was Zinczenko's comparing Men's Health to Cosmopolitan – they're both "horny" magazines, which is why he and Kate White are BFFs – New York's press denizen Serena Torrey showering the bar with glitter (or perhaps it just looked that way; her beauty is blinding), Best Life publisher Mary Murcko ensuring your hand was never without a cocktail (and, should have you two hands free .. well, you get the idea), and authors Mark Leyner and Bill Goldberg hanging on each other's well-sculpted shoulders. Though it was Arianna Huffington's arrival – on the arm of Eat The Press chaperone Rachel Sklar – that caused a stir. (Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that Arianna's dressing like a 24-year-old? And pulling it off?)

Though we expected a room brimming with male model types (or at least industry vets who could pass as former abdominal display cases), we weren't entirely let down: Pravda's strawberry martini proved worth the trek into a below-ground lair of air conditioning heaven. Even if we never even caught a glance at the book's cover.

Aug 3, 2006 · posted by David Hauslaib, Jossip · Link · Respond

• Why are none of these "Middle East hotties" Middle Eastern? Sure Anderson Cooper's cute and all, but there's got to be some sexy shirtless Turkish guy somewhere. [TMZ]

• Remember when eBay was for antique necklaces and weird kitchen stuff? Now you can bid on Matthew McConaughey's car. [FBNY]

• Seriously, you should grab those open HuffPo positions before the whole world realizes that working there = free massages from Rachel Sklar. [HuffPo]

Tara Reid’s body has finally hit the point of self destruction. [Perez Hilton]

Julia Roberts learns the joy of catching poop. Oh, how the mighty fall. [The Sun]

Jul 21, 2006 · posted by · Link · Respond

Gabe Sherman

Rachel Sklar

When the "official official" announcement came that Jeff Bercovici and Sara James were leaving their posts at Women's Wear Daily's Memo Pad for the greener pastures of Radar and Men's Vogue respectively (really, there will be more green, we're sure of it) we asked you to vote (ok, you made us beg a little) for who their perfect replacements would be.

The process was entertaining — if not overwhelming. Amazingly enough, some people actually voted for Lloyd Grove (though we're assuming it was Lloyd), and while it seemed at first like the Observer's media mogul Gabe Sherman was going to come out the winner, Huffington Post darling Rachel Sklar won by an ish, with Gabe coming in second at the end. But hey, there are, after all, two spots to fill!

Official, official final outcomes, after the jump.

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Jun 28, 2006 · posted by · Link · Respond

Heels

Ok, people. We spent a solid amount of time and effort putting this poll together, and now we want you to vote in it damn it! According to Janice Min, you care more about gossip than voting in any sort of political election, so we expect your full participation in this. Who do you think should fill the fashionable, gossipy shoes of Jeff Bercovici and Sara James when the move on from WWD? Snap to it, folks … we want to let Gabe Sherman know the results before he starts his vacay.


Who's in at WWD's Memo Pad?

Rachel Sklar (Isn't it time she had a job in print?)

Gabe Sherman (He may be one of the Observer's best, but the paycheck is fatter at Fairchild.)

Lloyd Grove (He's basically unemployed when his contract is up in September. Even D.C. doesn't want him.)

Hud Morgan (With Sara James heading to Men's Vogue, wouldn't the old switch-a-roo just be too cute?)

Gina Trapani (Nick Denton already lost one blogger to a rival. Why not throw Lifehacker's editor into the ring?)


Jun 28, 2006 · posted by · Link · Respond
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