There's nothing quite like a little unsubstantiated gossip to get our motors running. Which is why we were delighted by the dishy email this morning claiming that less than a week after PageSix.com's triumphant launch, there's already an onslaught of infighting, cattiness and overall dissension in the ranks.
In fact, tensions at P6 are said to be higher than Amy Winehouse after an all-nighter with Pete Doherty, and there's already (slightly preemptive) talk of a full-scale gossip mutiny!
Intrigued? You should be. Especially considering most of the salacious rumors point directly at New York bureau chief Kathy Campbell.
Wait, you've never heard of Kathy Campbell? Join the club! Apparently, however, she was sort of a big minor deal at In Touch magazine when, suddenly (and some say, inexplicably!) she was tapped to head up operations at PageSix.com. At which point, she penned a sort-of cheesy goodbye letter and away she went!
Only she didn't travel alone. When Campbell came to the New York Post, she was flanked by In Touch's former Lifestyle Director Jarett Wieselman and Senior News Editor Jackie Gallo, both of whom were similarly poached – by Rupert Murdoch and his minions – to help launch the brand-new, sure to succeed website. A shiny new paycheck, a built-in core friend group, what could go wrong? Apparently, everything.
Less than five days after the website's launch, people are already questioning Campbell's qualifications, citing her unabashed favoritism towards fellow In Touch castoffs and hinting that staff is already divided into two distinct groups, namely: In Touch and "Everybody Else."
Editorial Director
No way!
Infighting at a Newscorp-run operation?
Say it isn't so.
At least they don't have bedbugs.
I'm concerned about the validity of the information presented in this posting, given that my name was not even spelled correctly. Furthermore, after three years of loyalty to In Touch, I attempted to resign from the celebrity weekly in November 2006 with the intent of taking a year off to travel. Executive editor Dan Wakeford asked me to maintian my affiliation with the publication in the capacity of a senior editor, working from home to afford me additional time to pursue personal goals. As for the content of PageSix.com, everyone is encouraged equally to contribute ideas and reporting — including hard-news stories. The diversity of the staff's skills should result in a spectrum of content when everyone is producing.
LMAO Someone at In Touch must be lost without their Key staff, otherwise this would be a non-story.
PageSix.com must be taking someones candy away.
Strange, the spelling of your name looks perfectly fine to me. And I'm sure I spelled it correctly when I emailed you prior to publication and gave you an opportunity to comment and/or present your side of the story.
This information is not from anyone at In Touch as the facts from inside the mag are all wrong. This story is from inside pagesix.com - all the staff have been moaning to anyone who will listen about the problems there.
Thank goodness for Google cache!
"When Campbell came to the New York Post, she was flanked by In Touch’s former Lifestyle Director Jarrett Wieselman and Senior News Editor Jacki Gallo, both of whom were similarly poached – by Rupert Murdoch and his minions – to help launch the brand-new, sure to succeed website."
You may have fixed one mistake, but unfortunately, you misspelled Jarett's name too! (I only know because we're all BFF, of course.)
Kathy Campbell's name is spelled correctly and the details of her professional behavior at InTouch are dead on - and continue. Seems like the competition should be more careful about the 'talent' they poach.
Wow! Something "In Touched" a nerve. Talk about catty. So what happened to the editorial staff at Life & Style? Were they difficult too? What happened to Martin Gould? Oh, he bailed to go to Star. Is anyone left except a couple of talking heads we can watch on VH1?
Oh, that's right, there's a mutiny at PageSix.
Give me a break.
You go girl! Jackie gallo is the new paula froelich! A real fighter and a sharp reporter.
At this rate only the productive and the professional will be left at Bauer.
I think the productive and the professional already left Bauer.
Their numbers say otherwise.
I can't decide what's funnier, that Amy Winehouse line or the fact that no one gives a crap about this non-story. why not try finding some real "news" to write about. Like how Campbell's bailing coincided with InTouch's "Britney's Pregnant" cover that ended up being as factual as this story.
Personnel numbers or circulation numbers lol?
Congratulations, Jackie. You've successfully solved the mystery of the inadvertent typo! And though my boss has, apparently, corrected a minor misspelling without my knowledge, I'm happy to set the record straight about my own reporting.
Firstly, I completely stand by my story and can assure you that the firsthand testimonials of tension within the ranks were validated by multiple PageSix.com sources.
And as far as you looking to clear up any so-called misinformation, I would again refer you to the email I sent you earlier today (and reproduced below) where, in the interest of fairness, I not only asked for your comment regarding rumors of infighting but explicitly laid out the charges levied against you by your colleagues. You'll note that I (a) held off publishing this article to give you adequate response time, and (b) purposely omitted printing the pettier allegations about you in the interest of journalistic integrity. I did this intentionally, because I thought it poor journalistic ethics to publish a somewhat unflattering charge the basis of only one source. Clearly I needn't have worried myself on your account.
So to remove any/all doubt that you were unfairly misrepresented, I'm copy/pasting the email I sent you asking for comment earlier today. Enjoy the stroll down Memory Lane! Hope it quells your desire to accuse me of slandering you after the fact.
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Jackie,
I'm working on a story on Pagesix.com, and would be very interested to hear your thoughts/comments, either on or off the record.
Basically, what we're hearing is there's a bit of a divide between the former In Touchers and everyone else, and many are attributing that to perceived favoritism on Kathy's part.
Regarding you in particular, however, what we're hearing is you [...redacted...]. Also, hearing that you (and Kathy) had some tensions with other Bauer staffers which resulted in you're [sic] working from home for the last year of your tenure as senior editor.
Can you confirm/deny? Have any other general comments about the rumors of frictino [sic] at P6.com? Would love to get your side of the story (before I run with this later today) so feel free to write me back or else call my cell at [xxx-xxx-xxxx].
Thanks in advance.
TowerofBauer,
Campbell left well before the Britney story, so the two events didn't coincide.
Everyone liked Jackie and Jarret at In Touch. No one liked Kathy. No one has missed her.
If no one liked her, why did Jarett and Jackie follow her to In Touch?
As I mentioned previously, I left In Touch on excellent terms. To reiterate your source's quote, "Many people liked Jackie. It only came down to one co-worker who would butt heads with her and in the end, made it miserable for her to be there. She ended up with the best deal though – same pay, no meetings, work from home." Hmmm. Could that very same individual with whom I allegedly "butt heads" have been responsible for In Touch's hemorrhaging of staff? Or the incessant requests for interviews and employment made by other In Touchers to PageSix.com? Kathy can't be all that bad if people are clamoring for the opportunity to join her team.
What am I chopped liver?…..Anybody worth their salt in this business knows IN TOUCH had great numbers when they came out cause they were $1.99 vs the normal weekly selling price of $2.99 and up. Lets see how they do in the next year when the housewives of middle America wake up to the fact that they are paying $2.99 at the checkout counter.
guess who
At least Kathy has the sense to keep quiet unlike Jackie - Ms. Gallo is in for a rough Monday.
This shits only funny if you know the parties involved. Its like some high school shit. Who the fuck else cares about gossip from the people who right the shit. Why dont all parties settle the shit face to face. Personally we like Miz Gallo, so leave her alone. pEAce
This sounds like trendy New York horseshit to me… why should i care if "Jackie Gallo" is not spelled correctly, or if the narcissistic shit who uses that alleged "name" jumps off the nearest fucking bridge?
Now that's something Murdick could report!
Sample text
Jossip you're doing a good job highlighting the inconsistencies of the tab's "reports".
Of course, this infighting isn't a story because it cannot surprise anyone in the least that people writing for the tabs are a bunch of bitchy losers. why else would anyone work for the tabs writing the sort of stories they do. So of course they are bitching to each other. the modus operandi never fails to give them away.
I've been so turned off by the spite, malice, lies, i haven't bought a tab like page 6 or outtatouch or lies & stuff or us weakly for more than 3 years.
Carry on. I predict more price wars and more people reading stuff for free on the internet.
Interesting how upset dirtdiggers get when their trash is gone thru. Unlikely, but it might give them insight into how their prey feels having their private, professional, personal lives smeared.
I love you Jossip…..keep on with that shovel and dig some more….
I love it when those who makes a living making up shit then turn around and bitches about that same shit sticking on them…
Either the German employers are stingy or these people are jumping ship because the boat is about to sink…..
They can fight and stir shit between each other so, both OuttaTouch and Page6 (“It’s a little bit like the Mafia" - Jared Paul Stern and quoting non-experts (Tatiana Beams))…….it'll be a great X-mas present if one or two bottom feeders goes out of circulation or shuts down.
P.S. Can we stop associating tabloid writers and gossip writers with journalism and ethics because with crap they come up it does not even pass up for creative fiction but just downright stupid (I'm looking at you Tom O'neill - how can you go from one show to another even to legit media and defend a story…..)
Regarding Jana Winter, I totally disagree with you about her being a real journalist.
she recently wrote some trash about Will Smith that was so false that WENN had to issue and apology to Will Smith, to head of the continuing condemnation and possible lawsuit.
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See apology below.
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WENN:
The World Entertainment News Network issued a formal apology to Smith, saying that the "erroneous and dangerous statement attributed to Will Smith about Adolph HItler being a 'good person' … was false and misleading." WENN says it takes "full responsibility for the dissemination" of the story and offers Will "a sincere apology" and deeply regrets "the personal stress" caused.
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Because of this any article Jana Winter puts her name on is being labeled as trash/falsehood