This morning the New York Times "attacked" Angelina Jolie for basically existing as her person. Getting paid enormous sums of money for human trafficking in baby photos? And how she's conspired with People magazine to ruuuuuin celebrity "journalism"? Well People editor Larry Hackett isn't going to take it! Which explains this email he just sent off to the staff — in a "this is obviously going to leak" manner — defending the People brand against charges of pay-for-play journalism and cooperating with its subjects.
Which is heresy! And widely suspected.
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 3:30 PM
Subject: Today's New York Times
Importance: HighI don't normally address press stories about how we do our business here at People. But today's New York Times pg. 1 story about Angelina Jolie requires a response. In the lede, the story strongly suggests that People, while negotiating for the twins pictures, had explicit conversations about our "editorial plan" and made "a promise" that coverage would be positive.
These sorts of stories have appeared in media gossip columns before. I have ignored them in the past as the unfortunate fallout of competition and sour grapes. But today's story, in a much different venue, takes these rumors to a new level, so let me be absolutely clear: The suggestion that
we have ever made any promise of positive coverage, or have submitted an editorial plan, is completely false. That I or anyone else would promise, on paper or verbally, to purposely slant coverage as condition for acquiring pictures, is insulting to all of us.Here's what is true: Celebrities—and senators and business executives and athletes–are always trying to bend stories their way. We deal with that pressure every single day and engage in many conversations regarding all elements of coverage. Angelina Jolie is very candid about wanting attention for her charitable efforts, and we have covered many of them because we believe they are interesting stories. But in doing so, we have never relinquished editorial control. There have been
occasions when her goals and our needs could not be reconciled, and we have walked away, as we have with countless other story subjects.In our coverage of both celebrities and everyday people, People certainly often celebrates
their accomplishments and milestones. To say that our coverage of Angelina Jolie has not
been admiring would be disingenuous. But the suggestion in today's Times that this "positive"
coverage is codified and promised is totally bogus, and needs to be rejected.
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hmmm.. things are starting to get interesting..
the only way ill start believing larry hackett and his people magazine is when they start writing negative stories. prove it larry! use your reporting for a critical story and then we'll give credit for being only a slightly dummed down newsweek which really is just a smarter man's people anyway.
also, someone needs to point out that jennifer lopez is one of the only celebrities to NOT promise the photo money goes to charity. bitch pockets that shit shamelessly!
ROTFLMAO. So now that silly rehash of a NY Times Jolie article has devolved into a pissing contest being news agencies, eh? I shouldn't really say "devolved" because all along the story was a veiled snipe at how People does business. The fact of the matter is - when have you EVER seen a negative story about a celebrity in People? That's NOT what People does. People exists to pander to the MVM's sense the everyone gets a happy ending and the love of a "feel good story". The day People becomes an investigative news magazine is the day the like of Star, the National Enquirer, US, In Touch, Life & Style, OK, the Globe, etc., are heralded as the media standard of our time. The way this thing between People and NY Times is shaping up - I probably shouldn't jest!
I don't blame NY Times for writing that. Angelina Jolie is soooo fake it makes people sick to their stomach. I use to like her when she was real. But she will never convince that she is an angel from heaven saving people's lives. She uses are kids but I suppose that is okay - she makes tons of money from them. Is fine that she took brad when she did because she would have not been able to take him if there was no problems in his marriage…But for her to make it public like she did is so totally wrong and I don't blame Jen for making a really nice comment about it. And for Brad to get mad for it PLEASE you have no room! Brad and Angie used this relationship in a disrespectful way for everyone involved including their so called beloved kids. They need to go away and quit pretending everything is good and trying to convince us for it. For heaven sakes they have 6 kids PLEASE…everyone has bad days specially when you have so many kids.
Wait. Star, Outta Touch, Lies & Shit, USweekly and the Enquirer are investigative magazines. ROTFLMAO
Um, yeah, okay. And put the damn crack pipe down please
What? People sucks up to celebrities for promotion purposes?
Next you'll tell me that they made Hugh Jackman Sexiest Man Alive only because he's in Australia co-starring Nicole Kidman which is coming to a theater near you this Thsksgiving!
Angelina you are the best, look how much attention and importance the media is giving to her.
Her fans love her more and she is gaining more simpaty and fame. Ironic.
The Times readership is very low! Just google! They need to write something and mix it up with People… To be honest, why should they care what People are doing? They are supposed to be writting about "news" not Hollyweird.
When People were writing the feel good articles about Obama.. I did not see them slamming People!! Did you? No negatives on Obama, nothing..Now the times cares about Angie and her family.. Get real!
Sure, People only writes positive things about celebs but this deal with Angelina and Brad doesn't just cover People magazine. Time Inc. owns People, Time Magazine, CNN and TMZ. CNN and Time fawn over these two like they were the second coming of Christ. And when have you ever seen a negative story about them on TMZ? Do a search on the on the TMZ site and all you see is glowing articles. That can't be a coincidence. TMZ trashes stars for a living. Why not these two
Mark, where the hell have you been? TMZ always, always writes negative or snarky articles about the Pitts and Ms. Aniston. Check out their archive from 3 years back.