Have no fear; all hope for the the New York Observer is not lost. Even though Robert De Niro & co. didn't work out for buyers of the paper, doesn't mean the "snarky, gossipy, salmon paper" won't be sold eventually. The latest rumor in the series of NYO buzz surrounds Jared Kushner. Ever heard of him?

He's 25, the son of imprisoned real estate mogul Charles Kushner, and attends NYU law school. We guess this consideration debunks any theories of that "buyer's remorse" Arthur Carter was rumored to have. Apparently, he wants to rid himself of this money guzzling publication so badly, he'll let his entire staff (well, minus Rebecca Dana) work for a guy who's younger than they are. This, however, is not the "awkward" part of the story — his dad being in prison seems to be the big catch.

Of the potential awkwardness of the son of such a news figure owning a majority interest in the paper, Peter Kaplan, editor of The Observer, said: “It’s premature to go there, but we will always follow our best editorial instincts at this paper.’’

To be fair, Carter is also talking to other potential candidates. We're thinking along the lines of Ken Lay's kids … or maybe Haley Joel Osmont?

Developer’s Son Negotiating to Buy New York Observer [Katherine Q. Seelye, New York Times]