Part of a magazine's responsibility to readers is make them feel insecure about themselves. Or maybe that's just the unintended consequence of listicles like "20 Foods That Slim You Down." But, one other responsibility of magazines is service; that is, to teach readers how to do something. They'll tell you how to solve a problem (even if one doesn't already exist), improve your self-esteem (even if you weren't feeling bad about yourself), and please your man (even if you're a S&M dungeon master and kinda know what to do in that department).
Real Simple knows they owe it to readers to be service-y. Which is why they've provided a how-to guide on killing your cat. CONTINUED »
We are so thrilled to hear Blueprint brought on an editor in chief. We sort of had a strange affection for this “how to be a young Martha Stewart on a budget†mag ever since they took the concept of Budget Living and made it viable.
So, naturally, when they pull former BL staffer
"We are delighted to have Sarah on board as the Blueprint team develops this magazine for women who are designing their homes and their lives. She personifies the target demographic of the magazine and with her experience and leadership skills I feel she will be able to build and guide this newest MSLO property into a strong and vibrant brand."
The next issue of Blueprint will hit stands in late August 2006, followed by six more issues in 2007. And as thrilled as we are about all things Blueprint and Martha Stewart … and Sarah Humphreys … our greatest hope is that she'll be able to give a few displaced DIYers a new place to call home.
New Blueprint Editor: Real Simple's Susan Humphreys [Eat The Press]
• What if Bill O'Reilly was the White House press secretary? Q & A sessions would be as like the WWE … you know it's fake but you just can't stop watching. [Slate]
• Wait a minute. Does this mean that reporters aren't regularly supplied with rolling papers? [Sun Times]
• Laguna Beach, once home to reality TV, welcomes the staff of Real Simple. [WWD]
• Air America tos lose its NYC FSRS WLIB-AM ASAP. [Mediaweek]
• Finally, those poor, unnoticed trust fund babies get their story told. [NYT]
We were as shocked to see a review of Bonnie Fuller's book in the New York Times as Alexandra Jacobs was when she heard Bon would be editing Glamour.
Apparently, our complete coverage of The Joys of Much Too Much. Go for the Big Life — the Great Career, the Perfect Guy, and Everything Else You've Ever Wanted (Even if You're Afraid You Don't Have What It Takes) wasn't enough to fill the hearts of aspiring tabloid editors everywhere.
So, what does the Times think?
But the new book by this widely reviled Manhattan media figure — so tough a boss that disgruntled former employees found solace in an "I Survived Bonnie" Yahoo Internet message group — makes a surprisingly potent statement for the sisterhood.
As it turns out, while Fuller, now editorial director at American Media, was raising the libido of Cosmo, Marie Claire and Us Weekly, a new and bloodless breed of women's magazines was coming into being, exemplified by the folksy yet upscale Time Inc. title Real Simple, which sells women products purporting to streamline their busy lives.
They figured they would sort of sidestep the tampons, thongs, razors, and purses, and go straight to the dirt: Bonnie Fuller uses her new book to trash the editors of Real Simple.
See, once the Times gets started, even the librarians can't escape the wrath of gossip mongering.
That (Other) Cosmo Girl [Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times]
Rumor and speculation have been confirmed — Time Inc. has eliminated another 250 jobs today, making this the company's largest (and hopefully last) round of slashings.
Ad Age reports that it was the mid-level and junior-level staffers, mostly (as predicted) from the biz side, who were handed pink slips. So far though, no reports of boxes and bags on desks, or handshakes from Ann Moore, the CEO behind the job elimination team.
According to the Time Inc. talking head assigned to this beat, the job eliminations aren't just about not wanting to pay people. They also have to hire 50 sure to be really well paid people to develop their web operations.
"But it's not just about cost cutting," Ms. Zelenko added. "We are allocating our assets and investing in areas of higher growth."
Lots of re-organization, consolidation, and regrouping is going on over there, too, which we're sure is being led by the highly put together staff of Real Simple.
The entertainment group of People and Entertainment Weekly along with the women's lifestyle group including Real Simple, In Style, Parenting and Essence are all being restructured.
Hmm, we're sort of out of places where these recently fired people can find a job, though … considering about 100 magazines folded in five minutes this week. And the mags that are alive are only hiring porn stars.
TIME INC. LAYS OFF 250 [Nat Ives, Ad Age]
• Elizabeth Spiers makes us feel special. [Fishbowl]
• The Time Inc. flee before fire parade begins, with Elizabeth Mayhew of Real Simple leading the pack. [Mediaweek]
• Ashton Kutcher thinks adoption is “the new thing,†but Demi Moore’s little Ashton spawn would be the “hot thing.†[Sky]
• New York Times reporters may be smart, but they're scared of tape recorders, bloggers, and, well, people in general. [Buzz Machine]
• There is life after death for Elle Girl staffers. [Fishbowl]
• Jessica Alba is not a gold-digger. She totally checked the "no" box on Hugh Hefner's "will you sue me?" note. [ET]
• The minds behind the Gawker Stalker craze get a shout out from their beloved Perez. [Perez Hilton]
Time Inc.'s major mag creator and corporate editor Isolde Motley is movin' out. Said to be leaving in June, the exit of In Style and Real Simple's director will likely cause a huge amout of editorial restructuring over at Time Inc. HQ.
A Time Inc. spokeswoman would not comment on the record, but a high level executive confirmed an announcement about Motley's leaving was imminent. Motley adopted her third child, Setai, from Africa, last year and is said to want to spend more time with her family.
Rumors of a "back office operations" merger between People, Teen People, In Style and Entertainment Weekly may have helped Motley's bags get packed faster.
Either that or she's going to Cambodia to grab one more kid for good measure.
Exclusive: Time Inc.'s Isolde Motley Leaving Company [Sara James, WWD]
• Congrats to Elizabeth Mayhew, who was just put in charge of all the “non magazine stuff†at Real Simple. Sounds … boring. [Mediaweek]
• Some people blog obsessively about Jann Wenner, others chronicle life after Sklar at Fishbowl. [Big & Sharp]
• We wonder what's more difficult: picking photos for your MySpace profile or picking Oscar snaps for Us Weekly? [PDN]
• We didn't think there was a limit to the heights of arrogance New York Times journos could reach. [Fishbowl NY]
• If you get pregnant, or blown up, ABC will give your job to Diane Sawyer, and give you her old, crappy one. [TV Newser]
• What does it take to make a spectacular student newspaper? A belief in first amendment rights and a subscription to TimesSelect. (Ok, we threw in that last part.) [NYT]
• Some New York Times editors go to The Atlantic. Others take the scenic route. [WWD]
• Advice from Jack Shafer to James Bennet: stay up late. Well, at least it's better than Bill Keller's advice: get on that invisible masthead. [Slate]
• Howard Stern, always the mature, classy guy he's known to be, launches an "I Hate Les Moonves" tour. Which in turn inspired Lindsay Lohan to launch her, "I'll take my clothes off for an Oscar" campaign. [NYP]
• Now we know why Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart are so damn funny. They warm up by ripping on their scooter-riding executive producer before every show. [Fishbowl NY]
• Total turmoil over at QTN (Queer Television Network). Enter President Lloyd Fan, exit founder Frank Lloyd — and entire management team. [C21]
When magazines try to make the move to television, there has to be a certain, shall we say, allure. Such as following the lives of Star staffers, or drooling over the sure to be hotties on Rolling Stone's reality intern show.
But Real Simple? What would this show even be about? How to choose two colors to paint your entire house? How to make your own toilet bowl cleaner out of rose petals and ginger? To top it all off, the hosts aren't even famous. They aren't even washed-up famous.
The program, due to air on PBS January 7th, does promises to incorporate humor, however. And who knows? Maybe juggling a rubber chicken will be the funniest thing PBS viewers have ever seen.
The Real Thing [Sara James, WWD]
Earlier:Rolling Stone is looking for reality TV interns (don't mention NYT)
Star staffers will work for fame
• Hilary Duff's been chasing Lindsay Lohan for years, so it sounds appropriate that she's reached her levels of waif. [Star]
• This week in Us: Britney Spears takes off with baby Preston to mom's Louisiana house to escape Kevin Federline's hard partying. Shar Jackson looks on, amused. [Us Weekly]
• It is any surprise that the majority of the city's 10 worst subway stations are in the Bronx? Thought not. [NYDN]
• Time Inc.'s Real Simple and Dennis' Maxim are trolling their way into international stardom, separately announcing plans for global editions to bring anal retentiveness and gratuitous lingerie shots abroad, respectively. [Folio:]
• Al Pacino owns up to a not so well kept secret: His movies of the last 30 years suck. [Gatecrasher]
• Financial Times editor Andrew Gowers quit the newspaper after 22 years on the job, citing something about "strategic differences," which we usually understand to mean "I want my money, motherfucker." [AFX]
Editorial Director
