Here's Ashlee Simpson on the cover of this month's Shape. The photo of her skinny belly, for sure, was captured months ago, as was the interview that makes no mention of fiance Pete Wentz.
It's this magazine cover, suspects MSNBC's The Scoop, that's "part of [Ashlee's] reason for staying mum" about the possible pregnancy.
Um … no.
Not only would Ashlee not even take a magazine cover (especially an unpaid one) into consideration in deciding to announce if she's in a family way – the only concern is publicity for her new album – but Shape editors would have loved Ashlee to announce that she's pregnant, so they could shop around their cover as the last pre-baby Ashlee issue.
American Media Inc. is publicizing their financial reports? Back the F up.
The company behind respected publications like pay-for-tips Star, National Enquirer, and Flex, has a record of doing everything in their power to delay reporting its quarterly numbers to the SEC, sometimes paying six- to seven-figure fees for the privilege. And when they did report the figures – always bad, always big – they'd do it just before a three-day holiday weekend, just like the Bush administration or any statement-issuing publicist worth her retainer.
Now, things are looking up, which explains why AMI – a subsidiary of EMP Group LLC, a holding company controlled by private equity firms Evercore Partners and Thomas H. Lee – is sending out a press release with the good news. CONTINUED »
Ron Burkle, BFF of Hill and Bill, is set to acquire AMI, which owns Shape, Star, the National Enquirer and Men's Fitness. GQ’s advice to the editors there: stay out of the Clintons' way. [WWD]
Friday night was not the entree to a good weekend for old guard Shape staffers. We hear new editor Valerie Latona delivered evening pink slips to the rest of the staff accustomed to answering to Denise Brodey, who's now heading things up at Fitness. Gone: west coast fashion editor Dinah Erasmus, fitness editor Linda Lewis, and the copy desk. If nothing else, at least the masthead is getting a workout.
Yesterday, we relayed the Ad Age story on former Glamour deputy editor Denise Brodey and her departure from Shape magazine. It was reported that she is leaving her executive editor spot to join More magazine as special projects editor — which we found rather strange, considering we know Brodey had been EIC shopping a mere six months ago.
And according to this latest tip, (which Keith Kelly apparently received as well) our hunch may have had some merit.
Denise Brodey is going to be EIC of FITNESS. But since she had a covenant not to compete clause in her Shape contract, she’s biding her time over at MORE until the time on the clause runs out. The folks at Meredith have it all worked out, you see. And don’t be thinking she won’t be running up and down the stairs between those two. The folks over at FITNESS know she’s coming. Just ask the Fitness staff.
The rumors are plausible — Fitness's last EIC Emily Listfield left the mag's top spot in February after six years at the helm. The mag has been "on a hunt" ever since. But getting into Fitness through the back door at More? How sneaky! Our tipster reveals Brodey even had a great "I'm leaving to write a book" response for her former Shape EIC Valerie Latona.
Brodey has been plotting her escape for about a month now. Seems everyone at Shape knew but Latona. Last week Latona cornered and confronted Brodey asking her, “Is it true that you’re going to Fitness?†and Brodey REFUSED TO RESPOND. Brodey exited Shape on Monday under dubious circumstances. Word has it she told Latona she was leaving to write a book. YEAH RIGHT!
We hope she developed an extra layer of skin under David Pecker and Cyndi Leive … editorial director Mike Lafavore is rumored to be quite a force to be reckoned with. We've placed calls to Fitness, but magazine people don't roll in until about 10:30, so … stay tuned for more "as the door revolves" when someone returns our messages.
Earlier: Denise Brodey's EIC Spot Just Another Hop, Skip, Jump Away
After a six month stint as executive editor at Shape magazine, Denise Brodey has left her American Media spot to join More as their special-projects editor.
Last October, Brodey left her deputy editor position at Glamour, to join Shape — right around the time she was shopping for the then open EIC spot at Budget Living. After David Pecker moved the Woodland Hills crew to New York, the staff revolving began: EIC Anne Russell resigned and Valerie Latona, Shape's beauty editor, took the spot.
Coincidentally, More magazine itself is now searching for a new executive editor, after Joanna Coles left to replace Leslie Jane Seymour at Hearst Magazines' Marie Claire. Peggy Northrop remains editor in chief at More.
"The executive-editor search is still going on," a Meredith spokesman said, adding that both internal and external candidates were being considered.
And while we're sure Brodey loves a special project just as much as the next edit staffer, we won't be surprised if she's scheduled for one of those exec editor interviews.
'Shape' Editor Bolts For 'More' [Ad Age]
