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Front Page: Balloon Boy Drama Appears to Have Been a Hoax
- Yesterday's Balloon Boy situation might have been a hoax. The boy, Falcon Heene, told CNN last night that "we did this for a show." — AP
- Afghanistan will likely have a runoff presidential election after allegations of fraud threw the validity of the first election into question.
Condé Nast Is Truly, Madly, Online Dating
Condé Nast started the week out on a sober note, announcing the closure of venerable publications like Gourmet. Now, the publishing giant is ending the week with a bit of sexy news: it has just launched an online dating site called Truly Madly Dating.
According to UK Vogue, the site is "created to unite glamorous girls with fashion-conscious GQ-reading boys to create matches made in style heaven."
Should the Media Stay Away From Michelle Obama's Heritage?
Yesterday, the New York Times ran a piece on Michelle Obama's connection to slavery. Using old public records, fading photos, and recollections of older family members, the New York Times, along with genealogist Megan Smolenyak, uncovered details that fully connect the first lady to the history of slavery for the first time. While the piece was captivating, some worry that it was not appropriate.
More Details on Gourmet's Collapse
Yesterday morning began with breaking news that, after 68 years of publication, Gourmet was going out of print, and now we have more details on the magazine's collapse. Although the glossy will cease to exist, the Gourmet brand will live on through book publishing and TV programs. Staffers at the magazine were first unaware, then teary-eyed and harried, as they were allegedly given 48 hours to leave.
Gourmet Magazine to Fold
This morning, Condé Nast announced its oldest food title, Gourmet magazine, is folding. There were telltale signs of trouble: the glossy, which will print its last issue in November, just underwent budget cuts. As early as the onset of 2009, rumors were already flying that Gourmet would not see the end of the year.
Dick Morris: Clinton's Deed Comes at Too High a Cost
Now that Bill Clinton has helped bring journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling home safely from North Korea, prominent politicos are speaking out against the way the release was handled. Appearing on Fox News today, former Clinton adviser Dick Morris argued that negotiating with North Korea gives the rogue state "an opportunity to rehabilitate its image globally simply to get two reporters out of jail."
Former UN ambassador John Bolton makes a similar argument that the trip is a "propaganda victory for North Korea," claiming that involving dignitaries like Clinton could create more danger to Americans in the future.
Radio Show Halted After Having Girl Admit Her Rape On-Air
The Australian media is taking an irresponsible and extremely unsettling "joke" about rape seriously. The country's highest-rated morning show — "The Kyle and Jackie O Show" — has been canceled for now, after it had a 14-year-old girl submit to an on-air lie detector test during which she admitted to being raped. The host, Kyle Sandilands, has also been fired from his job as a judge on Australian Idol.
It's Not Safe For Sportscaster to Undress in Her Hotel Room
The media is outraged (!) that someone secretly taped ESPN's Erin Andrews, aka America's Sexiest Sportscaster, while she was undressing in her hotel room. News outlets were so upset yesterday that they continued to air portions or publish stills from the video that show Erin nude. Sigh.
Newspaper Revitalization Act: Tax Breaks, No Endorsements
The Newspaper Revitalization Act would classify newspapers as nonprofits with educational purposes. That sounds about right — papers seem incapable of being profitable, but they do report a bunch of educational information. The bill could be what papers need to survive.
Would You Pay to Read the New York Times Online?
The New York Times executive editor Bill Keller is answering readers' questions online, but one day we might have to pay to read those answers.
When asked if the paper would accept donations to support such a valuable service that is currently free online, Keller brought up subscriptions. He said:
Really good information, often extracted from reluctant sources, truth-tested, organized, and explained — that stuff wants to be paid for.
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