DailyFinance

Magazines' Newsstand Sales Keep Plummeting

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-02-08T18:52:00Z

The good news, for magazine publishers, is that the earthward plummet in newsstand sales has finally started to moderate. The bad news is that sales are still falling at a vertigo-inducing rate -- just not quite so rapidly as they were a few months ago.

Continue reading Magazines' Newsstand Sales Keep Plummeting

Magazines' Newsstand Sales Keep Plummeting originally appeared on DailyFinance on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:52:00.

Filed Under: Media

Focus on the Family's Super Bowl Ad Was Actually Pretty Clever

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-02-08T06:00:00Z

By far the most talked-about advertising story in the week leading up to the Super Bowl was the controversial decision by CBS to accept an anti-abortion ad from the conservative lobbying group Focus on the Family. So when the ad itself turned out to be a blink-and-you-missed it bit of feel-good pablum, some people were quick to write it off as a fizzle.

Continue reading Focus on the Family's Super Bowl Ad Was Actually Pretty Clever

Focus on the Family's Super Bowl Ad Was Actually Pretty Clever originally appeared on DailyFinance on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:00:00.

Filed Under: Media

NBC Has Had its Ups and Downs: Can Comcast Save the Peacock Network?

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-02-05T00:35:00Z

During Congressional testimony Thursday, top executives from Comcast (CMSCA) and NBC Universal pledged to restore the luster of the beleaguered Peacock Network, which has suffered through low ratings, a dearth of hit shows, and most recently, the Leno-Conan debacle.

Continue reading NBC Has Had its Ups and Downs: Can Comcast Save the Peacock Network?

NBC Has Had its Ups and Downs: Can Comcast Save the Peacock Network? originally appeared on DailyFinance on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:35:00.

President Obama Says Stop Watching Cable News. And He's Right

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-02-04T21:30:00Z

On Wednesday, President Obama had something of a Howard Beale moment. Speaking to a group of Democratic senators, the President exhorted his listeners -- and, by extension, all Americans -- to break the cable news habit.

Continue reading President Obama Says Stop Watching Cable News. And He's Right

President Obama Says Stop Watching Cable News. And He's Right originally appeared on DailyFinance on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:30:00.

Filed Under: People, Media

Vanity Fair's Young Hollywood Whitewash

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-02-03T21:00:00Z

Magazines have a tough time getting race right, but usually they manage to do a better job than Vanity Fair did in its March issue. The magazine, which is owned by glossy publishing house Conde Nast, recently delivered its annual Hollywood issue -- to howls of protest from around the blogosphere and the analog world.

The problem: Of the nine supposedly up-and-coming starlets featured on the fold-out cover, not one is African-American, Asian or Hispanic. The average skin tone on display is as white as the new-fallen snow.

Continue reading Vanity Fair's Young Hollywood Whitewash

Vanity Fair's Young Hollywood Whitewash originally appeared on DailyFinance on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:00:00.

Filed Under: People, Media

Is Howard Stern Sirius About Leaving Satellite Radio?

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-02-03T17:01:00Z

Howard Stern may be headed back to terrestrial radio before long -- but not if Mel Karmazin has his way.

Continue reading Is Howard Stern Sirius About Leaving Satellite Radio?

Is Howard Stern Sirius About Leaving Satellite Radio? originally appeared on DailyFinance on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:01:00.

Filed Under: Company News, People, Media

Hey Keith Olbermann, Have You Ever Really Read DailyFinance?

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-02-03T15:40:00Z

When I wrote about signs that the tide is turning against MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, I suspected it might land me a place on his "Worst Person in the World" list, the segment he uses for most of his score-settling. What I didn't anticipate was that he'd tell an outright lie about me and the organization I work for.

On Tuesday night's Countdown, Olbermann, claiming he wanted to "clear up" misperceptions about his show's ratings, called DailyFinance a "right-wing site" and lumped us in with Glenn Beck and the National Review.

Continue reading Hey Keith Olbermann, Have You Ever Really Read DailyFinance?

Hey Keith Olbermann, Have You Ever Really Read DailyFinance? originally appeared on DailyFinance on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:40:00.

Filed Under: People, Media

Yahoo Calls Off Sale of Small-Business Unit

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-02-03T00:00:00Z

As part of its drive to shed non-core properties, Yahoo (YHOO) has been looking to sell its small business unit since last summer. But after finding a shortage of interest, the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Internet firm has put the sale on hold, according to a source close to the situation.

Continue reading Yahoo Calls Off Sale of Small-Business Unit

Yahoo Calls Off Sale of Small-Business Unit originally appeared on DailyFinance on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:00:00.

Filed Under: Technology, Media, Yahoo

'District 9,' 'Up' Make Pleasant Surprises on Expanded Oscar List

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-02-02T16:35:00Z

I admit it: When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences first announced its plan to expand the Best Picture category from five nominees to 10, I was skeptical. I thought it would just invite ever more droningly "important" entries of the sort that are already overrepresented: period pieces, Holocaust movies, and show-offy performances by stars simulating disabilities and/or accents.

Continue reading 'District 9,' 'Up' Make Pleasant Surprises on Expanded Oscar List

'District 9,' 'Up' Make Pleasant Surprises on Expanded Oscar List originally appeared on DailyFinance on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:35:00.

Filed Under: Media

Is America Getting Over Keith Olbermann?

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-01-29T22:57:00Z

Keith Olbermann was already a renowned sportscaster when he rose to prominence as a political commentator. This was during the Bush Administration, when the left was badly in need of a forceful voice to rally around. Such was his popularity that MSNBC reoriented its entire primetime lineup around it.

Continue reading Is America Getting Over Keith Olbermann?

Is America Getting Over Keith Olbermann? originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:57:00.

Filed Under: People, Media

J.D. Salinger's Death Sparks e-Run on 'Catcher in the Rye'

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-01-28T23:45:00Z

It happens all the time: An author/musician/actor dies, and sales of his most famous book/album/film immediately go through the roof. In the case of J.D. Salinger's passing Thursday, we were able to quantify and track the "death effect" in real time thanks to the sales rank feature on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

Continue reading J.D. Salinger's Death Sparks e-Run on 'Catcher in the Rye'

J.D. Salinger's Death Sparks e-Run on 'Catcher in the Rye' originally appeared on DailyFinance on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:45:00.

Filed Under: People, Media, Amazon.com Inc.

Will a Gay Dating Site's Super Bowl Ad Shame CBS?

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-01-28T21:40:00Z

With the Super Bowl just days away, CBS suddenly has a very awkward situation on its hands -- and it's exactly what the network deserves.

Continue reading Will a Gay Dating Site's Super Bowl Ad Shame CBS?

Will a Gay Dating Site's Super Bowl Ad Shame CBS? originally appeared on DailyFinance on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:40:00.

Filed Under: Media

Apple's iPad Gives Wings to Media Stocks

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-01-27T21:30:00Z

Correctly or naively, print publishers all seem to think the iPad, Apple's (AAPL) new touchscreen tablet computer, is going to save their hides -- and Wall Street seems to agree, at least cautiously.

Continue reading Apple's iPad Gives Wings to Media Stocks

Apple's iPad Gives Wings to Media Stocks originally appeared on DailyFinance on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:30:00.

Filed Under: New York Times Co., News Corp.

Kinsley Out as Editor of Atlantic's New Business Site

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-01-27T17:30:00Z

Back in October, I reported that Atlantic Media had hired Michael Kinsley, the Slate founder and all-purpose genius, to develop and launch a business-news site. The site is still coming along, but Kinsley, it turns out, won't be its editor. The search is on for someone to replace him, Kinsley confirms to DailyFinance.

Continue reading Kinsley Out as Editor of Atlantic's New Business Site

Kinsley Out as Editor of Atlantic's New Business Site originally appeared on DailyFinance on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:30:00.

Filed Under: People, Media

Why I Don't Love The NY Times's New Pay Plan

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-01-26T20:45:00Z

After much to-ing and fro-ing, The New York Times finally committed last week to a plan to start charging readers of its website for some of the articles they read. And, as with most events preceded by enormous buildup, it was a bit of a disappointment.

Continue reading Why I Don't Love The NY Times's New Pay Plan

Why I Don't Love The NY Times's New Pay Plan originally appeared on DailyFinance on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:45:00.

Filed Under: New York Times Co.

Finder's Fee or Bribe? A Case Study in Blogger Ethics

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-01-22T18:50:00Z

Blogging as a form of journalism is still new enough that the ethics of it are still being worked out. And blog ethics can be a particularly treacherous area for those who wander into it unawares -- as one New York City publicity executive did last week.

On Jan. 14, Katherine Rothman, CEO of KMR Communications, sent a mass email to bloggers and other editors who cover beauty, fashion, health and fitness. "I would like to make an offer to you that could be mutually beneficial in the event that this is of interest," Rothman wrote. Writers, she continued, often find themselves covering "smaller or emerging companies" that lack PR representation. "My offer is this: if you recommend a prospective client to our firm and they sign a contract with us, I would in turn provide you with a generous finder's fee."

Continue reading Finder's Fee or Bribe? A Case Study in Blogger Ethics

Finder's Fee or Bribe? A Case Study in Blogger Ethics originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:50:00.

Filed Under: People, Media

Air America Shuts Down, Citing 'Difficult Economic Environment'

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-01-21T22:20:00Z

Air America is bankrupt, and this time it looks like it will be for good.

The liberal talk-radio network, founded in 2004 to serve as a counterbalance to the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Fox News, is shutting down all operations and filing for Chapter 7. "[O]ur painstaking search for new investors has come close several times right up into this week, but ultimately fell short of success," wrote Air American Media chairman Charlie Kireker in a company-wide memo to employees. "[O]ur company cannot escape the laws of economics. So we intend a rapid, orderly closure over the next few days."

Continue reading Air America Shuts Down, Citing 'Difficult Economic Environment'

Air America Shuts Down, Citing 'Difficult Economic Environment' originally appeared on DailyFinance on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:20:00.

Filed Under: Media

Conan and NBC Settle, Clearing the Way for Jay 3.0

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-01-21T15:10:00Z

Our long national nightmare is over: Conan O'Brien and NBC are parting ways in peace, if not amity.

In a deal first reported in The Wall Street Journal and expected to be announced officially later today, the network will pay the Tonight Show host $32 million to walk away from his show, stay off television for an unknown duration and avoid saying anything disparaging in public about NBC or its executives.

Continue reading Conan and NBC Settle, Clearing the Way for Jay 3.0

Conan and NBC Settle, Clearing the Way for Jay 3.0 originally appeared on DailyFinance on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:10:00.

Filed Under: People, Media

Don't Blame Jay or Conan -- Blame Jeff Zucker!

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-01-20T21:00:00Z

For a situation involving people who make light of things for a living, the Mexican stand-off between Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno has become remarkably acrimonious. Comedians from David Letterman to Jimmy Kimmel to Howard Stern have rushed into the fray on O'Brien's behalf, accusing Leno of working hand-in-glove with the suits at NBC Universal to crush his Tonight Show successor's hopes. Meanwhile, Leno, who normally shows about as much fang as a newborn, took personal shots at both O'Brien and Letterman Tuesday night, calling the former "overrated" and invoking the latter's recent infidelity admission.

Continue reading Don't Blame Jay or Conan -- Blame Jeff Zucker!

Don't Blame Jay or Conan -- Blame Jeff Zucker! originally appeared on DailyFinance on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:00:00.

Filed Under: People, Media

New York Times Adopting Paid Web Model -- But Not Just Yet

Jeff Bercovici — 2010-01-20T15:05:00Z

The New York Times is plunging ahead into the future of paid content with a new business model for its website. Well, "plunging" is probably too strong a word; maybe "tiptoeing" is more like it.

Continue reading New York Times Adopting Paid Web Model -- But Not Just Yet

New York Times Adopting Paid Web Model -- But Not Just Yet originally appeared on DailyFinance on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:05:00.

Filed Under: Media, New York Times Co.