• celebrity-industrial complex

    Paris Hilton Wears Backward Dress To Interview

    "I thought she should leave it on and start a whole new fashion phenom, but she dutifully reversed it." [Michael Musto]

    7:20 AM on Thu Nov 13 2008
    By Ryan Tate
    2,646 views, 12 comments

  • print is dead

    Today In Bad News: The Village Voice, Rodale, Seattle Times, Out Traveler

    There's so much bad news in the print media world these days that we just have to roll it all up for you in one convenient post that you can read here, on the internet, where we are responsible for killing print. Today in the Death Of Print Daily: Big layoffs at Rodale and the Seattle Times, the death of Out Traveler, and a tipster describes just how poor the Village Voice is these days: More »

    4:26 PM on Mon Nov 3 2008
    By Hamilton Nolan
    4,350 views, 10 comments

    Most discussed Un Chien Andalou: Th-y c--ld s-v- m-n-y b- n-t -s-ng v-w-ls. Or Sarah Vowel. more »

  • rumormonger

    Could The Village Voice Be Produced In Florida (Or Not)?

    A tipster tells us that the Village Voice laid off the man who oversaw its print ad production department this week, due to budget cuts. One rumor going around the office, we hear: the possibility that the production of the Voice could be outsourced to Florida. That would be rather sad. Another rumor: the possibility that more layoffs at the Voice could be coming tomorrow. That would also be sad. They're getting down to the bone marrow over there. Anyone with more info, email us. [UPDATE: An official source at the Voice tells us that the man laid off was "a part-time production employee who had until recently been a freelancer," and that he didn't oversee the print ad production department. Of the outsourcing to Florida rumor, the source says it's "Pure fantasy."]

    1:34 PM on Thu Oct 16 2008
    By Hamilton Nolan
    598 views, 19 comments

    Most discussed Princess Sparkle Pony: Won't that expand their lead times and make them less timely, less relevant than ever? more »

  • Alt-weeklies

    Two Staff Writers Laid Off At Voice

    More layoffs at the Village Voice have been confirmed: staff writers Maria Luisa Tucker and Sean Gardiner (who was a fine police beat reporter and good guy). Budgetary reasons were reportedly the cause. Further, "The paper’s copy chief also resigned in protest after the deputy copy chief was laid off Wednesday." This after the layoffs late last week of sex columnist Tristan Taormino and photo editor Staci Schwartz. Dayum, what a crappy Friday this is. [via Pop and Politics]

    5:34 PM on Fri Oct 3 2008
    By Hamilton Nolan
    1,065 views, 13 comments

    Most discussed Gosukusan: Oh, the next six months will be interesting. Looks like a good time to consider moving back to Canada to more »

  • Exclusive

    Tristan Taormino Laid Off At Village Voice

    Tristan Taormino, the "Pucker Up" sex columnist who has been with the Village Voice for nine years, was laid off on Friday, she confirmed to Gawker today. Voice editor Tony Ortega told her she was a victim of budget cuts. We also hear that the ailing alt-weekly's photo editor, Staci Schwartz, was recently laid off [UPDATE: more on Schwartz here]. Older, more expensive employees appear to be getting the axe (thought Taormino, at least, has a pornography career to fall back on). Anyone with further info on Voice layoffs, email us.

    3:19 PM on Tue Sep 30 2008
    By Hamilton Nolan
    6,711 views, 47 comments

    Most discussed Cheap Shot: Yet Michael Musto stays. more »

  • media

    Alt-Weeklies In Trouble

    Creative Loafing, the conglomerate that owns the alt-weeklies in DC, Atlanta, Chicago, and several other cities, has filed for bankruptcy. The company has more than $40 million of debt, a number exacerbated by its purchases of the Chicago Reader and Washington City Paper last year. This may be just a foreshadowing of some painful days to come for alt-weeklies in general—we also hear the Village Voice may be on the verge of some layoffs. More »

    3:19 PM on Mon Sep 29 2008
    By Hamilton Nolan
    2,600 views, 23 comments

    Most discussed JinxyMcDeath: Well, from my time in Atlanta I recall "Creative Loafing" to be both an important newspaper that would fill you more »

  • reality tv

    How Harvey Weinstein Squeezes Millions Out Of Project Runway

    $8 million. Does that seem like a lot of money for a company to pay to have mediocre models use their hair products on a mediocre cable show for a few seasons? It kind of does. But that's how much The Weinstein Company, run by entertainment mogul Harvey Weinstein, is trying to squeeze out of L'Oreal for three seasons of sponsorship of Project Runway. Of course, Weinstein has a long history of pimping out the fashion reality show to every company on earth willing to pay a dime to be on it, using it as a profit machine to support his company's less sure-thing ventures. And he's still milking it for every cent. How do we know? Because he left all the evidence in a public trash can: More »

    9:41 AM on Wed Jul 2 2008
    By Hamilton Nolan
    11,246 views, 33 comments

    Latest by waltzngmatlda: harveyboy's personal secretary comes in to my restaurant and bar around 130 all the time...for grey goose gimlets or a more »

  • sex

    "Petulant" Gays Rejecting Public Sex!

    Six years after writer Steve Weinstein first announced the "Return of Public Sex," in the Village Voice's "Pride Issue," the same writer declares "The End of Public Sex" in the Village Voice's Queer Issue. He defends his thesis with this opener: "In a few darkened corners, there were a few guys giving blowjobs and some ass play; overall, however, the scene could have passed for a typical holiday weekend at any East Village gay bar." Hell, that's more action than the straights are getting! But seriously: More »

    10:38 AM on Wed Jun 18 2008
    By Sheila
    7,745 views, 114 comments

    Latest by Elektra: @JinxyMcDeath: Well, that virtually goes without saying. One always heard that, if you were a trainer seeking employment, the best way more »

  • media

    Village Voice's Collective Suicide Threat

    Is the entire staff of the Village Voice preparing to jump off a cliff together? The NY Press reports that the once-mighty downtown alt-weekly, which has seen its editorial and business-side staff hacked to pieces since it was bought by New Times two years ago, is on the verge of a walkout over contract issues. Voice stalwart Tom Robbins says if the union there doesn't get what it wants, "all bets are off." The problem here: this paper is in dire economic straits and would surely welcome a good excuse to lay off its entire staff and start over with an all-24-year-old writing staff, at $30,000 apiece. Strikes at shaky print outlets have become totally counterproductive. New Times boss Mike Lacey is probably rubbing his hands in glee at the prospect. But hey, we hope we're wrong! (UPDATE: We're told a strike is set for July 1 if a suitable contract isn't in place). [NY Press]

    2:39 PM on Mon Jun 16 2008
    By Hamilton Nolan
    1,647 views, 19 comments

    Latest by the earl grey: i read the voice religiously from like 1977 to 2002. now that I have philly's city paper & phila weekly, i more »