Just a few years ago, The New York Times would not have published more than a one-graph Page One refer to a deep-inside story about a quasi-A-list celebrity's death; the Old Gray Lady left the now-lucrative entertainment news business to more down-market USA Today. But times have changed. The NYT this morning played the death of Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger, 28, in a full story at the bottom of Page One. (The paper is now reporting on its City Room blog that autopsy results on Ledger are "inconclusive.'') Of course, the NYT isn't the only paper eyeing USA Today' s bread-and-butter celebrity news. New Wall Street Journal owner Rupert Murdoch has made noise about a similar expansion.[Image: Newseum]
The NYT, is the best newspaper in the country? In so far as the Time currents front page> Well the actor that died, DID LIVE AND DIED IN NEW YORK! So you could say it is a national and local story. In so far as WSJ, is concern> I believe RM is going to make a push to go after NYT first, then USA TODAY. What I find interesting about R.M. Why did he offer some who is an expert on Gannett, a Job. http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2007/08/09/is-gannett-girding-for-a-sale/ Does R>M> have other plans for Gannett?
ReplyDeleteJust a friendly correction, Jim. It's HEATH Ledger.
ReplyDeleteThanks. This is one of many reasons why I miss USA Today's Money section copy editors; they always kept me out of trouble!
ReplyDeleteTo say USA TODAY leads the way in pop culture, trash news is to diminish the influence of the groundbreaking National Enquirer.
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