Bylines   

They WOULDN'T Rather Be in Philadelphia

They're crying in their cheesesteaks in Philly these days as three stars defect from the Philadelphia Inquirer, all heading for mammoth media mega-company Time Warner. Departing are Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele , the nationally re-nowned investigative team who have worked together in Philly since 1971, and popular Inquirer columnist Steve Lopez . Barlett and Steele will keep investigating while Lopez will become a Time Inc. columnist and writer-at-large. All three will be supervised at Time Inc.'s New York headquarters by former Inquirer Managing Editor Steve Lovelady , the company's editor-at-large. Steele says he and Barlett were swayed by the opportunity to write for the national audience of Time magazine and other titles, such as Money and Fortune . They're also hoping to branch out into television documentaries by way of CNN , also owned by Time Warner. Inquirer Editor Maxwell E. P. King says the Inky's tradition of strong enterprise reporting will continue but he's sad to lose the dynamic duo, who won two Pulitzers while at the Inquirer. "I understand that some of what [Barlett and Steele] want to do they can't do here," King says. "But frankly, if they were going to another newspaper I'd shoot them in the gut and throw them down an elevator shaft."

Liberal Media?

So much for the liberal media. Both the Washington Post and its syndication arm, the Washington Post Writers Group, drop columnist Colman McCarthy , who wrote columns on social justice issues for 28 years. McCarthy's peace-loving and unabashedly liberal column was carried by 73 papers in 1981, but by last year the number had fallen to 27, prompting the syndicate to stop distributing the column and the Post to discontinue it altogether. Post Ombudsman Geneva Overholser says she has received dozens of phone calls bemoaning the end of the paper's McCarthy era. "There's a strong feeling that, with the passing of [McCarthy's] column, the spectrum of commentary has shrunk considerably," she says. But Post Managing Editor Robert G. Kaiser says the decision had nothing to do with politics. "This was handled purely as a business matter," he says. "We consider that columns have useful lives..and we concluded that this one had run its course." McCarthy says he will now turn his full time attention to practicing what his columns preached, teaching the gospel of nonviolence by way of his nonprofit organization, The Center for Teaching Peace. "I wrote for the Post for 28 years and I loved every day of it, except one – the day the managing editor informed me that I was a budget item and asked me to leave," McCarthy says. "This came as a surprise. Perhaps in my innocence I forgot that the Post is a profit-seeking organization that puts marketplace values ahead of such journalistic values as diversity of opinions."

On the Infobahn

One of the great things about online publishing is that you can always change your mind, just as Salon magazine (http://www.salonmagazine.com) has done. The formerly weekly journal of politics and culture is now a daily, and will be adding several new editorial sections and columnists to its roster of hype-friendly contributors that already includes James Carville and Camille Paglia . "The Web audience has an insatiable appetite for intelligent commentary and irreverent prose," says Salon Editor and CEO David Talbot . "We're going to do our best to feed that gaping maw on a daily basis."... In other cyberspace news, former U.S. News & World Report deputy editor Christopher Ma joins Digital Ink , the Washington Post 's digital media and electronic information services subsidiary, as vice president and executive producer. In his newly created position, Ma will oversee a major expansion of the arts and entertainment coverage on the Post's World Wide Web site (http://WashingtonPost.com).

Wire Watch

Gloria Brown Anderson moves up from vice president and executive editor to become president and editor in chief of the New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation, which includes the New York Times Syndicate and the New York Times News Service. She succeeds John C. Brewer , who resigns... United Press International closes nearly all of its European bureaus, laying off most of its 75 employees in the region, who will be replaced by part time stringers. The financially troubled organization will most likely continue to operate its London bureau, though its focus will shift to broadcast and online services.

Moving Up in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Managing Editor Martin Kaiser gets a somewhat bittersweet promotion to editor, succeeding Mary Jo Meisner , who resigns abruptly with no announcement of her future plans. Meisner had personally recruited Kaiser to the Milwaukee Journal from Baltimore's Sun in 1994, about a year before the paper merged with the Milwaukee Sentinel – a move that resulted in the elimination of 57 editorial positions and much bitterness between competitors turned colleagues (see "Merged in Milwaukee," May 1996). The resignation of Meisner, who had become a lightning rod for criticism from disgruntled former and current staffers, followed the rise of former Sentinel editor Keith Spore to publisher. Spore, who could not be reached for comment, was not exactly a Meisner fan. As for the future, Kaiser says, "I intend to keep focusing the paper in the direction we've been headed, making it stronger and focusing on Milwaukee and Wisconsin." And he predicts the scars of the past will heal. "I was at the [Chicago] Sun-Times when the Daily News folded and the two staffs merged together," he says. "When I look back at the way things were there after two years, we've come a lot further. I know that over time people will begin to work better together."

Magazine Moves

Sports Illustrated plans to test a new sports magazine for women. The yet-to-be-named addition to SI's repertoire will be aimed at what the magazine calls the "Title IX" generation, women between the ages of 18 and 34. (Title IX is the federal law that requires equal sports opportunities and facilities for men and women in all schools that accept federal funds.) Two issues of the new magazine will be published this year. No mention so far of a swimsuit issue... After six-and-a-half years as Editor & Publisher 's Washington editor and 11 years overall at the trade magazine, Debra Gersh Hernandez becomes director/communications of the American Advertising Federation and editor of American Advertising Magazine ... Former Newt Gingrich Press Secretary Tony Blankley joins John F. Kennedy Jr. 's George magazine. The former flack will be an editor at large, and will also write a column for the monthly journal of haute punditry... Stephen G. Smith steps down as editor of Civilization magazine to become editor of National Journal . Smith succeeds Richard S. Frank , who retires after 20 years at the helm.

TV Topics

CBS ' Dan Rather says "I told you so" as he identifies the mystery man who mugged him in 1986 while asking the now-infamous question, "What's the frequency, Kenneth?" At the time, Rather's report of a deranged attacker was received with skepticism and even derision, but Rather was recently vindicated as he identified William Tager as his assailant. Tager is serving a 25-year prison sentence for murdering broadcast technician Campbell Theron Montgomery outside NBC 's "Today" studio in New York City in 1994... Weekly Standard Executive Editor and "McLaughlin Group" regular panelist Fred Barnes will host Fox News Channel 's new weekly program, "Fox on Politics."... ABC News hires former CBS correspondent Linda Douglass to cover the Justice Department.... CNN launches a new prime time newsmagazine called "IMPACT." The multi-subject program is being developed in conjunction with Time magazine and will replace "CNN Presents" in the network's lineup... Also at CNN, Garrick Utley , a 30-year veteran of NBC's international affairs coverage, becomes a contributor in the network's New York bureau.

Newspaper Nuggets

Raleigh, North Carolina's News & Observer names a new executive editor. Anders Gyllenhaal , who joined the N&O as metro editor in 1991 and most recently was senior managing editor, fills a position that has been open since the departure of former editor Frank Daniels III in 1995.... The Indianapolis Star names Andrea Neal chief editorial writer. Neal joined the Star in 1989 from United Press International 's Washington bureau.... Long Island's Newsday names its first female managing editor, recruiting her from the marketing department. Charlotte Hall headed the paper's circulation marketing for the past two years, and prior to that was Washington news editor and assistant managing editor for Long Island... David J. Butler , former editor of Connecticut's New Haven Register , becomes editor of Los Angeles' Daily News .

Death in the Afternoon

After 116 years of continuous publication, the Phoenix Gazette goes under. Some Gazette staffers will be offered positions at the city's morning paper, Phoenix Newspapers Inc.'s Arizona Republic . Fifty-five newsroom positions are being eliminated in a newsroom reorganization... Also bidding farewell to its afternoon daily is the city of Rochester, New York. After 79 years, the Times-Union announces it will publish its last issue on June 27, at which time the Gannett publication will merge with its sister paper, the Democrat and Chronicle . The long-expected merger will result in about 36 job cuts in various departments... Mobile, Alabama, signs off in the afternoon as well. Mobile Press Publisher Howard Bronson promises no layoffs will occur as the Press staff merges with the morning Mobile Register . Both papers are owned by Newhouse.