And In Closing: Our new family member, Business Wire Daily, gives thanks for the love

The latest addition to the H.I.M family is excited and giving thanks to all who came by to say hi, read, click, subscribe, hate etc. We would also like to thank you because we only want the best for our family. After all they are really doing some cool things on BWD. And its only going to get better. You came you really came!!! [Business Wire Daily]

Fresh News: Please, Please, Please someone wake us when this shit is over!!

Will we ever be Tribune free? Will this company ever make up its mind and either sell itself or keep itself or just die. Just when we thought all was well with Rupert Murdoch's reported involvement and all, here comes yet another road block to stop us from being Tribune free. An offer for Tribune Co. from its largest shareholder, Chandler Trusts, which was due to expire on Wednesday has been extended, a source close to the Chandlers said. Chandler Trusts, which in June urged Tribune to break itself up or consider a sale, two weeks ago proposed taking the company private in a deal valuing Tribune at $7.6 billion or $31.70 a share. Under the deal, Chandler would buy Tribune's newspaper business and spin off its broadcasting unit. Tribune offer from Chandlers deadline extended: source [Reuters]

Will the 30 greatest change after Super Bowl Sunday?

Super Bowl Sunday's isn't all about the game. We all look forward to the desperate but sometimes funny attempts by major corporations to convince us to buy their products via multi-million dollar 30 second commercials jam packed with celebrities and special effects. Some we will never forget because of how unique and cutting edge they were. When Super Bowl XLI kicks off this Sunday in Miami, millions of Americans will huddle together to watch the Chicago Bears battle the Indianapolis Colts in a riveting climax to this year’s football season – but another important battle will take place as well: The battle to be named 2007’s top Super Bowl commercial. At an estimated cost of $2.6 million to air a 30-second commercial, the financial stakes are steep and the competition is cutthroat. To celebrate this seminal day in television advertising, “The Billion Dollar Man”™ Bob Circosta – the most prolific TV salesman in American history and the only man to have sold over 75,000 different products on live television, earning over one billion dollars in personal product sales – has announced his list of the 30 greatest commercials to ever air in conjunction with the Super Bowl, on the basis of impact, sales, and viewer memorability. The 30 Greatest Commercials in Super Bowl History! According to Bob Circosta after the click MORE... Bob Circosta’s Top 30 Super Bowl Commercials of All Time 30. Monster.com: “When I Grow Up” (1999) 29. Pepsi: “Security Camera Catches Coke Employee Stealing Pepsi” (1996) 28. Doritos: “Laundromat” (1998) 27. Budweiser: “Salute to American Soldiers” (2006) 26. Xerox: “Monks” (1977) 25. Pepsi: “Cindy Crawford” (1992) 24. Budweiser: “What Are You Doing?” (2002) 23. Lipton: “Bo Jackson” (1994) 22. Budweiser: “Whassup?” (2001) 21. Disney: “I’m Going to Disneyworld !” (1987) 20. Pepsi: “Michael J. Fox in Apartment 10G ” (1987) 19. Master Lock: “Marksman” (1974) 18. Mountain Dew: “Cheetah” (2000) 17. Nissan Maxima: “Pigeons” (1997) 16. Federal Express: “Caveman Sticks” (2006) 15. Pepsi: “Diner” (1995) 14. Budweiser: “Clydesdales Play Football” (1996) 13. Electronic Data Systems: “Herding Cats” (2000) 12. Noxzema: “Joe Namath & Farrah Fawcett” (1973) 11. Budweiser: “Spuds MacKenzie” (1987) 10. Tabasco : “Mosquito” (1998) 9. Pepsi: “Michael Jackson’s Choice of a New Generation” (1984) 8. Nike: “Hare Jordan ” (1992) 7. Reebok: “Terry Tate, Office Linebacker” (2003) 6. Budweiser: “Frogs” (1995) 5. McDonald’s: “Showdown between Larry Bird and Michael Jordan” (1993) 4. Coca-Cola: “Mean Joe Greene’s Jersey ” (1980) 3. E*Trade: “Monkey” (2000) 2. Budweiser: “Bud Bowl” (1989) 1. Apple Computer: “1984” (1984)

Radar's passion for failure just keeps em coming back?

So will the atom bomb drop on Radar this time around, or will the mag that loves to fold stick around for a while on round three. Editor Maer Roshan seems to think the time is now for Radar in print again but we will sit back on this one and watch how it unfolds. While many magazines are struggling and/or going online 100%, Roshan seems optimistic that he can get people to shell out money for more of the same. Its like this blog shit, who needs another one? "Who needs another magazine?"It's a question I'm often asked by cynical media reporters (and occasionally by my mother). I started Radar four years ago because I believed there was a place in the world for a smart, subversive title that didn't pull its punches. After five issues and a few bumps and scrapes, I still do. Whatever they're saying this week about the demise of print, I think great magazines of the kind Radar aspires to be are essential as ever. Part II: Hard To Kill, But Why? Maer Explains [ETP]

Ellen McGirt Leaves Fortune magazine as senior writer to become senior writer at Fast Company

This just in, from the good folks at Gordon & LEACH Communications. Fast Company magazine today announced that Ellen McGirt is joining the magazine as senior writer, effective Feb. 20. She comes to Fast Company from Fortune where she was a senior writer. McGirt comes to Fast Company from Fortune where she was a senior writer. She was also a columnist and editor-at-large for Money. McGirt has served as a guest correspondent for CNN’s American Morning, and has appeared frequently on Good Morning America, CBS Early Today, NBC Nightly News, CNN, NBC's Weekend Today, HGTV and BET. “Ellen is a rising star in the world of business journalism,” said Safian. “She has a gift for storytelling, whether in print, broadcast or online. Her distinctive style and perspective will be a great addition to the unique, cutting edge articles that are the hallmarks of Fast Company.” MORE... FAST COMPANY NAMES ELLEN MCGIRT SENIOR WRITER Business Journalism Expertise Spans Print, TV and Online NEW YORK, January 31, 2007 ­– Fast Company magazine announced today that Ellen McGirt will join the magazine as a senior writer on February 20. McGirt, who is a regular on television news programs as well as a prolific print reporter, will report to Fast Company’s newly hired editor and managing director Robert Safian. McGirt comes to Fast Company from Fortune where she was a senior writer. She was also a columnist and editor-at-large for Money. McGirt has served as a guest correspondent for CNN’s American Morning, and has appeared frequently on Good Morning America, CBS Early Today, NBC Nightly News, CNN, NBC's Weekend Today, HGTV and BET. “Ellen is a rising star in the world of business journalism,” said Safian. “She has a gift for storytelling, whether in print, broadcast or online. Her distinctive style and perspective will be a great addition to the unique, cutting edge articles that are the hallmarks of Fast Company.” Prior to joining Time, Inc., McGirt was the lead financial columnist for AOL's Electra.com, a proprietary online magazine for women, and later became a founding writer and online personality for Oxygen Media's finance channel, Ka-Ching.com. She spent two years as an on-air correspondent for the online financial network Yahoo! FinanceVision. McGirt is also the producer of the oral history, Love Letter For America, a project for which she crisscrossed the country for over six months. McGirt first emerged as a nationally recognized financial writer and online presence in 1997 when she founded CassandrasRevenge.com, an award-wining investor education Web site for women. The site attracted a wide following and was widely praised by The New York Times, USA Today and Equity Magazine. Previously, she had spent ten years in the art, non-profit and museum world. She is a graduate of Brown University, and a fifth generation New Yorker. About Fast Company Magazine Award-winning Fast Company magazine covers the ideas, trends and visionaries that are sparking change and creating the future of business. Now in its 11th year, Fast Company is owned by Mansueto Ventures LLC. Visit http://www.fastcompany.com/. # # #

It was a pleasure for Bob Wright to talk about Piracy Yesterday in Geneva

Speaking out against one of the main reasons there are so many holes in the media industry, NBC Universal CEO Bob Wright addressed a gathering at the World Intellectual Property Organization sharing his thoughts on how and why the Government and entertainment industry should come together to squash piracy and counterfeiting. However the truth is, at the end of they day, the entertainment industry and/or the U.S. Government can't stop piracy. Its just one of those things content creators on a whole will have to live with. Even if you come up with some snazzy new code to protect content, the scum ball thieves will find a way around it. May we suggest finding their locations and calling in air strikes? This morning I want to discuss two key building blocks for progress. First, working together, we must find ways to propel the issue of intellectual property protection to the absolute top of the public policy agenda. As part of that effort, business leaders must put it at the top of their agendas—within individual companies, within the sectors that are afflicted by counterfeiting, and within the business community as a whole. And then we have to do a much better job of explaining and documenting the nature and extent of the threat to growth, jobs, and economic well-being, both in advanced economies and in developing countries as well. NBC Universal Chief Addresses Piracy Summit [WorldScreen]

Time Warner has cable among some other things to thank for profit boost

Time Warner happily reports that profits jumped 34 percent due to AOL asset sales in Europe, a rise in digital cable and phone customers, and online advertising sales. And here we were thinking it was because of Time Inc's drop in body count. Anyway, analysts aren't jumping the gun on 2007. The company, which until now has not provided annual earnings-per-share forecasts, gave what some analysts called a conservative outlook for 2007. Time Warner said 2007 profit could reach about $1 per share, including an expected 10-cent gain from the sale of some AOL properties. The 2007 outlook was "a little muted," said analyst Christopher Marangi of Gabelli & Co., which is a Time Warner investor. Time Warner profit rises on cable; outlook muted [Reuters]

Its here: Business Wire Daily launches

Finally we have some company here in the barn thanks to the arrival of Business Wire Daily. Don't be shy folks, head on over and say hello, but make sure you come back home ya hear!

Now Time Inc wants to get all health conscious and shit

It seems like the good old folks at Time Inc are pulling ideas out of a magic hat now that they're traveling a little lighter these days. First CEO Ann Moore revealed that they are going to be fluffing up some of their web offerings like People.com and RealSimple. Now there is talk about a possible health & wellness web portal. Guess when Ann got word of her former boss Steve Case's new health portal she felt inspired. If all goes well with focus group results that Time Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ann Moore will review at the end of this week, the next major launch from the world's largest magazine company could be a Web-only health and wellness portal. The site would likely go up at the health.com URL the company owns through its Birmingham (Ala.)-based magazine Health. It would be a slightly unusual move for Time Inc. in that the proposed Web site will pull together material from other Time Warner brands (Moore mentioned the potential involvement of CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta), although Time Inc.'s business magazines are joined together with CNN at the company's CNNMoney.com site. Time Inc. Executive Editor Scott Mowbray is among those currently working on the site. Time Inc. Mulls Health Portal [BusinessWeek]

Morning Wire: And now this morning's worthy media news

Top editor back at the embattled New York Times. [NYT] Scripps saw some green but slowing traffic at Shopzilla among other things take the spotlight [NYT] Will Les Moonves man an appearance? [NYDN] Jason Binn didn't want to go to your party in warm Miami anyway. He will be having a ball hosting the Women's International Zionist Organization. [NYP] Bono and friends getting Forbes in shape? [NYP]

Ann Moore is all about the Robustiness

Fresh off her recent body slashing at Time Inc. CEO Ann Moore is turning her focus on building the company's web offerings into bigger and better destinations. This from a company that doesn't even have a corporate website. But we kinda like what we're hearing so far. Developing Real Simple’s Web site will be one of Time Inc.’s priorities this year, and People.com plans to launch a celebrity database next year. The database will feature continuously updated celebrity profiles, data and original editorial content, Moore said in a keynote speech this morning at the Software Information Industry Association’s Information Industry Summit in New York. The SIIA is the trade association for the software and digital content industry. “People.com will be our next big business online,” she declared. Time Inc.'s Moore: Real Simple, People Web Sites to Become More Robust [Mediaweek]

Afternoon Wire: And now this afternoon's worthy media news

If you're a obsessed with stars, then Sirius is the place for you to work [AP] Ad giant WPP is getting into the mobile spamming business [Reuters] Sony BMG settles for slipping potentially damaging anti-piracy software in our CDs [Reuters] A look at Liz Spiers' Fashionista [Gawker] Nickelodeon's second life for kids [Daily Intel]

Martha Stewart Living's new EIC tickles stock

Louise T. Blouin MacBain's magazine empire suffered another blow yesterday after the editor of the startup magazine Culture & Travel bolted to take the top editor post at Martha Stewart Living. Michael Boodro, who helped launch Culture & Travel this spring at MacBain's LTB Media, assumes a title that has been vacant for several years, taking over some of the responsibilities of Margaret Roach, the editorial director of the company, and Amy Conway, the executive editor, who was moved to editor of special projects. He'll be working closely with the creative director, Eric Pike MARTHA POACHES EDITOR FROM MACBAIN [NYP]

Morning Wire: Lloyd Braun & Gail Berman get in bed together with Berman on top

Gail Berman who resigned a little under a month ago from her post as President of Paramount Pictures is teaming up with former Yahoo Media hype man Lloyd Braun to form a new company to be called Berman-Braun Productions. We think Braun-Berman rolls of the tongue better but clearly Gail Berman has the bigger dick in this deal. The two had been meeting with potential partners in Hollywood and seeking office space, the Times cited an entertainment industry executive close to both as saying. See. Now this is how its done. You leave a major company, jump right back into the game because you can miss a lot of boats. Ex-Paramount, Yahoo execs to start firm: report [Reuters]

Readables This Week: On your Newsstands

Readables is our weekly run down on what’s on your magazine newsstands. We really don’t care if you read any of the magazines we feature, we just want to say our piece on whether the issue is garbage or worth a read. Village Voice: We can only say two things about this one, this week. We hate Sarah Silverman and we hate the new Village Voice website. RedHerring: What can we say. More and more people are investing in web technologies. Businessweek: McDonalds is working even harder to make your kids fat. Time: Time is as excited as most of us that George Bush will be a thing of the past in 648 days. Too bad his fuck ups will still be around for many years to come. New York Magazine: Speaking of Dubya. New York Mag wants to know if all his dogs are barking. We'll make it easy for you guys, we don't even hear any breathing. NewsWeek: Newsweek takes us inside Black Hawk down part two. This ain't a movie either. -Neil

Video Wire: Marketing or Fanaticism?

Video Wire is our sporadic feature where we post a video we think is interesting, stupid, crazy or all of the above. It doesn't necessarily have to be related to the media business just worth our time and effort to post it. Was Les "Love Boat" Moonves behind Opie & Anthony's Assault on the Media? Opie & Anthony fans would have popped up in your personal family videos too if they had the chance. The clip above is a collage of the none stop Opie & Anthony-isms while real reporters tried to report real news. You can see some of them even get a little annoyed.

Roo-Pert Murdoch

Sticking to their plan to take over the world, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp has dropped some cash on the Internet/technology table again this time in a company called Roo which supplies online video technology to publishers and advertisers. Through the new agreement, News Corp. will receive 5 percent interest in Roo shares, with the potential to receive another 5 percent if specific revenue benchmarks are met by the broadband-focused company, which like Brightcove and others has been an early leader in helping publishers deliver video content to the Web while also helping advertisers aggregate online video inventory. This deal will solidify an existing relationship between the News Corp. and Roo, which already syndicates content from Fox News Channel and several News Corp.-owned U.K. Properties. Hey Roo guys, at the end of the short day, you will be 100% owned by Rupe and company. Make no mistake about it. A Leap Forward: News Corp. to Invest in Roo [Mediaweek]

Say hello! to the all new FHMonline before you say goodbye

It didn't take long at all for FHM to come back as an online only magazine with more of the same same. However the folks at Jossip couldn't be more happy about the launch. from Jossip: The annoying little brother to Maxim and Stuff, FHM disappeared not long ago, which left us—and, undoubtedly, you—with a gaping hole in our hearts that could only be described as "skimpily-clad bikini babe withdrawal." Well, chin up, sirs! Because FHM is back, and the crappy online version is completely reminiscent of its crappy print predecessor. And while we missed their online launch party, hosted by Bam "I Banged Jessica Simpson" Margera, we're nonetheless beside ourselves in breathless anticipation of chicks in short shorts...with the possibility of MORE chicks in short shorts to come. FHM Magazine Didn't Die; It Just Folded, Then Reemerged As A Crappy Digital Shell Of Its Crappy Original Self [Jossip]

You're up Ross!

OK so Tom Freston kinda resurfaced with his investment in Plum TV after being canned from Viacom for missing the Myspace boat. Now we're waiting for the man who ultimately cost Tom Freston his job former Fox Interactive Media boss Ross Levinsohn to make his next move. We're thinking something Internet related of course but we are itching to know what. There is no doubt that his former bosses at News Corp are also watching the wires closely for any big news because believe it or not they want to know what he's doing as much as we do. They may never admit but they do. Remember he was the man who got News Corp deep into the web game and they have taken the ball and running with it all the way. Being our usual generous selves we thought we would put together a list of Internet properties Ross Levinsohn should probably kick the tires on with his deep pocketed buddies if he isn't already kicking them. Digg.com- Your old boss was reportedly sniffing around this Facebook-Wait they are asking for as much as, or more than what youtube sold for Heavy.com WallStrip.com Break.com DailyCandy.com These just came to mind. We think they're pretty cool sites. If not, there is probably a gig with Yahoo! Since showing former media head Lloyd Braun the door they haven't named a replacement to our knowledge!

If you can't stand alone, stand together

Merger news out of the embattled newspaper industry today. Paper companies Bowater Inc. and Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. have agreed to merge in a deal that would create the third-largest North American paper company, the companies said on Monday. The combined company, which will be called AbitibiBowater Inc., will have annual revenue of about $7.9 billion, they said. New company funny name, hey! whatever works. Abitibi-Consolidated and Bowater Agree to Combine [Bloomberg]

Rupe 2.0. How many stories like this do we have to read before they get the point that we got the point?

We don't know and we can't put our finger on it, but we're so sure we read something like the story on News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch in the current issue of Forbes already. You know about his plans to remake News Corp into this new era digital -esque media company and blah blah blah. We're sure there are some new mentions like Myspace China and News Corp's recent finger in the whole pain in the ass Tribune madness though. But in late 2004 Murdoch and Chernin, watching the resurrection of Yahoo, the rise of Google and the shift of ad dollars to the Web, jumped back in. The best way to access the power of the Internet, they decided, was by inserting yourself where users already congregate. They were heavily influenced by the success of FoxSports, a once unexceptional Web site, after it cut a deal for prominent placement on Microsoft's msn network--and then saw traffic leap from 2.2 million to 10.4 million visitors per month. The two asked a group led by FoxSports manager Ross Levinsohn to round up a list of Web properties likely to be available. He came back with three targets: MySpace, then owned by a marketing outfit called Intermix; ign; and a site Chernin won't identify. Yo Ross!, we sure hope you're getting some kind of lifetime cut out of all the money Myspace is bringing and will bring to News Corp. One thing's for sure, they (Rupe & Pete) are really enjoying your work. Murdoch 2.0 [Forbes]

Jeff Zucker would have gotten Jacked! out of a job

Jeff Zucker may have many fans today within the current GE regime and for what reason, many are still asking. However In a New York Magazine interview, former GE boss Jack Welch revealed that GE corporate pet, Jeff Zucker really aint that great, as well as why he wanted to buy the Boston Globe. If NBC isn’t doing so well, why is Jeff Zucker still in his job? JACK: ’Cause I’m retired. [Pause.] And I think they’ve got a little turnaround going on now. Heroes. And Sunday Night Football helps a lot. Why did you try to buy the Boston Globe? JACK: I thought that we could return the Globe to profitability, but the Times made it clear that it’s their core business. So we’re just hanging around. The Jack & Suzy Show[NYM]

Morning Wire: And now this morning's worthy media news

Judith Regan is a walking cartoon, an equal-opportunity bigot—and hardly the only villain in the sordid O.J. publishing scandal. [NYM] Closing Bell With Maria Bartiromo will probably be renamed closing bell with someone else [NYT] What in the world is The Sacramento Bee going to tell you that you can't read elsewhere? Must be something good because they want to charge you $499 a year for access [NYT] Sumner Redstone knows what what it feels like to always want to be in control [LAT] Just how did Bob Iger cut the chain and ball with Mike Eisner's face on it off of Disney? [BW] Wendy Deng Murdoch is about to get to work with the soon to be launched Myspace China [Reuters]

At Time Inc, one departure and two appointments

The waters won't be settled anytime soon in Ann's house -AKA- Time Inc. Time Inc's boss lady announced today to minions that COO Nora McAniff is leaving the building. But with bad news comes good news, at least for Sylvia Auton and Stephanie George who were both promoted to exec VP positions, effective March 1. Hmm we're sensing a little girl power within Ann's circle. As far as Nora, she didn't leave empty handed. She departed with some kind words from her former boss. Nora is the most natural born leader I have ever worked with. I havestudied her closely, trying to understand why her speeches getstanding ovations, why her teams consistently outperform, and how shemanages to find, mentor, and develop talent. There is one hugedifference that I have observed over the years. Lots of us have herwork ethic, her love of our business, her eye to pick raw talent; butfew of us have her ability to give positive and negative feedback.Most people who have worked for Nora over the last two decadescompletely believe she has their best interests in mind. They havetaken amazingly honest feedback from her in the spirit in which it wasgiven: to develop the greatest collection of talent in our business,to outperform the competition, to build the best brands, to achievepersonal bests, and to have a great time doing it. Nora built trustand used it as the powerful tool it is to get us all to dig deeperthan we ever thought we could. Forget the SPF, Break Out the Champagne: Time Inc. COO Nora McAniff Says G'Bye [Jossip]

The due date is in

Some of you know how excited we are about the new addition to our family. Daddy just gave us the due date and man we can't wait. Business Wire Daily our Business & Lifestyle site will go live this coming Wednesday with its funny but sometimes serious sections like "CEO Splurge" and "The Water Cooler". Here is what the boss man has to say about his new baby.

Finally we kinda have an idea as to what the hell Atoosa Rubenstein plans to do with herself

We get a glimpse into what exactly former Seventeen editrix Atoosa Rubenstein has been up to because its like.........launch something already. We've been reading about plans for something exciting but after a while we got sick of hearing about it. So now hopefully she will be about it. In certain mediacentric precincts of Manhattan and Los Angeles, a striking and charismatic young woman named Atoosa Rubenstein moves from handshake to handshake, from meeting with advisers to pitching potential financial backers. In this, Rubenstein resembles a Presidential candidate testing the waters in Iowa. But her campaign is to build the next big multimedia brand around a person. This person happens to be named Atoosa Rubenstein. Say hello to alpha kitty [BW via Jossip]

Hey don't feel bad Ann. The French are cutting magazine jobs too

The Current blood bath in the magazine industry isn't just here in America at companies like Time Inc. Blood baths are also taking place overseas in France at publisher Lagardère the parent company of 259 magazines including Elle, Marie Claire and Car & Driver and its for the same reason.... the Internet. The company plans to boot 700- 1,000 employees to focus on becoming more relevant on the web. What would happen if this whole web thing goes to hell again. Will everyone then do the opposite and rush to launch print titles. Not that we're hoping for this web thing to go to hell. The company said that its restructuring plan was intended to make the business a "leader in the generation of content, particularly digital, and in aggregation on markets where the group is present". In a first stage, it would rationalise its businesses. The closure of magazines would be considered. The effect on current operating profit of the companies concerned, for a full year and on the basis of the accounts in 2006, would be a net contribution of about seven million euros, but sales would contract by about 90 million euros. The group did not say which titles were candidates for closure but said that they tended to have falling sales and operating losses. In addition, the company would dispose of some international operations which were too small or insufficiently profitable, or would set up licencing arrangements. The net effect of these measures in a full year would be to reduce sales by 40 million euros and increase operating profits by one million euros. The sale of press photo agency activities, concluded on Tuesday, and of regional press interests and some other activities, once completed, should reduce sales by 260 million euros and increase operating profit by four million euros. LAGARDERE MAGAZINE GIANT GOES DIGITAL WITH PRINT CLOSURES [TTC]

OK, so apparently Disney has some big news to share this afternoon

We're sure its nothing we will give two hoots about but, just in case its something you may care to know about, then Disney has some news to share with you this afternoon. For a minute we thought is was announcing the long awaited launch of the new Disney.com site which we've had a hard-on for, for the last couple weeks. Anyway, Disney has some big news to share today at 1pm est. By looking at the ad we think it may have something to do with the parks unit. Just a wild guess.

What do you do when your network is tanking in ratings? You go on vacation baby!

While CNN was crying out for help as it sank further into the ratings cesspool, CNN Prexy Jon Klein, CNN International Prexy Jim Walton and 98 other CNN execs went off on vacation to the Bahamas soaking up the sun while rivals stayed ahead of the ratings challenged network. Wonder if Dick and Jeff approved this? The FTVLive site says that while "CNN suits are partying it up," network lackeys back home are "trying to keep a lid" on the tropical trip. "CNN claims that they exceeded their financial budgets so instead of putting it back into the company and giving some much deserved raises, they decided to break their arms by patting themselves on the back," the Web site said. "[There are] a lot of unhappy people in Atlanta, especially those who didn't get to go on the trip," the site reports. "Sadly, we also hear that there will be people who won't be getting raises this year due to 'cutbacks.' Well, except for Anderson Cooper - he's the golden child." Cooper just signed a new contract for $4 million a year. SAD CNN SUITS FLEE TO TROPICS [NYP]

Music Wire: EMI indirectly hands Jason Flom the top U.S. job

EMI Chairman Eric Nicoli still trying to get his house in order, via a firing, a folding and a promotion, indirectly handing Virgin Records CEO Jason Flom the top job in the U.S. As speculated earlier Capital Records CEO Andy Slater was shown the door. However he is expected to walk away a very rich man. The Capital and Virgin labels will now merge into one happy family creating the Capital Records Group which will be ruled by the Flom as Chairman & CEO, further increasing his power status at the company. We believe Flom is now being baked to eventually take the top job at EMI, unless they pull a Roger Ames out of their ass. This is a huge jump for Jason Flom who was infamously pink slipped at LAX by his then boss Warner Music Group CEO Lyor Cohen The moves were the most notable so far in a worldwide revamping that started two weeks ago, when EMI, which releases music from acts including Coldplay and Norah Jones, forced out the global chief of its music division. In the United States, the world’s biggest music market, the cutback is expected to represent the effective end of Capitol as a stand-alone label, though EMI will continue to occupy its offices, a famed cylindrical tower that opened its doors in Hollywood in 1956. EMI Merging Record Labels and Ousting Capitol’s President [NYT]

Morning Wire: And now this morning's worthy media news

Will NBC Universal fire Maria Bartiromo already. We know she knows this is coming anyway [NYT] All that money and marketing during Superbowl and once your ads air, it become old instantly [NYT] NBC doesn't only have female anchors who get cozy with business execs, they also have thieves [NYT] New York Post's announcement of a new managing editor, not worthy of a full page New York Times article [NYT] Robert F.X. Sillerman makes his money from wannabees and the dead [Reuters]

If only a Tribune deal could have went down this smooth

Who said the newspaper industry was in the toilet? if it is then the folks at Courtside Acquisition Corp are idiots for dropping $165 Million on the deal. But you know what? We doubt it. Courtside, a specified purpose acquisition company, said it would pay up to $15 million more if the newspaper group's cash flow for 2008 ranges from $19 million to $21 million or above.In addition, Courtside said if its stock price exceeds $8.50 before July 7, 2009, American Community will receive an extra $10 million. Courtside to buy American Community Newspapers [Reuters]

Afternoon Wire: Its happening.The Bewkerization widens. Jeff Bewkes named to TimeWarner board

The Bewkerization of TimeWarner just got a little more juice. Time Warner CEO in training Jeff Bewkes has joined the board. [Market Watch] More big cuts are expected this year in big media. But is this really news being that we all knew this already? [Reuters] We thought Rupert Murdoch already bet big on the Internet and it paid off? [Forbes] DowJones is making money. Oh yeah they got that money from the jobs cuts [AdAge] This makes no sense to us, but Google Video and Youtube will continue to live their lives apart. [AdAge]

Forbes names their top internet stars, but should issue amber alert for missing bloggers

Forbes in all its list loving ways, revealed their "Web Celeb 25". Some of the so called web celebs we know and some had us like "