Aug 30, 2010

Newsweek like a house on fire

Journalists are running from Newsweek as fast as they can. The latest escapee is Michael Hirsh, the magazine's national economics correspondent (and former chief diplomatic correspondent). Fareed Zakaria recently bolted for Time magazine. Investigative reporter Michael Isikoff left for NBC News. Deputy managing editor Evan Thomas announced his retirement earlier this month, as did Editor John Meacham. But it's not just the stars. According to Gawker, Digital GM Geoff Reiss, editorial director Mark Miller, and digital executive editor Gabriel Snyder have also departed.

Sidney Harman, Rep. Jane Harman's rich husband, bought the debt-laden magazine and threatened to outsource some of the work. The loss of big-name journalists could hurt the magazine's content, but could also stave off some layoffs, given that they probably earned fancy incomes. Still, it must be a fear fest inside the Newsweek offices these days.

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