Elizabeth Spiers
Kurson's 'Observer' meant to appeal to 'Staten Island first responders, second-generation NYers in Forest Hills'
Kurson said he wants it to feel less exclusive and elite, according to our sources. More
(4)'The New York Observer' gets a new president (and endorses Romney for real president)
Jared Kushner, the real estate scion who has owned the paper since 2006, informed the staff last night that he had hired Mike Albanese for the role. Albanese was the publisher of Spin for six years, until its recent acquisition by BuzzMedia. More
Spiers' last issue of 'The New York Observer'
Her immediate goal, she told Capital, is to find backers for the health and wellnesswebsite she plans to launch; the site will have a content and a retail component. More
At 'The New York Observer,' another account of the editor and president's departures
Gell explained that part of what pushed Spiers and Barnes out the door was a disagreement over resources: They wanted to run a much larger enterprise with a bigger budget than Kushner was willing to commit to at this time. More
'New York Observer' editor Elizabeth Spiers and president Christopher Barnes are leaving the paper
Spiers started early in 2011, and in the year and a half since has overseen a significant reinvestment in the business, including the launches of GalleristNY and BetaBeat, blogs covering the art scene and the local tech scene, respectively. More
(1)A push to outlaw anonymous commenters in New York gets big eye-roll from digital media
"It's so laughable, nobody would take it seriously," said Rasiej, which is precisely why he doesn't forsee any sort of SOPA/PIPA-style backlash from New York's digital community: "Getting the whole community to come out against it would require people thinking this has a chance of passage." More
(2)Tale of the tape: 'Observer' won't retract story about 'Post' editor Col Allan and soccer-mom madam Anna Gristina
“My attorneys are today filing a formal demand of retraction from the Observer and its publisher," Allan said in a report the paper posted on its website late this afternoon. “The Observer’s report is nothing but a smear and a lie.”
But it dosen't look like Allan is going to get what he wants.
"It doesn't make much sense to retract," Observer editor Elizabeth Spiers told Capital.
At the center of the matter are transcripts of interviews and surveillance audio amassed by law enforcement during the five-year investigation of Gristina's alleged prostitution ring. More
(4)Morning memo: The papers profit from the Super Bowl; plus Elizabeth Spiers' one-year anniversary, the big video trend, and 'gay-bashing' Super Bowl tweets
Following the Giants' 21-17 Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots last night, the Daily News once again managed to score a touchdown of its own.
As was the case when the Giants won the NFC Championship game on Jan. 22, someone from the tabloid was on hand not only to photograph the victorius hometown players, but also to hand them apparently mocked-up News front pages celebrating their win so they could pose with them for the camera. More
'The New York Observer,' in a bid to go national, will expand its editorial department
The main website may eventually bifurcate into two separate URLs, one of which, perhaps nyobserver.com, would house the local content, while observer.com would target a national audience. That way, if there is ever an Observer L.A. or an Observer D.C., the main online destination would serve as an umbrella site. The print edition will remain New York-centric. More
The meaning of Elizabeth Spiers at The New York Observer
So what does everyone think of the news that just broke, that Elizabeth Spiers is to be the editor of The New York Observer? In some ways there is an inevitability here. From the mists of time, Nick Denton's original manifesto for Gawker:
Gawker is an online magazine for Manhattan launching in January 2003. It’s target audience is the city’s media and financial elite. Think of it as the New York Observer, crossed with Jim Romenesko’s MediaNews. The publication will be supported by advertising, primarily from real estate brokers and luxury goods retailers. More
