An uncommon tug-of-war between a pair of media moguls over a Hollywood journalist has given solution to an equally uncommon compromise.
Tatiana Siegel — government movie editor at The Hollywood Reporter — said on Twitter Wednesday that she’s going to transfer to “Rolling Stone,” the place she’s going to work as a senior author reporting on leisure, media and tradition. In the meantime, Siegel additionally will work for “The Ankler” — a brand new leisure publication co-owned by journal editor Janice Min — as editor-at-large.
It’s unlikely, nevertheless, that Siegel will have the ability to write for “The Ankler.” As a substitute, insiders say she’ll be permitted to do a podcast.
It was the bizarre end result to a rough-and-tumble week that started final Tuesday, when Min introduced in a New York Times feature that she would change into co-owner and CEO of “The Ankler” and that Siegel, The Hollywood Reporter’s government movie editor, can be her first rent.
The information kicked off a weird battle fought within the press over Siegel, the reporter behind a number of investigative tales, together with one on film and theater producer Scott Rudin’s bullying and abuse of staff and colleagues.
Penske, who reportedly discovered that Siegel was leaving for “The Ankler” from the Occasions article, “misplaced it” in accordance with a supply, and scrambled to claw again the journalist, providing her a job at his different publication, “Rolling Stone.”
Earlier than a deal was labored out, he introduced throughout a city corridor assembly final Wednesday that the star journalist was becoming a member of “Rolling Stone.” On Thursday, Penske’s Selection printed a narrative with the headline: “Janice Min Loses First Rent at Ankler E-newsletter to Rolling Stone.”
In response, Min tweeted that Selection ran a “false story,” noting that Siegel accepted “The Ankler” job, and that Jay Penske was attempting “onerous” to maintain her from leaving.
“My response to the reporter, if she had waited for it, was, ‘Tatiana has accepted a suggestion to work for The Ankler. We perceive Jay Penske is working actually onerous to attempt to preserve her.’ DIdn’t understand one of many methods was to place out a false story,” Min wrote.
A supply near the matter, nevertheless, stated it was Min who “jumped the gun” with The Occasions story although she had a signed worker supply in hand. That’s as a result of Siegel appeared to nonetheless be sure by Penske’s contract.
In response to studies, Penske threatened to sue Siegel for violating her non-compete, which might prohibit the journalist from working at a rival publication for six months. However a supply near Penske denied that there was any menace of a lawsuit, and as a substitute stated that Siegel was in talks with the corporate for a bigger position.
Siegel didn’t reply to requests for remark. Each Penske and Min declined to remark.
Contracts at Penske’s media firm usually embrace a non-compete clause that particulars an inventory of publications the place the worker can’t go. A supply stated “The Ankler” was not on the listing however Penske pushed again anyway.
Though phrases of Siegel’s new contract will not be recognized, it’s believed that she now has a contract for a specified period of time, whereas earlier than, she was an at-will worker.
“We all know the group at Rolling Stone is thrilled to have Tatiana be a part of their group as a full-time senior author and reporter throughout leisure, media and tradition. We’re on file to dispel any misrepresentation of the connection to the Ankler, which is restricted to participation in a podcast,” a spokeswoman for Penske stated.
The Penske-Min kerfuffle comes amid The Division of Justice’s antitrust probe surrounding Penske Media’s deal to buy The Hollywood Reporter in 2020. Along with “Rolling Stone,” “The Hollywood Reporter” and “Selection,” Penske additionally owns “Deadline: Hollywood.”
In response to insiders, Penske has agreed to maintain the promoting gross sales groups separate throughout the three publications with the intention to assuage The DOJ. The investigation, nevertheless, hasn’t stopped the media exec from attempting to scoop up extra leisure publications.
In what has change into a dizzying story of rumor and denial, sources stated Penske had talked to Richard Rushfield, founding father of “The Ankler,” in latest months about investing within the publication. Rushfield introduced on Min as a co-owner and CEO as a substitute.
A supply with information denied that any supply was ever made to Penske however stated the media mogul has a pleasant relationship with Rushfield and the 2 communicate typically.
