A VARIETY of Press Releases

On the back of today’s issue of Variety, the industry trade publication, was a big advertisement for "Variety Vision," a new "video streaming environment" that offers you video interviews with Variety staffers.

Tune in to watch our top editors argue, cajole and spin about current issues affecting the business of entertainment. No login or password required. It’s free.

Of course it’s free.  And it’s still too expensive. Why the hell would anyone possible care what Variety "reporters" have to say about anything? For one thing, they rarely report at all. I can’t remember the last time they engaged in anything remotely approaching actual journalism…

Let’s take a look at today’s issue, for example, shall we? I’ll put an asterisk next to anything that involved doing more than reworking a publicity packet.

On the front page:

CRIME ON THE RISE AT NEW LINE – A rewrite of a press release about some new films. No reporting involved (N.R.I.)
U’S HANDED THE KEYS TO KINGDOM – A rewrite of a press release about rights acquired to a book. (N.R.I)
COL TAPS TWO FOR NY HOME – A rewrite of announcement about new employees hired.
* A ONE MAN BRAND – An article about all the projects Jon Steward has going,prompted by a press release about his new deal at Comedy Central.  This could generously be called an oveview  of the subject.

Page 2:

* ARMY ARCHERD: JUST FOR VARIETY –  Army works the phones for his usual column about social happenings in Hollywood. Yes, this is reporting. No substance to it, but you can’t argue that he did more than rewrite press releases.

* CONTSTANTINE EMPORER OF ASIA – List of foreign box office tallies for movies.  I’ll be kind, and call this reporting…though it barely qualifies (since there is no analysis, simply restating figures supplied by services).
HARRIS SCORES LEAD IN INDIE BETHOVEN – Rewrite of press release (NRI)

Page 3
LOTS OF REAL DEALS – Rewrite of press release (NRI)
HITCH FINDS HOME ON TURNER NET – Rewrite of press release (NRI)
MCDERMOTT WEIGHT IN WITH CBS DRAMA – Rewrite of press release (NRI)
SMOKE RISES AT GOLD CIRCLE – Rewrite of press release (NRI)
JOEY HUGE FOR UK’S FIVE – Rewrite of press release (NRI)
* GALLERY BID FOR VID RIVAL OK WITH FTC – Minimal reporting, but still qualifies as news article.

Page 4
DINKLAGE CAUGHT UP IN AFFAIR – Rewrite of press release (NRI)
MTV ENROLLING IN PREP -Rewrite of press release (NRI)
AMC BOOKING SUITE FOR INTERVIEWS – Rewrite of press release (NRI)
INFINITY UPS BARNET -Rewrite of press release (NRI)
AMY PRESIDES AT HALLMARK – Rewrite of press release (NRI)
* RATINGS OUT OF TUNE – Overview of Grammy ratings. Minimal reporting, but still qualifies as news article.

Page 6
BOX OFFICE WRAP UP CHART

Page 7
* BOMBER TALE IGNITES BERLINALE COMPETISH – Review of film competition. News article.
SHOCHIKU SHARPENS ITS BLADE FOR INTL SALES – Rewrite of press releases (NRI)
* STUDIO DRAW SUITOR – Rewrite of press release but with some analysis, so I will be generous and call it news
KINGS RULE FRENCH CRITICS -Rewrite of press release (NRI)
GUILD GETS GIG AT MTV EUROPE – Rewrite of press release (NRI)
BEEB CHIEF SEGUES TO INDIE – Rewrite of press release (NRI)

Page 9-10
Concert Reviews

Page 11
SHARK HAS DVD BITE – Rewrite of press release (NRI)
CONTINUATIONS OF OTHER ARTICLES

Page 16
MIFED TAKES ITS FINAL BOW – Rewrite of press release (NRI)

Page 18
OBITS
CONTINUATIONS OF OTHER ARTICLES

Page 19
ATARI GAME FOR MATRIX REDUX – Rewrite of press release (NRI)
CONTINUATIONS OF OTHER ARTICLES

Page 20
* GRAMMY GROOVES – Party reporting and photos.

So, let’s see, out of 30 articles, only 8 had any reporting. Of those 8, six were based on press statements or releases.  The only stories generated by the reporters on their own initiative and "investigation" were two gossip columns. And they call this reporting.  Maybe it’s because I come from a family of reporters, but my criteria for reporting involves finding the news yourself,  making calls, doing research, interviewing people, digging below the surface to generate stories about something more than what’s spoonfed to you.

I guess that’s old-fashioned. Only Army Archerd seems to be doing anything remotely like that at Variety these days. Of course this is the same publication that

a) promises powerful execs they will go soft on them in articles and make sure they come off in a positive light.
b) whine about how wronged they feel when the press releases they blithely base articles on turn out to contain lies.
c) has a publisher who vets stories with studio chiefs and fires critics who are too critical of films by studios that advertise in Variety.

Variety Vision. Unbelieveable. What could these "reporters" possibly have to say about anything? Unless, of course, they have a press release to read…

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