Mag moguls in Holly-odd ending
An unusual tug-of-war between two media moguls over a Hollywood journalist has given way to an equally unusual compromise.
Tatiana Siegel — executive film editor at The Hollywood Reporter — said on Twitter Wednesday she will move to Rolling Stone, where she’ll be a senior writer reporting on entertainment, media and culture. Meanwhile, Siegel also will work for The Ankler — a new entertainment newsletter co-owned by magazine editor Janice Min — as editor-at-large.
It is unlikely, however, Siegel will be able to write for The Ankler. Instead, insiders say she’ll be permitted to do a podcast.
It was the weird outcome to a rough-andtumble week that began Dec. 14, when Min announced in a New York Times feature that she would become co-owner and CEO of The Ankler and that Siegel would be her first hire.
The news kicked off a bizarre battle in the press over Siegel, the reporter behind a host of investigative stories, including one on movie and theater producer Scott Rudin’s bullying and abuse of employees and colleagues.
Jay Penske, who reportedly learned that Siegel was leaving his Hollywood Reporter from the Times article, “lost it” according to a source, and scrambled to claw her back, offering Siegel a job at his other publication, Rolling Stone.
Before a deal was worked out, he announced during a town hall meeting last Wednesday that Siegel was joining Rolling Stone. On Thursday, Penske’s Variety published a story with the headline: “Janice Min Loses First Hire at Ankler Newsletter to Rolling Stone.”
In response, Min tweeted that Variety ran a “false story,” noting that Siegel accepted The Ankler job, and that Penske was trying “hard” to keep her from leaving.
But a source close to the matter said it was Min who “jumped the gun” with The Times story even though she had a signed employee offer in hand — given that Siegel appeared bound by Penske’s contract.
Siegel did not respond to requests for comment. Both Penske and Min declined to comment.