The Press' Becca Tucker stalked the My So-Called Life star in an effort to show just how easy it is to stalk celebrities in New York City, but Danes wasn't thrilled, according to Gawker. Jeff Berg, the chairman of International Creative Management, which represents Danes, called editor David Blum on Friday and asked him to redact online a reference to the street where she lives. "He got very hostile," Blum says, noting that Berg asked, "What are you going to do, print her phone number next?" The paper did keep her building number out of the story, by redacting it from a direct quote from New York magazine, which gives her full address online. "I'm no more inclined to print her phone number than to print her exact street address," Blum says.

Continue ReadingClare Danes ‘Feels Extremely Violated’ by New York Press Story

State freedom of information laws are, for the most part, failing to offer any meaningful recourse when citizens are denied access, according to a report by the Better Government Association and the National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC). Thirty-eight states received a grade of "F" in the survey, which looked at five factors: response time, appeals, expedited review, attorney's fees and costs, and sanctions. I can't say I was shocked by what we found," writes Charles Davis, executive director of the NFOIC. "but I am saddened that despite more attention being paid to FOI issues than ever before, most citizens remain in the dark."

Continue ReadingStates Failing FOI Responsiveness

John Conroy, Harold Henderson, Tori Marlan and Steve Bogira were laid off this week by editor Alison True, Michael Miner writes on his News Bites blog. True tells the Chicago Tribune that, given the mandate to cut costs by her new bosses at Creative Loafing in August, it became difficult to afford their work. "The numbers are part of a deal that was structured a long time ago," she says. "Even if [CEO Ben Eason] were the most passionate journalist in the world, he wouldn't have the option of saying, 'I'll give you a little extra this year so this doesn't have to happen.' He's bound to his deal." Meanwhile, Fishbowl DC is reporting that five editorial staffers were laid off at the Reader's sister paper today: Washington City Paper writers Joe Eaton, Amanda S. Miller, Tim Carman and Jessica Gould, and editorial assistant Joe Dempsey, are all no longer with the paper.

Continue ReadingChicago Reader & Washington City Paper Editorial Staffers Laid Off