From a Richard Cohen column in this morning’s Washington Post:
“… and Time Inc., which reportedly paid about $4 million for pictures of Brangelina’s baby, recently let go two of the best investigative reporters in the business, Donald Barlett and James Steele. The company said it could no longer afford them.”
For once, Cohen nails it.
We’re talking here about a pair of reporters who have had a best-selling book and who have been honored with two Pulitzer prizes and two National Magazine Awards for their work in exploring the nexus of American politics and the American economy.
Obviously, we don’t have access to the Time Inc. payroll. But we’re guessing that the $4 million-plus that the company spent for the pictures of a baby (who, by the way, looks like every baby that you ever saw) would pay for about 10 more years of salary and expenses for Barlett and Steele and their research help.
But that’s not going to happen, is it?
Sic transit gloria, Time Inc.
Steve Lovelady was editor of CJR Daily.