Politico

After months of sitting on the sideline, the mainstream media let loose over the past three days with coverage of former Senator John Edwards' admission that he had had an affair with filmmaker Rielle Hunter.

Some highlights from the coverage:

On ABC's web site, "The Blotter," Brian Ross and company posted a story today entitled "Is John Edwards Still Lying," which includes an exclusive interview with a friend of Ms. Hunter's named (apparently) Pidgeon, who suggests that he is, in fact, still lying.

In Broadcasting & Cable, Marisa Guthrie writes that according to multiple sources "Edwards was apoplectic that ABC News broke the story on its website and began promoting it early on Friday, giving the rest of the media a chance to play catch-up and cite ABC News' report.  read more »

According to Politico's Jonathan Martin and Chris Frates, syndicated columnist Robert Novak hit a pedestrian with his car this morning in Washington, D.C.

"I didn't know I hit him," Mr. Novak told reporters. "I feel terrible." As terrible as Mr. Novak feels, Media Mob is sure that the man he hit with his black Corvette feels worse. In a video on the site, Mr. Novak comes off as cagey and nervous as he exits a police car and is grilled by reporters. "He's not dead, that's the main thing," Mr. Novak said.

Michael Calderone at Politico is reporting that Jon Landman is a top candidate for the chief editor job at The Washington Post, which is expected to be vacated sometime next year by Len Downie.

Landman apparently met with Downie last week, though the nature of the visit isn't clear. Landman sent Calderone an e-mail saying, "I won't confirm, deny or discuss."

O.K., but we will! Calderone reports that Landman now joins a short list of candidates that includes Newsweek's Jon Meacham, ex-Journal editor Marcus Brauchli, Post columnist David Ignatius and Post managing editor Philip Bennett.

This week's print edition of The Observer is packed with media goodness. Here's a rundown:

John Koblin profiles Portfolio's Jacob Lewis, the man who made the trains run on time. Plus, a look at Pulitzer day celebrations at The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Felix Gillette checks in on Politico TV, coming soon to a Sunday morning near you.

Leon Neyfakh notes Rob Weisbach's departure from Harvey Weinstein's publishing arm and notes, "there was a perception that Mr. Weisbach, who enjoyed a reputation as a brilliant, if slightly showy, editor, was being wasted at Weinstein Books." Plus, meet Thomas Kohnstamm, the delinquent travel guide writer.

So that Times story about John McCain, the one the world heard about in December, was published last night.

In a nutshell:  read more »

Politico has made it a habit for the last year to pluck away talented writers and editors, but now one of its own is jumping ship. Richard Greene, the web site's main editor, is leaving for CNN. In a memo, Politico editor John Harris described Mr. Greene's departure as a "surprise" and described him as one of the "pivotal figures in the success" of the news outfit's debut year.  read more »

Politico has hired Salon senior writer Tim Grieve to become their new Congressional bureau chief. According to a memo sent out this morning by Jim VandeHei, Mr. Grieve "is a terrific writer, editor and conceptual thinker." Over at Salon, he ran The War Room blog.

More reporters than you could possibly believe are stacked into an auditorium at Saint Anselm college, safely far from tonight's debate.

At the front of the room is a row reserved for photographers. In the second row, news agencies AFP and AP and Reuters share space with USA Today, as well as local heroes from the Keene Sentinel, the Concord Monitor, and the Eagle Tribune.  read more »

The Politico has hired a Hollywood correspondent, according to a memo sent to staff this afternoon. Jeffrey Ressner, who has written for Time, Rolling Stone, US Weekly, and the Hollywood Reporter, will start tomorrow, and he will report "on the nexis (sic) of Hollywood and politics."

The Politico's Daniel Kunitz, associate publisher and managing editor for the web, has left the paper. According to a memo sent to staff late this afternoon, Mr. Kunitz does not yet know where he is headed next. He will continue to help out with various web-related projects until editors figure out "the right way to move forward."

Full memo after the jump.  read more »