The recent Rosie O'Donnell-Gruner + Jahr USA trial ended in a stalemate. Though neither side won the millions in damages they sought, it marked the failure of yet another star-fueled venture. Much was made of Rosie's office tantrums, but G+J's image was also tarnished through widespread reporting of "cooked" financials and misleading circulation figures. While both parties will escape any severe penalties, the immediate prospect for similarly styled celebrity publications looks bleak.
Most frequent messages 1. Editorial control was poorly defined 2. Intolerable working environment 3. Celebrity-driven businesses are risky 4. G+J USA falsified financials and circulation figures 5. The magazine lost millions of dollars Based on 108 newspaper editorials and columns appearing between October 27-November 11, 2003. Evaluation and analysis by Delahaye Medialink.
