Arts, Media & Culture Update - December 1

Arts, Media & Culture Update - December 1 

Authors Sloane Crossley and Joan Didion took to the stage at the New York Public Library to discuss mortality, iPads, "memoir", Hemingway, The Year of Magical Thinking, being side-swiped by tragedy while making a tuna fish sandwich, pathological bereavement, finding her writing rhythm and moral responsibility.

Meanwhile, Aussie author Geraldine Brooks (Year of Wonders, March, People of the Book and Caleb's Crossing) has given the Boyer lectures for ABC Radio, taking the theme of home, which you can listen to here.

Disgruntled former News of the World deputy features editor Paul McMullen has seemingly lost his moral compass. "Circulation defines the public interest," he told the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics. "You have to appeal to what the reader wants. I was simply serving their need." McMullen expressed regret over the suicide of Jennifer Elliott, the daughter of the late actor Denholm Elliott whom he had exposed in the paper as a prostitute living on the street. Charlotte Church, Sienna Miller and J.K Rowling have all given testimony at the inquiry this week.

Fairfax Women's Network will launch a new website next year to be edited by Sarah Oakes, current editor of Sunday Life, reports AdNews. Your Daily Life will will provide a daily mix of news, opinion, food, people, style, beauty, health and relationship content. Oakes was previously the editor of ACP magazine's Cleo and Pacific Magazine's Girlfriend.

"We’re really excited to have Sarah on board," said Fairfax Women’s Network General Manager Melina Cruickshank. "She has a ton of energy around this space and will help us create a new and innovative multi-platform voice. Your Daily Life will be the best online source of news and lifestyle content for Australian women."

Zooey Deschanel, who has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Winnie the Pooh track "So Long" along with collaborator M. Ward, and her The New Girl co-star Hannah Simone took to Hello Giggles this week to chat about their show.

Kanye West and Adele topped the list of Grammy nominations with winners to be announced February 12, 2012. Adele has been nominated for six awards including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album. Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars also scored six nominations, while Rihanna scored four nominations.

Following our men's mag report on Monday, Aldo shoes has launched Gentlemen's Boutique Mr. B's while another men's magazine, PORT, is into its fourth issue.

The Australian Financial Review will cut online subscriptions prices by 40% from next Monday, allowing print subscribers full access to online content for free. "Monday will see the beginning of a new era for the Financial Review," the Financial Review Group’s chief executive and publisher Brett Clegg said in a statement. "We were one of the early movers in pricing content online and after five years we have a better understanding of how to get it right." The AFR will launch a marketing campaign on December 12, after deploying its new print and online subscription pricing plans on Monday. Under the new terms, a print and online subscription will cost $780 per year (previously $1140) and online-only will be $680 (previously $1140).

The Zine Society will be showcasing its wares at the Finder's Keepers markets in Sydney this weekend.

Three former Smash Hits magazine staff launched a book this week. Pop Life! Inside Smash Hits Australia 1984-2007 co-written by David Nichols, Marc Andrews and Claire Isaac launched last night. According to Andrews, "It's not just the currazy history of the magazine and the poptastic celebrities who appeared on the front (and back!) cover, but the inside story on what went on behind the scenes, plus our own personal background stories. There's celebs galore, controversy a-plenty, appalling puns, the dreaded "dumper", Black Type, Bitz and even a bonus Kylie Minogue badge. Possibly."

Just in case you missed it, fans of Spicks and Specks' Myf Warhurst will be happy to know she will be appearing in her own nostalgic six-part TV series next year. We will get to join Myf on a journey of pop-cultural proportions as we seek to find the things that have shaped her into the woman she is today. “I’m digging out the bedazzler, putting on my oversized koala wool knit jumper, and travelling the country to rediscover some of my favourite things, and meet some of my teenage heroes along the way," says Myf. The show, called Myf Warhurt's Nice, takes no shame in the naff and follows this year's Judith Lucy's Spiritual Journey in Kate Duthie's commissioning of documentary-style funny-lady-goes-searching series.

 And Pip Lincolne takes us into The Design Files' pop-up Open House at JUSTB (my other blogging hangout).

Girl With a Satchel