The News and other publications have subsequently reported that Page Six staffers, including Johnson, have accepted gifts and perks from column subjects and businesses. They include Johnson's bachelor party in Punta Mita, Mexico, hosted by "Girls Gone Wild" soft-porn king Joe Francis, and a trip he took to the Academy Awards paid for by ABC and Mercedes-Benz.

Additionally, Wilson was treated to a long-weekend junket in California's Napa Valley last June, courtesy of Jaguar North America.

The New York Times reported yesterday that about one third of more than 30 advertisers in the February debut issue Page Six Magazine were favorably mentioned in the gossip column in the last year.

Stern was the editor of the magazine, which is scheduled to appear again in September. In an April 2 e-mail to Marchetti, Stern seemed to be inquiring about his payment and noted his influence in the next issue of the magazine.

Tuesday, music editor Chuck Eddy was fired from The Village Voice, making him the 17th employee to leave the paper - either by termination or resignation - since Village Voice Media - then named New Times - took control following a $400 million merger in November, writes The New York Observer. Also, the Voice's Robert Christgau recently discontinued his podcast, certain that he was next to be fired from the paper, writes the Gawker.

Michael Lacey, executive editor for Village Voice Media, heads up the organizational overhaul. He said that the changes would create space for more magazine-style reported content. The Village Voice's current commentary practices have no place in the New Times regime, according to Lacey.

"I want our writers to start reporting," said Lacey. "One of the things that happened with the internet and blogging is that it made simple punditry in newsprint irrelevant. It's no longer timely."

Executives of all of the newspaper companies said they were hurt by stagnant advertising, particularly in the automotive and entertainment categories, and a continuing rise in the cost of newsprint. The Times Company and Tribune also cited the cost of severance packages after cutting hundreds of jobs.

At the same time, the companies said that their Internet activities were thriving. Those activities still account for only a small share of total revenue and are not big enough to offset the losses from traditional advertisers. But revenue from the Internet is clearly a growth area where the newspapers are shifting their focus.

The job cuts, which come on top of 205 positions it has eliminated through cuts and voluntary buyouts since December, mostly came from the business side of the publisher. Time Inc. is a unit of Time Warner Inc. (Research) (which owns CNNMoney.com).

A spokeswoman for Time Inc., whose total staff now numbers about 12,000, said most of the cuts were mid-level or junior-level staff and very few editorial positions were affected.

In addition to cost cutting, the publisher said it is working to reallocate assets and invest in other areas of growth.

The actress went public with her change of heart on Tuesday (April 4) after receiving a heartfelt apology and donations to her favorite charities from Hugh Hefner. Alba originally objected to the issue in question because a bikini-clad image of her from the film "Into the Blue" was used on the cover without her permission, an act that she thought implied she had posed nude inside the magazine.

"I appreciate Mr. Hefner's acknowledgment of the distress caused by Playboy's actions, and I'm happy to put this unfortunate event behind me," Alba says in a statement. "This was never about money, it was about setting the record straight about something that was done without my knowledge or consent."

Carol Smith, senior vp, Elle group publishing director and Marta Wohrle, vp, director of digital media, will oversee ElleGirl.com, which will be redesigned immediately with expanded content and a beefed up staff in partnership with teen marketing firm Alloy.

Christina Kelly will be leaving the company, and the status of longtime Hachette exec, Deborah Burns, who is Elle Girl's vp, publisher, is unclear. Another 30 employees will be affected by the move. "Every effort is being made to position as many people as possible," said a spokesperson for the company.