Jolie Set Free

If you're a journalism freak-cum-magazine editor wannabe like me, I suggest you check out Jolie in NYC (www.jolieinnyc.com), a blog about the so-called "random musings of a pop-culture obsessed (former) beauty editor in the big city." (Wow sounds kind of like and every other journalist wannabe trying to climb the corporate ladder, sans the beauty part!) Nadine Haobsh, a former Ladies Homes Journal beauty assistant, was recently ousted from her position at the mag after the blog made the headlines of NY Post's Page Six, and editors weren't happy that Haobsh blabbed about the ins and outs (and the secrets) of the beauty media and entertainment biz (that beauty editors get free product from PR at beauty companies etc., etc.) The blog wasn't supposed to be made public at first, but finally someone squealed on the beauty buff and Haobsh lost her job at Ladies Home Journal and one she was about to take at Seventeen. No matter, the blog ousting earned her tons of book offers because she is now considered a so-called "beauty expert" and because she has "revealed" everything the journalism world supposedly didn't want to say (but wasn't hiding either.) She continues making television appearences, writing her book, and of course, updating her blog (which now includes her new webpage redesign to match.)

I loved the site at first, it gave up the intriguing moments of the beauty editor biz and I could relate (working at a beauty/fashion magazine), but it seemed as if the public's constant urging to update has pushed Haobsh to write about anything and everything, even when it appears she has nothing to say. It's as if she's trying to come up with some new material and instead ends up preaching about the ups and downs of the Simpson/Lachey marriage and the so-so reviews of the latest movies (think, The Island.) Instead of new material, she rehashes what's already in the press and gives a few lines of opinion comment to appease her audience. As Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw said herself, "Men, I may not know, but shoes, shoes I know." Well Ms. Haobsh, "Celebrity gossip, you may not know." Stick to beauty.

I'd rather have a witty blog entry every few days then one every few hours just to fill up the page. I know we're all dying to hear from you, Naomi, but please don't disappoint. After all, you ARE currently dubbed a beauty expert and the "poster girl for the blogger generation." Let us know that's exactly what you are.

Although this might sound a bit demeaning to poor Ms. Haobsh, I only have the highest praises for my fellow journalism employee, despite the possibility she may never work in the magazine biz again. I encourage all of you to visit her site at www.jolieinnyc.com whether media hungry or not and decide for yourself if she really has what it takes to be the next writer extraordinaire eating up 15 minutes of fame.

Well, who am I to criticize?