Newsweek Flushes Koran Cover

The New York Observer got the scoop on this week's Newsweek editorial meeting on the newsweekly's upcoming cover. Decision: Bury the bad news.

But Newsweek, for its part, decided to tone down the talking. Following Mr. Graham’s address, the editors and staff hunkered down for their weekly cover decision. At a meeting the day before, according to two staffers who’d been present, the staff had contemplated preparing a cover package pegged to the Periscope controversy.

Another staffer, who wasn’t present at the meeting but had been briefed on the package, described the concept as an overview about "What’s Wrong With the Media?" While the planning was only preliminary and no pieces had been assigned, the editors had discussed potential elements of the package, including pieces by guest contributors, a piece on blogs and the media by Steven Levy, and a meditation on sourcing by Jonathan Alter.

The editors decided, however, to shelve the idea. Instead, they picked newly elected Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for the cover, fronting a package about the growing political influence of Latinos. The media package would be scaled down and put in the inside.

Also coming in the next issue: Michael Isikoff on the Pentagon’s investigation of Guantánamo Bay log entries for evidence of Koran abuse. So he's learned nothing from his experience, and apparently he's not taking my advice.