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2:55 PM ET, October 2, 2009

WeSmirch

 Top News: 
The Huffington Post:
Stephanie Birkitt: Letterman's Former Lover, Assistant (PHOTOS, VIDEO, INFO)  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  Stephanie Birkitt has been identified as one of the women involved in the David Letterman extortion plot.  —  Birkitt, Letterman's former assistant who has made several appearances on the …
RELATED:
TMZ.com:
Woman in Letterman Case Lived with Suspect  —  One of the women at the center of the David Letterman alleged extortion case is Stephanie Birkitt, his former assistant — according to the search warrant obtained by FOX 5 New York.  And, the warrant says, Birkitt was the suspect's girlfriend …
Discussion: Salon, Jezebel, Yeeeah!, Gawker and iVillage
TMZ.com:
Letterman Says Someone's Extorting Him  —  SECOND UPDATE: 11:58 PM ET TMZ has learned the identity of the alleged extortionist who was arrested today for attempted grand larceny in the first degree.  He is 51-year-old Robert “Joe” Halderman who lives in Norwalk, CT.
Michelle Tauber / People.com:
Details of Letterman Blackmail Plot Revealed  —  New details have emerged about the alleged $2 million extortion plot against David Letterman.  —  In a press conference held by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau Friday morning, prosecutors identified the suspect in the plot …
TMZ.com:
Dave's Alleged Extortionist Busted Outside CBS  —  We've learned Robert “Joe” Halderman was arrested yesterday outside the CBS headquarters in NYC, and it was news to the people inside who make the news.  —  Our sources say the Manhattan D.A. played the investigation close to the vest …
Discussion: FishBowlLA and Speakeasy
David Bauder / The Huffington Post:
Robert Halderman: David Letterman's Alleged EXTORTIONIST  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  NEW YORK — A CBS News employee is accused of trying to extort $2 million from David Letterman, forcing the late-night host to admit in an extraordinary monologue before millions of viewers that he had sexual relationships with female employees.
TMZ.com:
Dave's Alleged Extortionist's Child Support Woes  —  Robert “Joe” Halderman — the man accused of trying to extort David Letterman out of $2 million — had to pay a pretty penny in child support, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.  —  According to the divorce settlement agreement …
RADAR:
EXCLUSIVE DETAILS: The Woman At Center Of Letterman Extortion Plot  —  Stephanie Birkitt, the woman used by Robert Halderman without her knowledge at the center of the David Letterman extortion plot, met Halderman at CBS about 15 years ago, a source close to the situation tells RadarOnline.com exclusively.
Discussion: Extra
Popeater:
Hotel Sting Operation Brought Down Letterman Extortion Plot
Discussion: D*ana's Dirt
RELATED:
Cindy Crawford / Us Weekly:
Kate Gosselin's Lawyer: Jon Can't Stop Reality Show  —  A lawyer for Kate Gosselin says her estranged husband Jon won't have much luck halting production of the TLC show, Kate Plus 8.  —  “These parties entered into an agreement once the divorce action was filed that allowed each parent …
TMZ.com:
Kanye West — They're Just Not That Into You  —  If Kanye West doesn't regret hijacking Taylor Swift, he will now — we're told his concert tour with Lady Gaga was scrapped because ticket sales sucked.  And “sucked” happens to be a nicer version of the word we were told.
RELATED:
Natalie Finn / E! Online:
Did Video (Music Awards) Kill the Lady Gaga-Kanye West Tour?
Discussion: Allie Is Wired! and Popeater
Just Jared:   Lady Gaga's Bad Romance on SNL
Daniel Kreps / Rolling Stone:
Lady Gaga, Kanye West's “Fame Kills” Tour Killed By Poor Sales?
Discussion: Queerty, Perez Hilton and GagaDaily.com
Reagan Alexander / People.com:
Lauren Conrad Admits She's One Bad Actress  —  Though her days of battling Kristen Cavallari and Speidi in the realm of reality TV are officially behind her, no way is Lauren Conrad headed for the unemployment line.  But she doesn't expect to run up the aisle to collect an Oscar, either.
RELATED:
X17 Online:
Lauren Conrad Promotes...Lauren Conrad!
Discussion: omg!
David Letterman / New York Post:
Names to watch  —  Britney Spearshas been traveling under a number of aliases over the years.  —  Steve Dennisreveals in a new biography, “Britney: Inside the Dream,” that her favorite fake names include Ms. Alotta Warmheart, “because she had such a warm heart”; Mrs. Diana Prince in honor of Diana …
Just Jared:
Kim Kardashian Covers ‘Cosmopolitan’ November 2009  —  Kim Kardashian takes the November 2009 cover of Cosmopolitan, on stands October 13th.  Here's what the 28-year-old sexy reality starlet dished on:  —  On dating: “I've learned what I'd need to do to balance a career and family.
RELATED:
Julie Naughton / The latest WWD:
Kim Kardashian Discusses First Scent
Shanel Odum / Honey Magazine:
Solo in the City  —  Whenever I'm asked to define today's Honey girl, my quick, canned response is: “We're more Solange, than Beyonce.”  Now don't get me wrong, Honey hearts Queen Bey (the supernova keeps us perpetually entertained and inspired) but we tend to identify with the 23-year-old rebel …
OK! Magazine:
Snoop Dogg's Bling Causes Airport Scare  —  Note to Snoop Dogg: Don't wear anything that looks like a weapon when you're going through airport security.  The rapper was in the dogg house this week after airport officials in Beirut confiscated his bullet-shaped bling.
Discussion: ImNotObsessed.com and Perez Hilton
 
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 More News: 
Michael Ausiello / The Ausiello Files:
‘HIMYM’ exclusive: Rachel Bilson cast as you-know-who?!
Marc Graser / Variety:
Spooky haunts family audiences
Discussion: MTV Movies Blog and The Playlist
Courtney Hazlett / msnbc.com:
Jon Gosselin: In search of large paydays
Discussion: Perez Hilton and Us Weekly
PEOPLE TV Watch:
EXCLUSIVE LOOK: Tyra Banks Channels Josephine Baker on Gossip Girl
Discussion: Dlisted and Best Week Ever
 Earlier Picks: 
Baz Bamigboye / Daily Mail:
Coming to a screen near you, Harry the movie star
Discussion: Dlisted and PopSugar UK
msnbc.com:
Networks encouraging boycott of ‘Leno Show’?
Discussion: Lifeline Live
 

 
From Mediagazer:

Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
Jason Cowley, the editor-in-chief of UK magazine the New Statesman, is stepping down from the position at the end of December after 16 years

The New York Times Company:
The New York Times names Dick Stevenson as Washington bureau chief; Stevenson has been at the paper for nearly 40 years and Washington editor since 2021

Ayodeji Rotinwa / Columbia Journalism Review:
A look at the Agora Center for Research, a Ugandan newsroom sitting between activism and investigative reporting, posting its work on various social media sites

 
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