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June 16, 2007
PEOPLE CAVES TO PUBLICISTS
PEOPLE magazine bends over backward to land "exclusives," promising publicists kid-glove treatment for their clients. Yesterday, an insider told us that People.com was given first dibs on the story that Bon Jovi rocker Richie Sambora was being released from rehab only because the Website agreed to his publicist's demands. "Staffers were told Richie's people wanted a full story to run, not just the statement they sent," said the insider. Reporters were also told Sambora's people didn't want the magazine to say "rehab" or that "he was released," and that People was strictly instructed to use the word "treatment facility." Sure enough, minutes after Page Six learned of the demands, People.com posted the tale, which read, "Richie Sambora has left the Los Angeles treatment facility he entered last week, People has learned exclusively. 'Richie Sambora has completed a program at the UCLA Medical Center,' a Bon Jovi rep tells People." A spokesman for People told us, "We ran their statement and we are glad we broke the news first."
Posted by riesambo at June 16, 2007 06:03 AM