well, the media industry is a-buzz with great news. cnn is trying to get trashier headlines and news stories to boost ratings and compete with fox. the wsj has color pics and a new format, while nyt has added a new section – both papers borrowing from the other’s style. the weather channel is looking to get anchors with no weather experience, just lots of “personality”. and now kelly ripa, of regis and kelly, has begun her own book club in the wake of oprah’s book club disappearance, and the huge, gaping, money-making market that is just waiting to be filled. o dear. here is what she said about the club’s format and book choice:

”I hate books that make me feel stupid, which I guess knocks off 50% of all books out there,” Ripa quipped after her show Monday. ”People like escapist programming and escapist works of literature. There’s too much reality in the world today. If I want to read something with meaning, I’ll read a newspaper. But when I read a book, I want it to be fun, meaning I don’t want it to better me in some way…I always judge a book by its cover, and with this one, I thought, ‘This looks interesting.”

Johnson, Peter. USA Today. Week of 4/28/02. 3D.