Jared Paul Stern
PER
Jared Paul Stern Stern
Jared Paul Stern has been in New York newspapers for 12 years, most of them working for Richard Johnson. Mr. Stern uses some of Mr. Johnson's relationships as examples of what he called "the right approach, because it's a pretty complicated business." There is nothing illegal, or even particularly rare, about the relationships that Mr. Stern brings up; the muddying of the line between gossip and public relations, subject and comrade, is a longtime tradition in various corners of the industry. Mr. Stern's statements on the recordings suggest he believed that forming a relationship with journalists is smart business for a public figure. There is a big difference between muddying journalistic lines and asking for cash in return for favorable coverage, or no coverage at all. Jared Paul Stern has been in New York newspapers for 12 years, most of them working for Richard Johnson, the editor of the Page Six gossip column at The New York Post. Mr. Stern has been accused of trying to shake down a billionaire for $220,000. In recordings made by the billionaire, Ronald W. Burkle, Mr. Stern uses some of Mr. Johnson's relationships as examples. There is nothing illegal about the relationships that Mr. Stern brings up the muddying of the line between gossip and public relations, subject, and comrade is a longtime tradition in various corners of the industry. In a statement, Mr. Tacopina who is Mr. Stern's lawyer said has been the victim of a fallacious smear campaign, expects him to be fully exonerated and reinstated. Mr. Burkle, claims that Mr. Stern offered to influence coverage of him in the column in exchange for $220,000.