Editor Of Murdoch’s ‘The Daily’: ‘Egypt Is Over,’ Find Me Something ‘Awesome’ Like ‘The Oldest Dog In America’

Earlier this month, News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch unveiled the iPad-only news publication “The Daily.” “This pioneering digital venture…establishes an entirely new category of delivery and consumption,” Murdoch said, adding, “I am especially proud that we have done so by building on News Corporation’s decades-old legacy of exceptional journalism.” So how is The Daily living up to those expectations? New York Magazine’s Daily Intel reports on a memo The Daily editor-in-chief Jesse Angelo sent to his editorial team telling them that “Egypt is over” (it’s not, actually) and advising that they go out and get some more newsworthy stories:

Folks, Egypt is over – time for us to get focused on covering America. We need to get out there and start finding more compelling stories from around the country – not just scraping the web and the wires, but getting out on the ground and reporting.

Find me an amazing human story at a trial the rest of the media is missing. Find me a school district where the battle over reform is being fought and tell the human tales. Find a town that is going to be unincorporated because it’s broke. Find me a story of corruption and malfeasance in a state capitol that no one has found. Find me something new, different, exclusive and awesome. Find me the oldest dog in America, or the richest man in South Dakota. Force the new White House press secretary to download The Daily for the first time because everyone at the gaggle is asking about a story we broke. Get in front of a story and make it ours – force the rest of the media to follow us.

It’s good stories that will keep people coming back to The Daily – we’ve assembled a crack news team, so let’s show the world what we can do.

A quick note to The Daily’s “sexy” new reporters like Jon Ward who are getting ready to hit the pavement: The “oldest dog” story has been done — more than once, and as recently as last month.

 
UPDATE:

Via ThinkProgress's twitter feed:

Note to enterprising @daily reporters: America's oldest dog is Uncle Chi Chi. He lives in the West Village. http://thkpr.gs/gC2T7N