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Nikki Jean Finke (December 16, 1953 – October 9, 2022) was an American blogger, journalist, publisher and writer. She also was the founder,
editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The editor-in-chief heads all departments of the organization and is held accoun ...
and president of ''
Deadline Hollywood ''Deadline Hollywood'', commonly known as ''Deadline'' and also referred to as ''Deadline.com'', is an online news site founded as the news blog ''Deadline Hollywood Daily'' by Nikki Finke in 2006. It is updated several times a day, with en ...
'', a website with original content consisting of reporting and commentary on the business of the
entertainment industry Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and Interest (emotion), interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but it is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have deve ...
by her and other
show business Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz or showbiz (since 1945), is a vernacular term for all aspects of the entertainment industry.''Oxford English Dictionary'' 2nd Ed. (1989) From the business side (including managers, agents, produce ...
journalists. She founded and was the chief executive officer of Hollywood Dementia LLC and its website, HollywoodDementia.com, for showbiz short fiction.


Early life

Finke was born at Doctors Hospital in
Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...
, New York City, on December 16, 1953, the younger of two daughters born to Jewish parents, Robert and Doris Finke. She was raised in the affluent village of
Sands Point, New York Sands Point is a Political subdivisions of New York State#Village, village located at the tip of the Cow Neck Peninsula in the North Hempstead, New York, Town of North Hempstead, in Nassau County, New York, Nassau County, on the North Shore (Long ...
, on
Long Island Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...
. Finke was educated at Buckley Country Day School and the Hewitt School, before attending
Wellesley College Wellesley College is a Private university, private Women's colleges in the United States, historically women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henr ...
,Mark Shanahan & Meredith Goldstein (February 25, 2010)
"Rapping it up: Matt keeps going"
, ''
Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...
''; accessed November 8, 2021.
where she studied political science and was the editor-in-chief of the college newspaper.


Career

Finke's first job after Wellesley was in New York congressman
Ed Koch Edward Irving Koch ( ; December 12, 1924February 1, 2013) was an American politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and was mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989. Koch was a lifelong Democrat who ...
's Washington, D.C. office. She decided to become a reporter after seeing how Koch and his staff would show deference to reporters. In 1975, Finke joined the
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
(AP) and covered Koch's successful 1977 New York City mayoral campaign. She then worked on the AP's foreign desk at the New York City headquarters, Baltimore, Boston, Moscow and London. Finke later worked for ''
The Dallas Morning News ''The Dallas Morning News'' is a daily newspaper serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas, with an average print circulation in 2022 of 65,369. It was founded on October 1, 1885, by Alfred Horatio Belo as a satellite publication of the ' ...
''. She joined the staff of ''
Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly news magazine based in New York City. Founded as a weekly print magazine in 1933, it was widely distributed during the 20th century and has had many notable editors-in-chief. It is currently co-owned by Dev P ...
'' as a correspondent in Washington and Los Angeles, then at the ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' as a staff writer, covering entertainment and features. Finke became the West Coast Editor for ''
The New York Observer ''The New York Observer'' was a weekly newspaper established in 1987. In 2016, it ceased print publication and became the online-only newspaper ''Observer''. The media site focuses on culture, real estate, media, politics and the entertainment ...
'', and then '' New York'', where she penned Hollywood business columns. She also wrote for ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', '' Vanity Fair'', ''
Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...
'', ''
Harper's Bazaar ''Harper's Bazaar'' (stylized as ''Harper's BAZAAR'') is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. Bazaar has been published in New York City since November 2, 1867, originally as a weekly publication entitled ''Harper's Bazar''."Corporat ...
'', ''
Elle Elle may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Elle (magazine), ''Elle'' (magazine), a fashion publication ** Elle Style Awards * Elle (India), ''Elle'' (India), the Indian edition * Elle (film), ''Elle'' (film), a 2016 French film * ''Elle: ...
'', ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'', ''
Salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides Cosmetics, cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, ...
'', ''
Premiere A premiere, also spelled première, (from , ) is the debut (first public presentation) of a work, i.e. play, film, dance, musical composition, or even a performer in that work. History Raymond F. Betts attributes the introduction of the ...
'' and ''
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
''. Finke joined the ''
New York Post The ''New York Post'' (''NY Post'') is an American Conservatism in the United States, conservative daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published in New York City. The ''Post'' also operates three online sites: NYPost. ...
'' in 2001, but was fired in early 2002, after she reported that The Walt Disney Company was destroying documents related to a licensing dispute. She then sued Disney and the ''Post'' for $10 million, alleging the companies had colluded to suppress coverage of the story; she received an out-of-court settlement. Afterward, ''
LA Weekly ''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. The paper covers music, arts, film, theater, culture, and other local news in the Los Angeles area. ''LA Weekly'' was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin (among others), ...
'' hired her and began running her column "Deadline Hollywood". In 2006, she began the ''Deadline'' (''Deadline Hollywood Daily'' until September 2009) blog as a daily online version of her weekly column. She described it as her "forum to break news about the
infotainment Infotainment (a portmanteau of ''information'' and ''entertainment''), also called soft news as a way to distinguish it from serious journalism or hard news, is a type of media, usually television or online, that provides a combination of inform ...
industry." ''The New York Times'' described Finke as "a digital-age
Walter Winchell Walter Winchell (April 7, 1897 – February 20, 1972) was a syndicated American newspaper gossip columnist and radio news commentator. Originally a vaudeville performer, Winchell began his newspaper career as a Broadway reporter, critic and c ...
" with an "in your face"Friedman, Jon (June 28, 2006)
In-your-face Finke keeps Hollywood honest.
MarketWatch ''MarketWatch'' is a website that provides financial information, business news, analysis, and stock market data. It is a subsidiary of Dow Jones & Company, a property of News Corp, along with ''The Wall Street Journal'' and '' Barron's.'' ...
writing style, who is "feared by
ollywood Odia cinema, also known as Ollywood, is the segment of Indian cinema, dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Odia language widely spoken in the state of Odisha. Odia Cinema is based in Cuttack in Odisha, India. The name Olly ...
executives".Carr, David.
A Hollywood Blogger Feared by Executives
" ''The New York Times'', July 17, 2009.
''Deadline'' became a key information portal during the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike, tripling her readership;Stetler, Brian (November 26, 2007)
Alternative Journalist’s Web Site Is Scrutinized for Writers’ Strike News.
''
New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''
Fixmer, Andy and Michael Janofsky (November 26, 2007)
'Toldja': Nikki Finke Has the Scoop on Hollywood Writers Strike.
Bloomberg.com
according to the ''Times'': "Finke’s Web site has become a critical forum for Hollywood...But it s thestrike that may have finally solidified her position as a Hollywood power broker". Finke claimed to have worked "almost around the clock" during the strike; in 2009, the ''Los Angeles Times'' noted her announcement of a five-day vacation.Rainey, James.
Being relentless and harsh pays off for Deadline Hollywood Daily's Nikki Finke
" ''Los Angeles Times'', July 15, 2009.
In 2008, Finke was named on ''Elles 25 most influential women in Hollywood list,Staff report (November 2008). 25 most influential women in Hollywood/ ''
Elle Elle may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Elle (magazine), ''Elle'' (magazine), a fashion publication ** Elle Style Awards * Elle (India), ''Elle'' (India), the Indian edition * Elle (film), ''Elle'' (film), a 2016 French film * ''Elle: ...
''
and to the ''
Heeb ''Heeb'' is an American Jews, Jewish website (and from 2001 to 2010, a quarterly magazine) aimed predominantly at young Jews. The name of the publication is a reference to the ethnic slur "heeb", an abbreviation of Hebrew. However, in this case ...
'' 100.Staff report (October 2008)
Heeb 100.
'' Heeb Magazine''
In 2009, she sold ''Deadline'' to Jay Penske's Mail.com Media Corp, reportedly for $14 million, under an agreement by which she would continue as the editor-in-chief and President of the website which would feature her reporting and commentary. On November 5, 2013, ''Deadline Hollywood'' announced Nikki Finke's departure. On June 12, 2014, she launched NikkiFinke.com. On August 3, 2015, she launched HollywoodDementia.com as a site for showbiz short fiction written by her and other insiders. ''The New York Times'' said: "Ms. Finke finds herself facing a daunting new chapter in her career: a plan to leave journalism and write and publish fiction about the entertainment industry". Finke said "There's a lot of truth in fiction", and added "There are things I am going to be able to say in fiction that I can’t say in journalism right now". On May 11, 2016, ''Deadline'' printed Finke's remembrance at how she founded ''Deadline Hollywood'' on the occasion of the website's ten-year anniversary. "When I started ''Deadline Hollywood Daily'', as it was called way back in 2006, I needed a quicker way to report breaking entertainment news than my weekly newspaper column. So I bought the URL DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com for 14 bucks and change. I didn’t set out to be a disruptor. Or an internet journalist who created something out of nothing that put the Hollywood trades back on their heels, and today, under Penske Media ownership, is a website worth $100+ million. Or a woman with brass balls, attitude and ruthless hustle, who told hard truths about the moguls and who accurately reported scoops first."


Reception

In 2006, Finke's ''LA Weekly'' columns won First Place in the Alternative Weekly Awards in the category of "Media Reporting/Criticism, Circulation >50,000".Finke's 'Deadline Hollywood' columns in ''LA Weekly'' win 2006 Alt-Weekly Award
.
In 2007, Finke won the Los Angeles Press Club's Southern California Journalism Award for "Entertainment Journalist of the Year", with the judges commenting: "Reading Nikki Finke’s salaciously candid coverage of Hollywood and its inhabitants almost feels like a guilty pleasure. She mixes the news with fearless finger-wagging that’s just fun to read no matter the subject. She tackles the industry monoliths without the kiddy gloves and she seems to have command of the beat." In the 2007 AltWeekly Awards, ''Deadline'' won Second Place.Altweekly Awards 2007
A studio executive said of Finke: "She's very, very, very, accurate, extraordinarily so—you have a supposedly private conversation with two other people, and it's on her site within an hour." Charlie Koones, former '' Variety'' publisher, called her a "once-in-a-generation talent". However, others questioned Finke's "harsh tone", "summary executions", "penchant for innuendo and unnamed
sources Source may refer to: Research * Historical document * Historical source * Source (intelligence) or sub source, typically a confidential provider of non open-source intelligence * Source (journalism), a person, publication, publishing institute ...
", and allegedly giving better coverage to "her favorites" and frequent sources, such as
Ari Emanuel Ariel Zev Parmar Emanuel (born March 29, 1961) is an American businessman and the CEO of Endeavor, an entertainment and media agency, as well as CEO and executive chairman of TKO Group Holdings, which owns the UFC and WWE. He was a founding ...
and Ronald Meyer. In 2008, she was criticized for first posting a Sony press release and then adding her own analysis which contradicted the release without updating the time stamp, and in early 2009, Finke was accused of retroactively altering a ''Deadline Hollywood Daily'' report about the director of the third ''Twilight'' film.Goldstein, Patrick.
Summit hires new 'Twilight' director, right? Wrong!
" ''Los Angeles Times'', March 12, 2009.


Personal life and death

In 1974, Finke became engaged to Jeffrey W. Greenberg. They were married from 1980 until their divorce in 1982. Finke's health declined in her later years, primarily from complications of
diabetes Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...
. She died at a hospice facility in
Boca Raton, Florida Boca Raton ( ; ) is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 97,422 in the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and it ranked as the 23rd-largest city in Florida in 2022. Many people with a Boca Raton Address, ...
, on October 9, 2022, aged 68.


See also

*
Film criticism Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films and the film medium. In general, film criticism can be divided into two categories: Academic criticism by film studies, film scholars, who study the composition of film theory and publish ...
* E-zines


References


External links

*
Hollywood Confidential: How ''L.A. Weekly's'' Nikki Finke Gives the Industry What it Deserves
''Los Angeles'' magazine * * Articles ** ** {{DEFAULTSORT:Finke, Nikki 1953 births 2022 deaths 20th-century American Jews 20th-century American women journalists 20th-century American journalists 20th-century American women writers 21st-century American Jews 21st-century American women journalists 21st-century American journalists 21st-century American women writers American bloggers American columnists American publishers (people) American women bloggers American women chief executives American women columnists Associated Press reporters Deaths from diabetes in Florida Jewish American journalists Journalists from New York City New York Post people People from Sands Point, New York Wellesley College alumni Writers from Manhattan