Hollywood Senior entertainment journalist Nikki Finke is the founder of the entertainment website Deadline. She often has first-hand information and scoops. She has once opposed tycoons. Her sharp pen makes her one of the most terrifying columnists in the entertainment industry. On October 9, Fink's family and friends announced her death, saying that she was "long-term illness", but did not mention the specific cause of death, at the age of 68.
News "The Seclusion"
In 2002, Fink began writing a Deadline Hollywood column for Los Angeles Weekly, making it a must-have reading for gossip and entertainment news. Four years later, she officially launched the website Deadline.
On Deadline, Fink released the first-hand information about the entertainment industry that she saw, from revealing who will host the Oscars, introducing transactions between celebrities and brokers, and then interpreting industry high-level news in detail. Whenever her previous scoop was proven to be accurate, she would add a sentence "TOLDJA!" when she updated the article ("Tell you!")
Fink's sharp style made her establish many enemies in Hollywood. However, her exclusive coverage proves that she has considerable influence among industry executives, brokers and public relations staff. She has slammed industry leaders such as Universal Pictures’ Marc Shmuger and NBC’s Ben Silverman until they eventually lost their jobs. In 2010, Forbes magazine listed Fink as one of the "most authoritative women in the world." Fenders are not shy about the most popular stars and the most powerful producers, and refuses to soften his approach. In 2015, she told " New York Times ": "I mean, they play roughly, and I have to play roughly, too."
Unlike entertainment journalists who often run the red carpet, Fink is a "recessor" who mainly does her job in the apartment. In 2009, Gawker's website even offered $1,000 for one of her recent photos. "That's what makes me amazing," Fink said in an interview with MarketWatch. "I care about what's going on in the conference room, not the celebrities themselves."
"Rough and Real"
In 2009, Deadline was acquired by Jay Penske, whose company later acquired Variety and Hollywood Reporter. Fink often quarrels with Pensker, especially after the latter acquired Deadline's rival. After months of public quarrel, Fink left Deadline in 2013 but still served as a consultant to the website under contract. "He tried to buy my silence," Fink wrote at the time, "not to sell."
"At her best, Fink embodies the spirit of journalism, she never fears telling the hard truth with a sharp style and difficult arguments. She is rough and true," Penske said in a statement. "It has never been easy to be with Fink, but she will always be one of the most memorable people in my life."
▲Deadline posted the news about Fink's death.
After leaving Deadline, Fink participated in various projects, but never returned to entertainment journalism. The agreement she signed with Penske reportedly prohibited her from covering Hollywood within a decade of her departure. In 2015, Fink launched HollywoodDementia, a website dedicated to fictional stories about Hollywood. “There are a lot of truths in fiction stories,” she told Time. “There are some things I can’t tell in the coverage right now that I can tell in fiction stories.”
One time in an interview with Vulture, Fink reviewed his career and reputation. "I'm a very old-school journalist," she said. "I think you want to make comfortable people uncomfortable, that's all about doing it."
Growth experience
Fink was born on December 16, 1953 and grew up on Long Island, New York. She has a sister and her father founded a lamp company.
Fink's parents often traveled with their sisters since childhood.In a 2005 article for The New York Times, Fink recalls that her mother was obsessed with attractions in Europe and often stayed in the best hotels when traveling. "In her opinion, travel is a privilege and cannot be wasted because of being stingy." She added: "When I asked to take me to Disney to see Cinderella's castle, my mother replied, 'Since you've seen a real castle, why do you still have to see a fake castle?'"
▲Fink's old photo.
After graduating from Wellesley College, Fink married Jeffrey Greenberg and started a career in journalism. The marriage ended in divorce, and Fink served as a reporter for Associated Press , Newsweek , LA Times, New York Post and NEW YORK Observer. In 2011, HBO had a comedy "Tilda" adapted from the image of Fink, and actor Diane Keaton (Diane Keaton) played a hermit reporter named Tilda.
"Believe me, I never intended to let Deadline or myself be the focus of controversy," Fink wrote in his 2016 Deadline's 10th anniversary article. "Instead, I was following the advice of my mentor, legendary editor Peter Kaplan, who repeatedly told me: 1. When you are angry, you are the best; 2. Write what you really know; 3. Tell the truth about Hollywood. ”
News source: Deadline, Washington Post, New York Times, pictures are from the Internet
iWeekly exclusive article of the weekend pictorial. Please do not reprint
