Behind Closed Doors At The Source Magazine

[eminemcaparica]

In this exclusive SOHH.com story, former writers speak about The Source's unprofessional business practices and failure to pay, insiders talk of the mag's hostile work environment and Ego Trip's Sacha Jenkins claps back at The Source's recent attack with a defamation lawsuit.

After publicly sparring with Eminem, an ongoing feud with rival XXL, and fallout among key staffers, the sure footing The Source has enjoyed for the last sixteen years could be in danger. The self-proclaimed "hip-hop bible" is facing financial stress on two fronts with XXL Magazine coming for their #1 spot at newsstandsand the loss of advertising support by heavyweight label Interscope Records - a substantial and steady revenue stream estimated at more than $1.2 million per year. Meanwhile, the magazine is facing its most serious threat from lawsuits - including filings in 2004 by several companies for over $1.3 million owed and recently by former writers for thousands in unpaid invoices.

Nearly a year-and-a-half after submitting an article to The Source, one former writer is still attempting to be compensated for his work. He says the editors he reported to screen their calls and avoid freelancers. After receiving the run-around one to many times, he recently took the publication to small claims court.

"I'm owed a total of $600 -- $200 [of which] is a kill fee for a profile that was assigned in October 2003," the former writer told SOHH.com under anonymity. An editor assigned the story, had me do a revision, then they killed it because -- according to the assigning editor -- the person being profiled was associated with a record label/clothing line owner, who by that time had pulled all their ads from the magazine. Twice, the editor lied to me and told me the check was sent. The last time I got a response from him, he e-mailed me saying the magazine, 'does not have money to pay writers right now.'" "I've saved almost every e-mail I've sent to them and I still have my original contracts so that's when I decided to take the issue to small claims."

Another unpaid writer discussed with SOHH.com the mass exodus at The Source and believes the company is close to bankruptcy.

"[I'm owed] over $3000 for invoices that are 3 months to a year old. I got a check from them in December 2003 that bounced and it took them months to repay me for the bounced check. I've contacted nearly a dozen people about payment, and most of them have since quit or been laid off. I heard they're down to about 15 employees," the writer told SOHH.com exclusively. "I know of an editor that quit because he didn't get paid," the writer revealed. "It's only a matter of time until they file bankruptcy."

Indeed, employee turnover at The Source is high. The mag has seen several of its key personnel depart over the last 6 months. Among them are Chris White (Publisher), Jeremy Miller (COO), Michelle Joyce (VP of Marketing), Tracii McGregor (VP of Content & Communications), Kim Osorio (Editor-in-Chief), Adila Francis (Managing Editor), Jonathan "Gotti" Bonanno (Music Editor/ Unsigned Hype), Boo Rosario (Music Writer), and Tory Fredericks (Asst. Music Editor) to name a few ex-staffers.

One possible reason for the turnover, an insider revealed to SOHH.com, is "a hostile work environment" at the magazine's Park Avenue offices. Employees are reportedly forced to hide their musical interests and participate in hateful smear campaigns or lose their jobs.

"No one is allowed to listen to Eminem's music in the office. It's a huge interoffice joke," a Source insider revealed to SOHH.com. "People turn off the radio or close their doors whenever Benzino is around. Benzino threatens editors and writers with being fired whenever there's resistance to bashing particular artists."

Several former employees were recent recipients of a bashing in The Source's November 2004 issue. In a sidebar article entitled "Ex-Men," (p. 92) former Source employees including current XXL Magazine Editor-In-Chief Elliot Wilson, Vibe Magazine Editor-In-Chief, Mimi Valdes and former Editor-in-Chief Selwyn Hinds are chastised and ridiculed. Before he was Editor-In-Chief of XXL, he spent 1997-1999 as the Music Editor here. Nowadays, he hides in his office and dedicates much of his time to beefing with The Source, cuddling with Interscope, and writing annoying house edit letters," the article writes of Elliot Wilson. Wilson, who was physically threatened by Benzino in June 2003 over a disparaging caricature in XXL declined to comment to SOHH.com about the recent slight.

But one Source target is not only commenting -- he is taking the publication to court for defamation.

"This senior writer at XXL was a former contributor and is now in cahoots with Elliot Wilson," the "Ex-Men" feature states of journalist Sacha Jenkins of Ego Trip fame. "He was...doing a story on Dave Mays and Ray Benzino for Spin Magazine. Mysteriously, the story was never published."

Jenkins doesn't dispute that he did indeed interview Mays and Benzino for Spin, but contends that The Source has targeted him over a minor issue.

"They spent time with me and were very gracious for that," Sacha told SOHH.com. "But sometimes in publishing, pieces don't always run. Typically rappers or people get angry when you do a story they're dissatisfied with... but I've never experienced anyone taking issue because a story didn't run."

And Jenkins goes on to vehemently deny the article's assertion that he is a former contributor to The Source. In fact, Jenkins is now pursuing a defamation lawsuit against The Source, filed February 14, 2005 in Manhattan.

"I have never in my life written or edited for The Source and I take offense to them saying that I in any way owe my career to them," Sacha told SOHH.com. "What's insulting is that the piece is about the history of Hip-Hop journalism and sadly, The Source doesn't even have enough sense to fact-check their own history."

Sacha Jenkin's defamation suit may be the least of The Source's mounting financial woes. If reports of their current state are accurate, the veteran hip-hop publication could be forced into bankruptcy - with or without their cooperation. US Bankruptcy law would allow The Source Enterprises to seek protection from their creditors under Chapter 7 liquidation or Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings. In a more malicious format, the magazine's creditors could force them into involuntary bankruptcy proceedings. Either way, unsecured creditors like the former writers would be paid last, if at all. And either way, everyone loses - especially the hip-hop community that would suffer a tremendous setback after 16 years of hard won gains.

[braindamag00]

wow benzino is a real muthafucka.

[B.A.D.]

what a fag