HOLLYWOOD -- New York magazine media columnist Michael Wolff is ankling to join Vanity Fair as a contributing editor; he will write eight columns per year on the media business.
"Adding him to Vanity Fair's lineup of columnists, that includes Dominick Dunne, Christopher Hitchens and James Wolcott, creates a virtual Murderers' Row," said editor Graydon Carter.
When Primedia put New York up for sale last year, Wolff attempted to organize a group of investors to buy the magazine in hopes that he would lead its editorial staff. That consortium, which was led by New York Daily News owner Mort Zuckerman, lost out in the bidding to Wall Street financier Bruce Wasserstein.
After the bid failed, Wolff said he intended to stay in his post. After the Vanity Fair announcement, he said, "Not knowing what the new owners would do with the magazine, it made it an absolute no-brainer. I can look at Vanity Fair and can see exactly what to expect."
Wolff had been widely speculated to depart because his bid challenged the position of Caroline Miller, New York's editor.
But Wolff said Miller always supported his effort. Even if it meant losing her job to him?
"Even if it came to that -- in some sense yes," he said. "But I didn't want Caroline's job and wouldn't have taken it. The more interesting question is would there have been awkwardness with the new owners."
Wolff will continue to write for New York through February, covering the Martha Stewart securities trial. No decision has been made on whether New York will replace Wolff with another media columnist.
Contact the Variety newsroom at
news@variety.com