By: Jennifer Saba The editorial staff of the New York Daily News should get ready for their close ups.
The daily tab will be the subject of a new reality program (all typing, all day) produced by Bravo and Hearst Entertainment appropriately called, ?The Daily News.? Six one-hour episodes are slated to air on Bravo in late 2005 or early 2006.
"Nobody has done a dramatic series set in the [journalism] field," said Bruce Paisner, president of Hearst Entertainment.
As for why the Daily News is the newspaper of choice: It's located in a major metropolitan area and it's locked in a newspaper battle with arch rival tab, the New York Post.
"No, we didn't go to the Post," confirmed Paisner, adding the Daily News was their top choice.
Filming begins in a month. Cameras will trail editors, reporters, and photographers. "Against a backdrop of a vicious tabloid war with a competing paper and the unrelenting deadlines that are a part of their world, each character will battle for stories while trying to keep a handle on their personal lives," said a gasping release.
Daily News Spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said that participation is voluntary. "Most people we approached are very interested in doing this," she said adding that about 10% of the newsroom declined to take part.
The deal has been in the works for about a year. A pilot was filmed before the Christmas holidays that required 8 to 9 days worth of shooting.
"We believe this is a production team with great respect for the newsroom," Murphy said as to why the Daily News agreed to the stint. The financial arrangement between the producers and the Daily News entails ancillary income -- anything made from the sale of potential merchandise or products.
This is not the first reality program that uses the newsroom -- and, yes, the series will revolve mostly around editorial -- as a backdrop. In September, Blue Chip Films and CABLEready announced they were shopping a reality series called ?Deadline @ The Philadelphia Inquirer.? Sources close to the show say the idea is still being pitched.
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