As the Globe turns

Tales from the naked newsroom

Media by Dan Kennedy

With apologies to the Boston Herald's "Inside Track," we offer tales from the Naked Newsroom -- that seething miasma of intrigue known as the Boston Globe.

Speculation that editor Matt Storin may leave continues to run high. Our spies say that 135 Morrissey Boulevard was abuzz with rumors recently that Storin had asked for some empty boxes to be sent up to his office, but a few discreet peeks revealed no activity. In fact, better-informed sources report that Storin is heavily involved in new publisher Richard Gilman's strategic-planning efforts, and has given executive editor Helen Donovan more day-to-day authority in running the paper. No one would exactly be shocked if Storin left, since Gilman may eventually want someone of his own choosing to be editor. But the smart money says that, a year from now, Storin will still be in charge . . .

There's discontent in Living/Arts, where a shift will soon be made in the "Names and Faces" gossip column. Temp staffer Carol Beggy will reportedly be cut loose, to be replaced by staffer Jim Sullivan, a move that perplexes fans of Sullivan's pop-music writing. (Sullivan is on vacation and could not be reached for comment.) The other "Names and Faces" writer, Beth Carney, will remain . . .

Investigative reporter Jonathan Wells, who worked at the Herald in the '80s before departing for CBS's 60 Minutes, is back in Boston -- and has returned to the Herald as a reporter/editor after being unable to hammer out a deal with the Globe. Not only is the move a coup for the Herald, but it leaves some at the Globe wondering why management didn't do more to sign a valuable free agent. After all, this is the newspaper biz, not sports, and the Globe wouldn't even have had to give up a draft choice . . .

Insiders say Richard Gilman eventually hopes for a net circulation gain of 20,000 from the Saturday "bulldog" edition of the Sunday Globe. Which raises a question: how many of those 20,000 will be canceled out if the great Peter Gammons -- currently negotiating a new contract with ESPN -- stops writing his massive baseball column?