(Fake)Newsweek?

Once again, Stephen Colbert has blurred the lines between real news and “fake news”:

In the two weeks since Newsweek has redesigned, the magazine’s editors have sent out a statement that they intend to sever any and all connection to the turgid, dusty newsweekly of yore. And Jon Meacham, the magazine’s editor, is trying to recapture that age-old magazine editor’s trick for his newly conceived book: buzz.

For the next issue that hits newsstands on June 8, Comedy Central funnyman Stephen Colbert will be Newsweek’s guest editor, The Observer has learned.

Mr. Meacham said the idea was born from a lunch he had with Mr. Colbert at Gabriel’s near Columbus Circle.

“I was just very impressed with the range of his knowledge and he had an almost encyclopedic feel for anything that came up,” said Mr. Meacham. “As we think about ways to both inform and surprise readers of the magazine, the notion of having him as a guest editor seemed like a good one.”

It’s the first guest editor for Newsweek in its 76-year history.

Newsweek, like most print media, finds itself at a crossroad. Become relevant all over again, or face the possibility of extinction. They have redesigned, restrategized and recommitted (or so they say) themselves to the news product. Whether this is a gimmick to throw into that relevancy equation, and whether it will work, are matters that can be debated amongst yourselves.