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The current Rolling Stone offers an image of Heath Ledger, barefoot, floating Jesus-like on water--and a cover line touting "Famous Failures Back in the Real World." The magazine isn't referring to Ledger's Oscar loss for best actor or Brokeback Mountain's best-picture defeat, but to an inside piece on American Idol.

According to a Wenner Media source, the magazine was scheduled to put the American Idol piece on the cover, but boss Jann Wenner decided to switch to Ledger just before Friday's close. "He pulled it for Heath," the source said.

The Oscar voters many not have agreed with the last-minute decision. But Wenner--who knows his way around the movie's emotional terrain--has been a big fan of the cowboy-and-cowboy movie all along, according to Wenner Media sources. In a December 1 review, Rolling Stone film critic Peter Travers gave the movie four stars. "Ledger's magnificent performance is an acting miracle," Travers wrote. "He seems to tear it from his insides."

A Wenner source said Jann has also tried to pressure Us Weekly to cover Brokeback stars Ledger and wife Michelle Williams in the magazine.

--Gabriel Sherman

Jann Wenner has plugged one of the gaping holes of his Men's Journal clipper. While publisher Carlos Lamadrid jumped overboard yesterday, Wenner gets one in the W column today with the announcement that Tom Foster is Men's Journal's new editor in chief. Foster is now the fourth editor in five years to run the magazine and replaces Michael Caruso who walked out last month. Foster decamped from Men's Journal earlier this year to be senior features editor at Men's Health and Best Life, and returns to Men's Journal after Wenner struggled publicly to fill the top spot. The official release follows: WENNER MEDIA NAMES TOM FOSTER EDITOR OF MEN'S JOURNAL November 1, 2005 -- Wenner Media Chairman Jann Wenner announced today that Tom Foster has been named editor of Men's Journal. Foster spent five years with Men's Journal from 2000 to 2005 and was instrumental in defining the magazine's editorial focus on adventure. As deputy editor of the magazine, Foster edited features by award-winning writers such as Hampton Sides, Rick Bragg, Rick Telander, Mark Levine, and Jonathan Miles. Foster's work on two separate articles by Hampton Sides ("The First to Die," in 2003, and " The Survivors," in 2004) resulted in them becoming finalists for national magazine awards for feature writing. He also developed several of the magazine's perennial top-selling cover franchises, such as "50 Best Places to Live." "Tom Foster's fresh ideas, creativity, and dedication to exceptional journalism, as well as his experience with the magazine, makes him the perfect choice for this position," said Jann Wenner. "This is something of a homecoming for me," said Foster. "I'm thrilled to be back, especially at such a high point in the magazine's history. Men's Journal has always been a home for great writing and essential service to help men live the most exciting lives they can, and that's what it will continue to be." Foster earned a Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of Missouri in 2000. He most recently worked as features editor at Men's Health and Best Life. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.  read more »

Us Weekly editor Janice Min and Wenner Media agree on what she should be paid: $1.2 million per year, according to a source familiar with Min's contract negotiations. But they don't agree about what she can serve for lunch.

Owing to an impasse over staff perks--including catered meals--Min's contract expired last week before a new one could be signed. Though the New York Post reported last month that the two sides had settled on a deal, Min is now a free agent.

So if your publication needs punchier cover lines, try meeting Min's price--and bringing some cold cuts. On July 4, Whole Foods delivered lunchtime sandwiches to Us staffers who were spending the nation's birthday at the office. The workers also got catered breakfast and dinner. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, Min wants make such holiday meals a permanent perk at the magazine. She also wants to fill three currently vacant staff positions and to allow staffers to expense cab rides home after 9 p.m.

This is Min's first contract negotiation since she moved atop the masthead in 2003, after Bonnie Fuller decamped to American Media. Circulation is up nearly 13 percent under Min, and revenue shot up by 59 percent last year.

Min declined to comment. Wenner Media, though declining to discuss terms of Min's contract, said they have offered their award-winning editor a generous package.

"More than anyone," said Kent Brownridge, Wenner's general manager, "we believe Janice is one of the best and most valuable editors in the world. And we very much want to keep her. We have done everything necessary to keep her interested in staying at Wenner for a really long time."  read more »

--Gabriel Sherman