For those who don't live in NYC: The New York Observer is not a real newspaper in the sense that you think of it. It's essentially a snotty gossip rag in newspaper format, published specifically for the media elites of Manhattan. In fact, if you live in the "correct" apartment buildings in Manhattan, you get it delivered for free whether you want it or not, and a very large percentage of its mail subscribers also get it without paying. The main reason it exists is so that the very wealthy publisher gets invited to all the good parties, because owning a "newspaper" makes him a "player."
In other words, it's precisely the sort of publication that would most want to destroy the reputations of anyone or anything involved in the blogosphere or otherwise involved in the ongoing challenge of the NYC news media monopoly.
Ten years ago, it used to be said that the Observer had never made a dime of profit. I don't know if that's still the case, but I wouldn't be surprised.
In other words, it's precisely the sort of publication that would most want to destroy the reputations of anyone or anything involved in the blogosphere or otherwise involved in the ongoing challenge of the NYC news media monopoly. Exactly. And there's a reason Dan Rather gave an interview to them, and not, say, the Post. Because he's speaking to his constituency.