OK! MAGAZINE SCORES MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY'S BABY PICS: Plus, Inside the World of Buying Celebrity Baby Photos

Here’s the good news for OK! Magazine.

It scored another “credibility-building” cover with these exclusive baby photos.

And, the advertising community will continue to take notice.

Here’s the bad news.

Women LOVE Matthew McConaughey – and I’m not sure that they want to buy him as a guy with a girlfriend and a baby.

They like him single so they can dream about being with him.

On another note, this cover represents how competitive the celebrity weekly space is. Buying photos is the only way for the mags to distinguish themselves on a week-to-week basis.

I’m still waiting to see who gets the biggest set of the year – Brad & Angelina’s twins.

Speaking of which – I can’t believe this is happening! I just got a transcript. This can’t be real.

EIC: I just got a call from Matthew McConaughey’s rep and they’d like to offer us the photos.

Money Guy: How much do they want?

EIC: He said three million dollars.

Money Guy: Do you think it’s worth it?

EIC: Yes. What do you think?

Money Guy: You’re the editor. You tell me.

EIC: Well, I think so. You said we should be going after exclusive baby photos. And, Matthew McConaughey is popular.

Money Guy: Well, it’s your decision.

EIC: What do you mean it’s my decision.

Money Guy: You’re the editor. Remember what I always told you. If the magazine is a success, the editor takes all the credit. If the magazine is a total failure, you’re out of here.

EIC: But you always said we were in this together. That we’re a team.

Money Guy: (Silence)

EIC: Umm. (Inside her head: I’m really pissed right now. He’s always said that we should invest in the magazine. We’re a new title. We should get these pictures. Fuck it. I’m going to buy these pictures. At this point, I’m so beaten down by this ass that I’ll buy the pictures. I know this is not a rationale way to make a decision, but I’m so tired of THIS CRAP. I’ve had it. Really, I’ve had it.)

Money Guy: So what are you going to do?

EIC: (Cracking a smile) I’m going to buy them. (EIC walks back into the newsroom and announces her decision.) Team, I have good news. We have secured the Matthew McConaughey pictures.

Team: Woohoo

(The above transcript was not real. It was meant to show you how a photo negotiation could happen inside the world of a celebrity weekly.)

Posted by: Mark Pasetsky