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Jill Ishkanian is the ex-senior reporter in Los Angeles who quit US Weekly to form Sunset Photo and News and was accused last year of breaking into the magazine's editing system to gather celebrity news tips. Now she has sued Jann Wenner, editor Janice Min and former West Coast editor Ken Baker for damaging her reputation and she seeks $55 million in return. The suit, detailed at Jossip.com, accuses Baker of hiring based on sexual favors and the shortness of women's skirts, sex talk with his child's nanny and hiring her as a contract reporter, threatening to destroy Ishkanian, and some questionable journalism such as urging staffers to date paparazzi and volunteer at Cedars to collect dirt on celebs. Also this:
75. On or about July 2005 BAKER entered JILL ISHKANIAN’s office, closed the door and began to cry. During this conversation BAKER used up all of JILL ISHKANIAN’s Kleenex to wipe his eyes and runny nose.76. During this conversation BAKER explained to JILL ISHKANIAN a story was going to be published in an online media watchdog blog stating he hired female staffers based upon the shortness of their skirts and what they were willing to do for him sexually.
77. BAKER asked JILL ISHKANIAN if she would lie on his behalf to anyone who inquired about BAKER’s sexual activities in the Us WEEKLY office in general and also about the online media watchdog blog story in particular. JILL ISHKANIAN refused BAKER’s request to lie on his behalf.
Other good stuff: US Weekly got the scoop on Britney Spears' first birth by using radio scanners to eavesdrop on her security team. Haven't seen a response from Baker anywhere, but Jossip says today he is expected to be bounced to a diminished role at the magazine. Remember his last book and the ones before that?