The boss you wouldn't want

Well, at least if you have been working for THR. Advertising man Richard Beckman will be running the place, and judging from this Q&A in Daily Front Row, he seems like the perfect Hollywood fit. Hint: His nickname is Mad Dog.

The Hollywood Reporter has seen better days. How do you plan to fix it?

By turning it into the most interesting media ­vehicle that covers the entertainment business. I want to create a product that is the crack--the drug crack--of the industry, whether it's digitally or in print. I just ask that they be ­patient with us while we do it.

How's it going so far?

Let's say there's a good part and a bad part about taking over a poorly run business. The good part is you get to look around and see people who ­clearly aren't doing their jobs so ­terrifically--that haven't had good leadership, that are unimaginative, that have had a parent company that hasn't invested or believed in the business--and think, This is great! I can make something really spectacular out of this. The bad part is getting there--the minutiae of laying pipe, hiring the right people, and evaluating what the brand is ready to be. It's some heavy lifting.