WSJ.com starts new culture blog

The Wall Street Journal Online has launched Speakeasy, a new culture blog designed to enhance the site’s Arts & Entertainment coverage.

Speakeasy provides reporting from the Journal and aggregation and commentary for what’s happening each day at the confluence of media, celebrity, arts and entertainment. The blog is available to all users and is written by WSJ.com arts and entertainment editor Richard Turner and Journal reporters Rebecca Dana and Michelle Kung, along with contributions from Journal staff around the world.

“Speakeasy has the genetic makeup of The Wall Street Journal: its journalistic standards, global resources, deep reporting and access to the juiciest stories, all that stuff — so in that sense it’s a child of the Journal,” said Turner in a statement. “But this particular kid got kicked out of school a couple of times and has authority issues. Smart and funny, though, we hope, and good company. We’re trying to create an after-hours joint, but also open during office hours, of course.”

In addition, WSJ.com will shortly provide readers with the ability to search for free through nearly 15 years of Wall Street Journal film editor Joe Morgenstern‘s movie reviews, including by director, actor or film title.

Read more here.