On the other hand, i just came across a particularly egregious example of the New Yorker's ridiculous attribution-structure policy:
"It's just absolutely out there, surreal and brilliant," the actress Helen Mirren, whose husband, Taylor Hackford, directed the film, said. (in the John Lahr profile of AL Pacino in the Sept. 15 issue.)
Actually introducing a whole other person forces the reader top stop and think -- wait, who said this, Helen or Taylor?
Any other publication would have used the much clearer "said the actress Helen Mirren, whose husband ..." What is the NY's problem with that?