Things You Might Have Missed…

Earlier today, John Solomon via the Center for Public Integrity published an article that claims the FBI had a mole inside ABC News during the mid-1990s.  The piece suggests that one of the network’s top reporters identified a confidential source while acting as an informant for the Bureau during their investigation into the Oklahoma City bombing.  Gawker advanced the story this afternoon, declaring they’d identified the anonymous reporter as Chris Isham, now VP and Washington bureau chief for CBS News.

In a statement this evening, Isham fired back at Gawker, calling the allegations “outrageous and untrue” but admitted to running information by sources within the FBI for confirmation:

“The suggestion that I was an informant for the FBI is outrageous and untrue. Like every investigative reporter, my job for 25 years has been to check out information and tips from sources.  In the heat of the Oklahoma City bombing, it would not be unusual for me or any journalist to run information by a source within the FBI for confirmation or to notify authorities about a pending terrorist attack.  This is consistent with the policies at every news organization.  But at no time did I compromise a confidential source with the FBI or anyone else. Mr. Cannistraro was not a confidential source, but rather a colleague – a paid consultant to ABC News who had already spoken to the FBI about information he had received.”

The Oxford English Dictionary took a few steps forward yesterday in their apparent quest to destroy the English language with the addition of several new words.

Among the additions are “OMG” (oh my God), “LOL” (laugh out loud), and “FYI” (for your information). The internet slang terms join others already part of the dictionary, including “BFF” (best friends forever) and “TMI” (too much information). Though you’d think these words are fairly new to the English language as a result of the Internet, Oxford says otherwise:

“OED’s research has revealed some unexpected historical  perspectives: our first quotation for OMG is from a personal letter from 1917; the letters LOL had a previous life, starting in 1960, denoting an elderly woman (or ‘little old lady’; see LOL n./1); and the entry for FYI [FYI phr., adj., and n.], for example, shows it originated in the language of memoranda in 1941.”

Also added: “muffin top,” “couch surfing,” and “la-la land.” And, for the first time ever, a symbol makes it into the dictionary: the heart symbol.

So next time an editor tells you that you can’t use LOL in a story (*cough* Betsy *cough*), let them know you can. LOL.

Under the direction of John Solomon, former Executive Editor of TWT, the Center for Public Integrity plans to launch a new daily digital newspaper sometime next month, reports Bryant Ruiz Switzky of the WBJ.  Ruiz says the new publication, called iWatch or Integrity Watch, will offer readers 10 to 20 investigative articles per day at a tax-deductible subscription fee of $50 per year.

Solomon, who joined CPI about a year ago and was named Executive Editor in November,  claims the largest roster of investigative journos in the country – approximately 40 reporters and 100 freelancers.

Read more about Solomon, iWatch and CPI’s partnership with Huffpost at WBJ here.

“The Late Late Show” welcomed CNN’s Wolf Blitzer last week with host Craig Ferguson praising him as the “Great American Journalist.”

Traditionally, late late shows are supposed to be the chance where news folk get to show another, more humorous side. Unless, of course, the conversation is unrest in Libya. One good line in an otherwise newsy conversation: Talking about how the situation could affect oil prices in America, Ferguson joked, “Prius drivers are going to be even more smug than they are now.” Wolf agreed. “They will be,” he said. He doesn’t drive a Prius, and didn’t give hints as to what car he drives. But FishbowlDC knows at least what he has driven. An ex-valet who  parked Wolf’s black Lexus two years ago tells us the CNN host is a good tipper.

Wolf, who appeared on Monday’s show, tried to steer the discussion away from the Middle East, asking where the show’s orchestra was, clearly wishing he was on a real late night show with a band. But Ferguson made a quick joke and went straight to Saudi Arabia…

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Congrats to MinnPost’s Washington correspondent Derek Wallbank and his wife, Eeda.  The happy couple welcomed their first child, Emma Rose Wallbank, into the world yesterday.  Wallbank’s little valentine was born at Washington Hospital Center and weighed in at 6 lbs. 10 oz.

In an emailed birth announcement, Wallbank said “I know there were some other news stories today, something about a budget I think, but I wanted to share my own little front page story.”

Welcome to the Fishbowl, little Emma!

“Savage Love,” the dating advice column from WCP‘s syndicated Dan Savage, is pretty fabulous. This week comes a question we may not be able to relate to, but we can at last laugh (until it seeps into sad territory about body image issues).

The writer, a 19-year-old male, “is only attracted to chubby girls, though I myself am rather skinny.” He has accepted this, though he says admitting that he was into chubby girls was almost as scary as  a gay man having to come out of the closet. The problem, though, is that the girls don’t find themselves attractive, and “that is a turnoff” for the writer, who calls himself “Troubled Horndog In Need,” or THIN for short. Is he doing something wrong to make the girls feel bad about their bodies? Is it the media?

Savage’s answer: The girls are surely having trouble with “all the shit that’s been thrown at them about their bodies,” but THIN may be doing something wrong if the girls leave the relationship feeling worse about their bodies.

Savage never does address that media blame.

If you haven’t seen the MSNBC appearance of Salon‘s hot Hack List creator Alex Pareene it’s a must see, if only to catch a glimpse of his mustachioed look that looks so odd that it’s easy to imagine him gluing it on before the show. With Norah O’Donnell in the anchor chair, she welcomes Pareene on the show to discuss why people are buying former President George Bush‘s memoir. There are endless descriptions of Pareene’s look, but those that jump to mind — fresh off the set of a 70s porn film, or, as one journo put it, “Perhaps he looks like the son of the guy in those 70s Doritos commercials.” See here for a refresher. The Daily Caller‘s Jim Treacher took a few cracks at the Mediaite video on his blog, The Daily Trawler.

Treach writes, “That’s Norah O’Donnell with the shiny jacket, and aspiring writer Alex Pareene with the mustache and manly voith. In Pareene’s defense, he seems to realize that what he’s saying is very stupid and he kinda sorta doesn’t mean it probably. And yes, that’s a fairly accurate description of Pareene’s career so far.”

Congrats to Fox News anchor Bret Baier and wife Amy who welcomed Daniel Bret Baier into the world yesterday.

A healthy baby boy, Daniel is the Baier’s second son. Paul was the family’s first child. Message from the proud papa below:

Our #2 son… Daniel Bret Baier arrived into this world at 3:22pm on Wednesday 7/7/10 at an impressive 7lbs 13 ounces. Mom, Amy, was a real champion – after 7 hours of labor. Daniel has a full head of hair and most importantly is healthy!!

Paul- his brother- heard Daniel cry over the phone and said “Is that Daniel?? Is Daniel done?”. Yes he IS done– and we’re incredibly excited for life with two boys! Thank you for the thoughts and prayers.

WaPo‘s Ashley Halsey III got a big surprise this morning when the vintage airplane he was riding in flipped across the runway after landing at Reagan National Airport. Neither Halsey nor the pilot were injured but the spill did force the airport to close the runway. Did we mention that he caught the whole thing on video? Check it out below or click here.

From ThinkProgress.org: Amanda Terkel gives us this gem from this morning’s Imus interview with “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace. This Sunday FNC contributor Sarah Palin will appear for the first time in her new capacity on “Fox News Sunday”.

IMUS: When you interview her, will she be sitting on your lap? (LAUGHTER)

WALLACE: One can only hope. (LAUGHTER)

Imus’s response to that: “Oh man, thank you.”

See the full story and video here.