“A network insider tells PAGE SIX that ABC has not abandoned the idea of hiring a host who could square off against Jay Leno and David Letterman in the late-night ratings war–and has indeed reached out to the popular DeGeneres, who recently signed a six-year deal to continue her Emmy-winning daytime chatfest.”

The talks, which aren’t given a date in the NY Post, are news to a lot of people at ABC, that’s for sure. An ABC spokesman said that “Nightline” is staying right where it is–but could Page Six be half-right? Could Ellen replace Ted as host? It would certainly lend the show a different aura…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

“Mr. Novak has chosen to maintain his silence about his role in the inquiry despite persistent demands from some journalists, as well as others in the Washington establishment, that he at least disclose whether he had received a subpoena in the case and, if so, how he had responded to it.”

Former Capital Gang colleague Al Hunt weighed in too: “It does beg the question why Matt and Judy, and not Bob…. It’s just so confusing to citizens and people in our business. If Bob could provide some context, I think it would be helpful.”

So how about it Bob? Even William Safire wants some answers.

> The New York Times also has a round-up of yesterday’s court appearance, including that Cooper/Miller might face only a maximum of 120 days in jail, not 18 months as feared.

> Mary Ann Akers in Roll Call offers some details about a possible Bob Novak-Harry Reid showdown. After the Prince of Darkness took a swing at the minority leader, the Nevada Dem’s team shot back: “Harry Reid is a former boxer who stands up for the little guy and isn’t afraid to take on cowardly lightweights.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Robert Redford was somehow spotted (perhaps by someone named Bernstein?) yesterday leaving Bob Woodward‘s Georgetown home with a copy of the latter’s forthcoming book on Deep Throat. The quickie tome, “The Secret Man: The Story of Watergate’s Deep Throat,” is due out Wednesday and N&F wonders whether a new movie is in the works.

One of Redford’s most famous roles, after all, was playing the intrepid reporter in 1976′s “All the President’s Men.”

Woodward declined comment, saying only that Redford had stopped by for a 3 1/2-hour “life catch-up” during which they discussed “Sundance, the movies, politics, books I’ve done on Bush.”

When the Post pressed him, Woodward added “There was a very serious discussion and the focus was on Watergate…. Redford, like me, has this endless fascination with Watergate. He gets it.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

TV Newser has the letter.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Final hearing July 6th. Cooper’s lawyer said that it’s his intention to accept the civil penalty. When asked by reporters outside, Matt Cooper said that he’d “rather not” have Time turn over documents to free him, but that the decision was up to the corporation.

“There’s no shame or dishonor in fighting all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States and then complying with a lawful court order if that’s what Time chooses to do,” Cooper said. “On balance I think I’d prefer that Time not turn over the documents, but Time can make that decision for itself, and I think it’s an honorable one whatever they decide.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

HENRY: Bob, first, what’s your reaction to the Supreme Court saying they would not hear the case?

NOVAK: Well, I deplore the thought of reporters — I’ve been a reporter all my life — going to jail for any period of time for not revealing sources, and there needs to be a federal shield law preventing that as there are shield laws in 49 out of 50 states. But, Ed, I — my lawyer said I cannot answer any specific questions about this case until it is resolved, which I hope is very soon.

HENRY: In general, though, you believe in the principle of keeping the identity secret, of confidential sources. Have you ever revealed the identity of one of your confidential sources?

NOVAK: Well, people know — who have read my column know there have been special case where I have. But the question of being coerced to by the government and being put in prison is, I think, something that should be protected by act of Congress.

HENRY: In general, have you cooperated with investigators in this case?

NOVAK: I can’t answer any questions about this case at all.

HENRY: Okay. Now, just in general about the principle at stake here — William Safire, fellow conservative, wrote an op ed in the New York Times saying that at the very least, he believes that you owe your readers, and in this case, your viewers, some explanation. He said, “Mr. Novak should finally write the column he owes readers and colleagues perhaps explaining how his two sources, who may have truthfully revealed themselves to investigators, managed to get the prosecutor off his back.”

I think that’s the question. Why sit that there are two reporters out there who may go to jail, Bob, but it doesn’t appear that you are going to go to jail?

NOVAK: Well, that’s what I can’t reveal until this case is finished. I hope it is finished soon. And when it does, I agree with Mr. Safire, I will reveal all in a column and on the air.

HENRY: Do you understand why in general there’s frustration among fellow journalist after 41 years of distinguished work, where you’ve always pushed and been a fierce advocate of the public’s right to know, you’re not letting the public know about such a critical case, and two people may go to jail.

NOVAK: Well, they are not going to jail because of me. Whether I answer your questions or not, it has nothing to do with that. That’s very ridiculous to think that I am the cause of their going to jail. I don’t think they should be going to jail.

HENRY: Yes. But I didn’t say you were the cause. But there are some people…

NOVAK: Yes, you do did.

HENRY: No, but some people feel if you would come forward with the information that you have, that maybe they would not go to jail.

NOVAK: But you don’t know — Ed, you don’t know anything about the case. And those people who say that don’t know anything about the case. And unfortunately, as somebody who likes to write, I’d like to say a lot about the case, but because of my attorney’s advice I can’t. But I will. And there might be some surprising things.

HENRY: We’ll all be waiting to hear that story finally told, Bob.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

• Perhaps the most intriguing question in today’s “Ask the Post” forum, which this week featured Foreign Editor Keith Richburg, was when someone asked him where he would place two more correspondents if he could: “I’d love to have one more bureau to cover Central America, especially given the large Central American community right here in the Washington area. And I’d love to have an extra person in Africa, so we could get to areas of the continent that we now don’t often get to.” [The Post currently has two "foreign correspondents" in Africa: One in Kenya and one in South Africa.]

• After running this week’s attacks on A2, the Post is sadly continuing to buy into the “Shark Attack” frenzy, hosting an Ocean Conservancy expert. Perhaps the Post would do well to listen to its own media reporter.

• Dan Froomkin offers some props to CBS’ Bill Plante, ABC’s Terry Moran, and NBC’s David Gregory for their “outbreak of assertive questioning.”

• And Tom Sietsema goes after D.C.’s favorite sacred cow restaurant: Lauriol Plaza.

  New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

  ]]> Garrett http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/assertive-chat-questioning_b767#disqus_thread http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/assertive-chat-questioning_b767 http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/assertive-chat-questioning_b767 Wed, 29 Jun 2005 14:47:23 +0000 Two byline changes to note today:
  • In a move that has left Posties of all shapes and sizes puzzled, 22-year veteran writer John Mintz is leaving the paper to join the private sector. He’s taking his “formidable sleuthing skills” to his brother’s corporate intelligence firm, the James Mintz Group, as a senior investigator–we would guess at a pay rate somewhat higher than the Post offers. The firm specializes in investigations “before deals, during disputes, and after fraud.”

    Mintz, who started on the Metro desk, has spent roughly the last decade on the national staff and has been one of the paper’s lead voices on homeland security issues since 9/11.

  • Over at the Watergate, Hotline staff writer Mike Memoli has been appointed Last Call’s associate editor, taking the place of the departed David Smith. Memoli joined the staff just after Labor Day last year after graduating from Baltimore’s Loyola College. He’s single and likes long walks on the Tidal Basin.
    

  Any other beat changes/transfers/hires/fires out there we should know about? Email us or use the tip box.

  New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

  ]]> Garrett http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/revolving-door-6-29-05_b766#disqus_thread http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/revolving-door-6-29-05_b766 http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/revolving-door-6-29-05_b766 Wed, 29 Jun 2005 13:00:19 +0000 Proving that they A) have a heart and B) can be serious and thoughtful, the unlikely team of Wonkette and William Safire have risen to the defense today of Matt & Judy–who at 4:30 p.m. today will face another hearing in their quest to avoid jail for not revealing confidential sources.

  Safire’s volley: “The Supreme Court has just flinched from its responsibility to stop the unjust jailing of two journalists–not charged with any wrongdoing–by a runaway prosecutor who will go to any lengths to use the government’s contempt power to force them to betray their confidential sources.”

  Safire lists four things that should happen to arrest the case before real damage occurs. Number 3 is perhaps the most damning, coming from another stalwart conservative: “Mr. Novak should finally write the column he owes readers and colleagues perhaps explaining how his two sources–who may have truthfully revealed themselves to investigators–managed to get the prosecutor off his back.”

  Wonkette, after offering an explanation of the case yesterday, today dives into attack mode. Referring to Safire’s suggestion that Novak come clean, she writes “That’s a nice thought, but that would require Novak to honest. And what’s that saying about a leopard changing its spots? A turd cannot grow a spine, either.”

  She also attacks Karl Rove, long thought to be the mastermind behind the Plame leak, but then takes a step back: “Of course maybe Rove wasn’t involved, WMDs will be found, Saddam was involved in 9/11 and unicorns will appear in the back yard if you wish real real hard.”

  New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

  ]]> Garrett http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/wonkette-safire-rise-to-the-occasion_b765#disqus_thread http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/wonkette-safire-rise-to-the-occasion_b765 http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/wonkette-safire-rise-to-the-occasion_b765 Wed, 29 Jun 2005 11:26:17 +0000 MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, talking last night following the President’s speech about the Iraqi insurgency:

  “Is it these IUDs? Not IUDs. Different topic. IEDs.”

  New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

  ]]> Garrett http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/quote-of-the-day-chris-matthews_b764#disqus_thread http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/quote-of-the-day-chris-matthews_b764 http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/quote-of-the-day-chris-matthews_b764 Wed, 29 Jun 2005 10:05:08 +0000 To cover POTUS or not to cover POTUS? That is (or at least was) the question.

  Cousin TVNewser has some coverage of the President’s speech last night, although it appears that the only interesting angle of the night was the drama surrounding whether all the networks would cover it.

  Tom Shales: “Bush’s speech aired on all the major broadcast networks, something of a surprise since as of mid-afternoon yesterday, neither NBC nor CBS had plans to cover it. They felt, correctly, that the speech contained nothing new or newsy and that it didn’t merit a half-hour or more of prime time. But something changed as the day wore on, and Bush showed up on NBC and CBS as well as on ABC and the various cable news networks that previously had announced they would cover the speech.”

  Wow! What a shock. Who would have seen that one coming? You’d have to go all the way back to the last time the President has a prime time appearance to find the the exact same drama. Remember the first night of May sweeps and The Donald anyone? One has to wonder if that’s really the most interesting angle reporters can find to write about the next day–especially given that the outcome and the story line both times is roughly the same:

  ABC joins the cable networks in announcing early that they’ll cover it–NBC and CBS hold off for a while until NBC caves and then lastly CBS caves.

  It seems like the real news would be the presidential presser that the nets actually hold firm and don’t cover….

  New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

  ]]> Garrett http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/potus-speaks_b763#disqus_thread http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/potus-speaks_b763 http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/potus-speaks_b763 Wed, 29 Jun 2005 09:00:35 +0000 In Fishbowl’s Washingtonian debut, the July issue now on newsstands sees the first-ever in-depth profile of Washington Post media writer Howard Kurtz.

  “As the nation’s preeminent media reporter for the last 15 years, [Kurtz has] attracted more fire and criticism than just about any Post reporter and created a byline as respected and controversial as any in journalism. He’s written four books, hosts a television show on CNN, writes an online column each weekday–and still finds time to churn out more bylined articles than just about anyone else.”

  The article begins by tracing Kurtz’s life–from his roots playing street basketball in Brooklyn to the Bergen Record, Jack Anderson, the Washington Star, and then his nearly quarter-century at the Post–including what his friends and colleagues call his shining moment: his three years as New York bureau chief in the late 1980s.

  From his background, it continues on to his current role as dean of the nation’s media writers–examining his scoops, conflicts, and controversies.

  “Despite his multimedia agenda-setting power, Kurtz has remained something of an enigma. He’s never been extensively profiled or, except by Foer, extensively critiqued by other mainstream journalists. That’s not to say that he has escaped controversy. He’s one of the most controversial reporters working in America today.”

  It’s long, yes, but if we may say so, very educational. Read the print version to see the amusing photos of a young Howard Kurtz in college.

  New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

  ]]> Garrett http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/all-about-the-kurtz_b762#disqus_thread http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/all-about-the-kurtz_b762 http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/all-about-the-kurtz_b762 Tue, 28 Jun 2005 13:50:48 +0000 The top spot on the Sunday shows is never really that interesting: it’s been reliably “Meet the Press” for a long time–although if you believe Arianna Huffington, you’re better off staying in bed than getting up to watch it.

  No, the reason to watch the Sunday show ratings is to track the silver medal. We’ve been tracking the Sunday shows for months now and watching a trend develop. And it certainly seems to be a trend.

  After long struggling to gain an audience and a rhythm for the show, George Stephanopoulos’s “This Week,” which Sunday had a big exclusive with former FBI Director L. Patrick Gray, finished second for the fifth time in the last six weeks, beating CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

  Nationally, ABC took a 2.2/7 to Face’s 2.1/6 and Fox finished fourth with 1.2/3. ABC was up 10 percent week-to-week while ‘Meet’ and ‘Face’ were even. Fox went down a bit.

  “This Week” ranked #1 in half of the top 12 markets, and beat ‘Face’ in an additional three markets–meaning that in fully three-quarters of the top markets “Face” got swept by the long-time bronze winner. Additionally, Fox beat ‘Face’ in a quarter of the top 12: Dallas (#7), Atlanta (#9), and Detroit (#10).

  Locally, continuing their odd week-to-week trade-off, Chris Wallace beat Stephanopoulos in D.C., 1.8/5 to 1.4/4.

  New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

  ]]> Garrett http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/gray-leads-to-sunday-silver_b761#disqus_thread http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/gray-leads-to-sunday-silver_b761 http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/gray-leads-to-sunday-silver_b761 Tue, 28 Jun 2005 12:54:17 +0000 Judith Miller is now officially a 21st Century cause: She has a website and is thinking of launching a blog from behind bars. “It is supposed to call attention to the case,” Miller told E&P today. “I put it up starting yesterday. It will help bring attention to the case and the issues that the case raises.”

  The site contains biographical information and info on her books, under “How To Help” it asks supporters to contact Congress and urge the passage of a Federal Shield Law.

  The site is registered to and maintained by Joshua Tanzer, a web developer at BusinessWeek Online. Tanzer used to write headlines at the NY Post, so we can only the headlines he’d come up for this story….

  New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

  ]]> Garrett http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/judithmiller-org_b760#disqus_thread http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/judithmiller-org_b760 http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/judithmiller-org_b760 Tue, 28 Jun 2005 11:53:07 +0000 From yesterday’s White House briefing:

  Q I’ve got a quick one. There was a report today that the administration is supporting plutonium production. Is this correct, and is that true?

  MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, let me give you an update on that. I’m glad you brought that up. First of all, this is a matter under the jurisdiction of the Department of Energy, and the plutonium that we’re talking is not — is non-weapons-grade plutonium. The Department of Energy is responsible for producing significant heat and electricity power systems that would require no maintenance in places like deep space. And plutonium-238, which we’re talking about, is the substance that makes that feasible. Such power systems are used in support of deep space exploration missions and certain national security applications. But, again, we’re not talking about any weapons-grade plutonium.

  And I think the Department of Energy can probably talk to you more about why we need to produce it.

  Q Speaking of that, how’s the Mars project coming along?

  (Laughter.)

  Q Thank you.

  MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you all.

  Note: No answer from McClellan re: Mars. (Thanks to Press Gaggle)

  New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

  ]]> Garrett http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/briefing-room-humor_b759#disqus_thread http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/briefing-room-humor_b759 http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/briefing-room-humor_b759 Tue, 28 Jun 2005 11:07:34 +0000