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Debate Rages Over Pre-Written Obits for Young Stars (AP via SF Chron)
The news that the Associated Press has prepared an obituary for 26-year-old Britney Spears has put the spotlight on a debate within the business of reporting death: With people grabbing the celebrity spotlight at a younger age, and some of them living lives of obviously dangerous excess, is it time for news organizations to begin preparing for early exits from celebritydom's under-30 crowd?

Why the Los Angeles Times Can't Keep an Editor (WSJ)
"I could get $7 million out of the budget, that wasn't the problem. It was the process," Mr. O'Shea said. What he couldn't stomach any longer was the company's repeated calls for expense cuts to balance the budget. He believes the way to stop the downward spiral at the Los Angeles Times is about raising revenue, which could come about with a combination of cuts and careful investments in journalism.

Another AMI Money Chief Out (NYP)
Gossip mag publisher American Media found itself roiled again yesterday following the sudden ouster of chief financial officer John Craven. Craven will be replaced by Dean Durbin, former CEO and CFO of Vertis, a company that, like AMI, has a sizable financial stake controlled by private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners.

Wonkette Editor Fired (HuffPo)
In yet another staff shake-up at Gawker media, Wonkette associate editor Megan Carpentier was let go from the popular political site on Friday. Carpentier, who used to write the anonymous "Ask A Lobbyist" column for the site, revealed her identity when she joined the site in November. Carpentier's farewell post states that she was informed of the decision on Friday, which became her last day at the site.

Frontline Blogger Covers War in Iraq With a Soldier's Eyes (NYT)
Michael Yon was not a journalist, and he wasn't sure what a blogger was. He had been in uniform but not in combat, and he wanted to keep it that way. He went to Iraq thinking he would stay for a month, and maybe find a way to write about the war after he got home. Instead, he has spent most of the last three years in Iraq, writing prolifically and graphically.

Tuning in to Podcasting's Potential (AdAge)
Although it's been ad-supported for a little over two years, podcasting only recently has built an audience with enough scale in key categories such as news and sports. According to Edison Media Research, more than 32 million people have listened to an audio podcast. And the medium's top two content providers, ESPN and National Public Radio, do the majority of their business by bringing in national advertisers to support their top-rated shows.

Sites Make It Easy to Catch a Missed TV Show (USAT)
Even as their supply of new programs dwindles during the months-long writers' strike, major TV networks continue to try to capture online viewers. Streaming free full-length episodes on their own websites was just the beginning. Episodes from ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC are showing up on an assortment of sites, from big destinations such as AOL to
newcomers Veoh and MeeVee.

The Onion Launches Site, Fills the Political Void (FBNY)
With a dearth of political coverage surrounding the 2008 Presidential election, where's one to turn for informed, objective coverage? The Onion, of course. Today, America's Finest New Source announced the launch of its political Web site, www.warforthewhitehouse.com.

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