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Fox Lagging on the Web (Businessweek)
Jon Fine: FoxNews.com's growth last year suggests untapped potential, but CNN.com's audience and stickiness signify some things as well. News may be commoditizing online, but those in the top tier still outdo their flashier competitors.

Why Cover a War? (BoGlo)
Michael Socolow: There is a dirty little secret in journalism: War reporting is the fastest way to get ahead. The trade-off is obvious. In exchange for putting one's life on the line for a story, a journalistic organization will reward that courage with a promotion.

Grumpy Old Newsmen Have Their Place (National Journal)
William Powers: In media culture, as in real-life families, the crabby, morose oldster plays a dual role: 1) repository of genuine worldly wisdom, and 2) foil for the fresh ideas and optimism of those coming up behind him. Newness isn't worth much unless it has some moldy oldness to bump up against.

Seattle Sports Columnist Has Busy Weekend Ahead (Marketwatch)
Jon Friedman: Of the thousands of journalists reporting on the Super Bowl, Seattle Post-Intelligencer sports columnist Art Thiel may well have the busiest schedule. "I'll be in six airports in 24 hours—Detroit-to-Chicago-to-Seattle-to-Dulles-to-Munich-to-Torino," he says.

Journalism Under Seige (AJR)
Paul Farhi: The news business is in the midst of drastic change, if not grave distress. An industry that has weathered such upheavals as the advent of television, the suburbanization of America, recessions and wars may be facing a fundamentally different future this time.

'Brangelina' Overload? (Reuters)
The celebrity phenomenon dubbed "Brangelina" has triggered a media fever surrounding Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie that some observers say has reached the point of insanity.

Rodale Expands Overseas Reach (Folio:)
Health and fitness publisher Rodale is adding five more international editions of its magazines in 2006. This latest batch follows five launches in 2005 and brings the total to 60 international editions.

Bonnie Fuller: The Big Life (and New Book!) of a Geeky Canadian [FishbowlNY]
Q: You're a pretty polarizing figure, and it is well-known that you are often criticized in the press. How do you handle that?
A: You gotta get out your armor. Most women are not in as public an industry...we happen to be in a very public profession. It's a good lesson for anyone, though. Even if you're not in a public profession you can still feel the whispers.

—David S. Hirschman