Sploid Splat (Sploid)
"Various suitors came a-courtin' — including one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world (not the one that bought MySpace) — and at one point the entire staff had been 'hired' by a giant corporation while lawyers 'worked out the details.' Needless to say, they pussed out at the last minute."

China's Sports Illustrated Tests Rules (WSJ)
The 124-page first edition of the new sports magazine features a fire-engine-red cover of Yao Ming and profiles of Olympic hurdler Liu Xiang, as well as a piece on the drunken-driving charge of ping pong star Kong Linghui. It also is thick with ads from Adidas, Cadillac, and General Electric.

Old Baltimore Sun Gasps and Leaps (NYO)
A writer of national consequence used to be able to spend his whole career in Baltimore, and be read. The Sun of old was a serious, sometimes dull paper, foreign editor Robert Ruby said, "and a lot of people really loved it and were incredibly loyal to it ... because of that seriousness. A lot of that has been lost."

Under Fresh Attack, Media Turns a Blind Eye (NYO)
Niall Stanage: If government intrusion into the media's rights isn't receiving the attention it deserves, the press has only itself to blame, with leading outlets like the New York Times weighing in on the subject inconsistently and in a way that seems to be motivated more by political ideology than institutional self-interest.

Chow Tries to Bring 'Hip' to Food (NYT)
Chow.com, a new food Web site that begins its rollout next week, hopes to inject that sensibility into its smorgasbord of recipes, restaurant reviews, party hints, video tutorials and coverage of the marketing and culture of food. All this is aimed at a younger audience than the major food Web sites tend to attract.

Blethen Papers in Maine Selling Editorial Coverage to Advertisers? (The Bollard)
Chris Busby: The decision by Maine's largest newspaper company to trade credibility for cash is disgraceful, pathetic, and a worrisome sign for anyone concerned about good journalism and the integrity of the press.

Libel Suits Increasibly Fought in U.K. (WWD)
Roman Polanski isn't alone. The film director who sued Vanity Fair for libel — and won — seems to be part of a growing trend. Celebrities are increasingly filing their libel suits in the U.K., where it's easier to win, according to a recent report.

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