The Once and Future King? (NYP)
Without warning, a series of news reports have popped up this week questioning Larry King's "frail" health, memory and value to CNN. The news network has been quick to deny whispers that these stories are part of a campaign to push King out and replace him with a younger host.

Bob Edwards' Sly Return to Public Radio (Newsweek)
The former host of Morning Edition was unexpectedly ousted from National Public Radio two years ago. But now his satellite-radio program is returning his famous voice to many public-radio stations.

Google Wins Copyright Battle (WSJ)
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing Google Inc. of wrongful conduct, including copyright infringement and defamation, providing the latest court opinion to weigh in on the contentious area of search engines and copyright. Bloomberg via NYP: Google to receive five percent stake in AOL.

Knight's Hard-Hitting Washington Bureau (AJR)
Knight Ridder's Washington bureau has distinguished itself with cutting-edge reporting on everything from Saddam's weapons of mass destruction to coal mine safety. Sadly, many of its best efforts have been ignored by the national newspapers and the networks.

Without Competition, Newspapers Became Complacent (CJR)
Editorial: With a lack of competition in the local news and information business, too many papers, even some of the more ambitious ones, allowed their voices and personalities to wither. Too many editorial pages toned it down and slid into the inoffensive and boring. Too few embarked on crusades.

PEJ Study: No News Is Bad News (Center for American Progress)
Eric Alterman: The Project for Excellence in Journalism gives an illuminating look into the bowels of the American media machine, confirming that more and more news outlets are crowding themselves around fewer and fewer stories, hitting the public over the head with them until the blood flows from the cranium.

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