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Art Buchwald's Moveable Feast: 'He Lived by His Wit' (WaPo)
David Von Drehle: We've lost a great American Dreamer, the sort of self-invented, self-made success this country holds the patent on. Buchwald's adult life was an endless improvisation on American themes in both major and minor keys — resourceful Ben Franklin on one shoulder, desperate Jay Gatsby on the other, fizzy with glamour today and dark with depression tomorrow. E&P: Columnists and syndicate execs pay tribute to Buchwald. E&P: Dave Barry says he'll miss Buchwald's friendship. E&P: Buchwald announces his own death in first New York Times video obit. Variety: Buchwald was the "wit of Washington."

Time Inc. Cutting 289 Jobs to Focus More on Web Sites (NYT)
In a broad retrenchment, Time Inc. announced yesterday that it would cut nearly 300 employees at its top magazines, including the most profitable publication, People, as it moves to invest more in its Web sites. The number of cuts — 289 in total — were deeper than expected, with 172 of them coming from the editorial side and 117 from the business side. AdAge: "Everyone is pretty bummed out, as you can imagine," said one surviving staffer. FishbowlNY: SI's Terry McDonell on the cuts. FBNY: Time Inc.'s John Huey on the layoffs. NYP: "Everyone is completely demoralized, and there is no work being done." WWD: Will more layoffs come through 2007? "We're not looking at any large rounds of layoffs. But we're consistently looking at our operations," said a spokeswoman. Chicago Tribune: "In the end, it's not about people or People, time or Time, it's about fortune and money," writes Phil Rosenthal.

No Clear-Cut Path for Tribune's Board (NYT)
When members of the Tribune Company board assemble this weekend to review bids for the company, they will have a lot to consider but not much to be happy about. Tribune received at least two firm bids by Wednesday's deadline, but none of them had enough clout or sizzle to generate much investor interest. LAT: A bid by two billionaires would boost the firm's debt. The Chandler family would liquidate.

Consumer Reports Retracts Article on Car Seats (NYT)
Consumer Reports magazine has retracted an article on infant car seats, published two weeks ago, that said most of them had failed side-impact crash tests. The tests were supposed to simulate an impact at 38 miles an hour, but actually simulated more than 70 m.p.h., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which tried to duplicate the mag's results at a government lab.

Super Bowl Pregame Slot for Couric (AP via USAT)
CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric will contribute a feature to CBS' four-hour Super Bowl pregame show on Feb. 4. She will also anchor the evening news from Miami, the site of the Super Bowl, on the Friday before the game. "It is the biggest event of the day and it makes sense for us to showcase what she does before the biggest audience of the year," said CBS News and Sports president Sean McManus.

Now Rosie Picks a Fight With American Idol Judges (Extra)
On Thursday morning's The View, Rosie O'Donnell dropped a bomb on American Idol and attacked America's three favorite judges. "If you keep serving people crap, they're eventually going to think it's a meal," Rosie touted. "Three millionaires ... one probably intoxicated. So sad." Toronto Star: Trump blames media for prolonging story of Rosie feud.

Judge Postpones Beginning of Scooter Libby CIA Leak Trial (AP)
A federal judge is putting more potential jurors on standby in the CIA leak trial because so many people have been dismissed, mostly because of strong feelings against the Bush administration and the Iraq war. Judge Reggie Walton had hoped to have a 12-person jury picked yesterday so opening statements could be held Monday. He has now pushed opening statements back to Tuesday.

NBC Teams Up With Citadel for Ion Bid (NYP)
In a bid to salvage its stake in the family friendly TV network formerly known as Paxson Communications, NBC Universal has found a buyer willing to pony up about $70.5 million to take the ailing company private. Hedge fund Citadel Investment Group, which, like NBC is a major investor in the company now called Ion Media Networks, is offering to buy out its common shareholders. B&C: Ion CEO Brandon Burgess, who came over from NBC to head up Ion, said Ion will have more solid financial footing now that Citadel has stepped up to the plate, but it was basically business as usual.

Oprah, J.K. Rowling Top '20 Richest Women in Entertainment' (Forbes)
Editors: We scoured the music, television, film and publishing industries to determine which female celebrities have, over the course of their careers, amassed the greatest fortunes in entertainment. We ruled out non-working celebs who essentially live off royalties, and we also excluded "old Hollywood" types like Elizabeth Taylor. The list is entirely of today's active megastars.

Colbert-O'Reilly: Round One (FishbowlNY)
Stephen Colbert on The O'Reilly Factor, on Jon Stewart's "stoner" demographic: "You have to be high to understand Jon Stewart. That guy is pinker than an Indian River grapefruit. ... He was high most of the time I worked there. I had to get out, Bill." USAT: When O'Reilly asked who watches The Colbert Report, Colbert told him: "I emulate you. I want to bring your message of love and peace, which I understand it is." AP: When asked what was "destroying America" more — NBC, activist judges, illegal immigration or gay marriage — O'Reilly didn't hesitate in answering NBC. VOTE: Who won?

The Camera Phone: The Gadget That Perverts, Vigilantes and Celebrity Stalkers Can All Agree On (Slate)
Michael Agger: The official who videoed Saddam did so furtively, pointing his camera to the ground at times. But they both testify to the power of first-person witnessing, and how a digital copy of that witnessing can upend neat narratives and certainties. We'll see the best of things, we'll see the worst of things, we'll see everything.

Yahoo's Unlikely Amigos (BusinessWeek)
Jon Fine: In its deal with nine newspaper groups, the world's top portal is betting that it can't do local by itself. It's also betting there is huge upside in the local space for the kinds of display ads in which it still outshines Google. As for the newspapers, nuances aside, they are dealing with the kind of profitable online company that they once feared. But these days, they fear reality more.

Beeb Faces Tough Future (Guardian)
The BBC warned of a major black hole in its finances and said it faced "tough decisions" over its future priorities after the government confirmed a below-inflation licence fee settlement. BBC director general Mark Thompson said it was "a real disappointment" and that the amount available to spend on content and services would fall in real terms.

January's 'Second Season' For Online Media Launches (MIN)
Steve Smith: January has become a "second season" for media brands to launch new online products, or so it seems from the pace of announcements and features. It is time to catch up and clear out the queue. ... I continue to be impressed by how the print world is learning the tricks of interactivity and yet retaining a design sense and superior editorial creativity.

Neocon Pundits and the 'Incompetence Dodge' (The Nation)
Eric Alterman: If William Kristol, Charles Krauthammer, Lawrence Kaplan and David Brooks et al. are so smart, why were they so wrong about something so crucial? And why, given their sorry records, do they and their editors still think anybody ought to keep listening to them? At the very least, those they misled are entitled to an explanation.