FishbowlDC in the 'Gaggle' (NYT)
Another signal moment for bloggers is to occur this morning, when Mediabistro's own Garrett M. Graff, who writes a blog about the news media in Washington, is ushered into the White House briefing room to attend the daily press "gaggle." NYT: A lawsuit filed in California by Apple Computer is drawing courts into the question of whether bloggers should be considered journalists.

Hearst to Launch Weekly Women's Mag (Ad Age)
Hearst magazines undertakes a major financial gamble this summer as it launches its first U.S. weekly, a low-cost women's service title dubbed Quick & Simple. Editing the project is Susan Toepfer, a veteran of Time Inc.'s People and the final editor of Gruner & Jahr's ill-fated Rosie.

Italian Journo Disputes U.S. Version of Killing (WaPo)
Journalist Giuliana Sgrena said Sunday she could not rule out that U.S. forces intentionally shot at the car carrying her to the Baghdad airport, wounding her and killing the Italian agent who had just won her freedom after a month in captivity. Washington Times: Italy kept negotiations for Sgrena secret from U.S. Guardian: The Italian government has virtually admitted a ransom was paid for the journalist's release.

Reluctant Rather Set to Sign Off (NYDN)
Richard Huff: The 73-year-old CBS anchor, during a wide-ranging interview, said he felt good and had none of the emotional jitters others suggested he might get at this point. LAT: After Bush report fiasco, Rather's messy exit epitomizes larger problems at CBS News, writes Scott Collins. USAT: Moonves says Rather's final bow on Wednesday is an opportunity for CBS News to put its troubles behind it and move on. New York: As Dan Rather's old-media world fades out, the future is beginning to look weirdly like the past, writes Kurt Andersen. Marketwatch: Jon Friedman posts an open letter to Dan Rather. AP via SFC: Rather defends his reputation as he inches toward the door.

How the Disney/Miramax Marriage Failed (NYT)
The 12-year relationship between Disney and the Weinstein brothers went the way of many famous Hollywood marriages: infatuation, then betrayal and, expected soon, a divorce with a rich settlement. NYT: Disney to sell science mag.

Op-Eds' Female Trouble (WaPo)
Howard Kurtz: The testosterone-laden nature of many newspaper op-ed pages is nothing new, but a battle between commentator Susan Estrich and LAT opinion pages editor Michael Kinsley is bringing the issue to the fore.

Media's Martha-Thon (NYP)
Christopher Byron: Nearly every major media outlet in America has thus far proclaimed Stewart a "transformed" person from her five months in prison, while citing no actual evidence of that transformation since no such evidence exists. NYT: Cult of Martha bounces back in magazine.

New Mags for the Rich Abound (NYT)
Luxury magazines that target affluent readers are proliferating, and they currently make up 5 percent of total magazine publications.

Ari on Attack (Boston Globe)
In his new journalist-scolding memoir, Taking Heat, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer presents a series of grievances against the news media that include excessive commentary, oversimplification, liberal bias, and the ''drive to find conflict anywhere and everywhere."

CNBC Girds for Possible Grudge Match With Fox (NYT)
Noting the cable channel's success, News Corp's Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes are considering whether to add their own cable business channel. In typical fashion, their goal would be not only to compete with CNBC, but also to crush it.

Even Arab Media Being Pushed Off Iraq Story? (CJR)
Western reporters in Iraq, faced with the threat of death, began retreating to fortified compounds months ago. Now, with pressure mounting, Arab journalists, along with Arab translators and fixers employed by international news organizations, are retreating, too.

Welcome to Doomsday (NY Review of Books)
Bill Moyers: The news is not good these days. But as a journalist I know the news is never the end of the story. The news can be the truth that sets us free not only to feel but to fight for the future we want.

U.S. Media Too Political? (BBC)
Jamie Coomarasamy: The American media are well known for having journalists who are open about their political allegiance. But recent cases have opened the debate on whether partisanship in the media is going too far.

Edelman Named Top PR Firm (NYP)
Jack O'Dwyer's Newsletter, the bible of the public-relations industry, has anointed Edelman PR Worldwide as the No. 1 firm in its annual poll of top independent agencies.

Hypocritical Advertisers Target Kids? (LAT)
David Shaw: The folks who market fast food, soft drinks, sugar-loaded breakfast cereals, and other comestibles aimed at kids are trying to convince both Congress and the public that, in fact, their ads aren't really effective.

Media Need Personal Touch (FT)
Tom Glocer: If the 19th century was the age of the newspaper and the 20th century the age of radio and television, this century will be defined as the age of media personalization. The news you want, when you want it.

Queer Eye for Straight TV (Time)
Gay writers are producing some of today's most compelling, and popular, series about heterosexuals.

Men Don't Sell Mags (NYT)
In a recent interview, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter blamed the cover models for his magazine's flagging newsstand sales.

—David S. Hirschman