Media News

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Sifting Through Pieces of Knight Ridder (NYT)
Four newspaper companies — The MediaNews Group, Gannett, Lee Enterprises, Forum Communications of Fargo, N.D. — are potential buyers for the 12 Knight Ridder papers being sold by the McClatchy Company. Each is looking to run a regional market. E&P: A front-page story in Sunday's Sacramento Bee, flagship paper for the McClatchy Co., reveals many fresh details on the company's giant, and risky, deal for 32 Knight Ridder newspapers.

SEC Probing Securities Research Firm's Communications with Journalists (WSJ)
"In general terms, our practice is consistent with the notion that we try to get information other than through a journalist because we are respectful of the journalist's privilege," said Linda Chatman Thomsen, chief of the SEC's enforcement staff. "It's important to remember that the privilege only pertains to the journalist, not the person on the other end of the conversation, who may be a securities-law violator."

Iraq Reporters Hit Back at Claims They Are Biased on War (E&P)
After the latest round of blaming the media for distorted coverage in Iraq, war reporters and editors strongly defended their coverage this weekend. One Baghdad correspondent suggested the situation was actually worse than reported.

Heavy.com's Heavy Influence (NYT)
A video on Heavy.com has become one of the most popular among a growing crop of sites attracting young people with racy, humorous video programming. This potent stew drew 5.5 million users in February, nearly triple the audience of a year earlier.

WaPo Blogger Fired for Plagiarism (Guardian)
A former Bush administration aide has resigned as a blogger for the Washington Post after evidence emerged that much of his previous work had been the result of plagiarism.

Bertelsmann May Sell its Music Assets (WSJ)
The company may part with interests, including its 50 percent stake in Sony BMG, as the German media giant seeks cash to buy out its only outside investor.

Norman Pearlstine Sees Newspapers Giving Way To New Channels (Khaleej Times via MediaPost)
Pearlstine, former editor in chief of Time Inc., told a media-industry group in India this week that old media and new media are tap dancing as fast as they can in an effort to establish beachheads and, in some cases, survive, in the rapidly morphing media jungle.

God on the Line (WSJ)
Entrepreneurs are catering to customers looking for cellphones and related services that satisfy spiritual needs. A Pittsburgh company named Jireh Business Development has even introduced a service called JirehMobile that sells what it calls "holy hip-hop" ring tones.

Google Tests Local Ads On Maps (MediaPost)
Google is testing a new feature on its mapping service that allows advertisers to display locations with an icon and also embed an image in the store information bubble.

Baseball Site Becomes a Web Video Force (WSJ)
Major League Baseball's Web site has become a major force in providing live streaming video for large audiences, and MLB.com is now selling its expertise to other companies and sports leagues.

Rogue Magazine Subagents Reported (CM)
Two consumer magazine circulation directors have reported to Circulation Management specific problems they are having with sub agents who appear to have obtained the subscription lists for the magazines and have gone after subscribers to renew them without approval from the publishers.

Newspaper Suicide (Free Press)
Molly Ivins: I don't so much mind that newspapers are dying — it's watching them commit suicide that pisses me off.