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Phillies Sportscaster Harry Kalas Dies (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Harry Kalas, the sincere and sentimental Phillies broadcaster whose smoky voice and singular home-run calls were for nearly 40 years as much a franchise fixture as the "P" on its players' red caps, died yesterday at 73. "We lost our voice today," said Phillies president David Montgomery. Philadelphia Inquirer: If Harry said it, it had to be so, writes Bill Lyons. Philly Daily News: Even as a kid, Kalas had an air about him, writes Paul Hagen.
Iranian-American Journalist Goes on Trial in Iran (BBC)
An Iranian-American journalist accused of spying in Iran went on trial this week and a verdict is expected soon, an Iranian official has said. Roxana Saberi, 31, who has worked for the BBC, NPR, and Fox News, is being held in Evin prison near Tehran.
MSNBC Developing a Weekend Politics Show for Chuck Todd (NYO)
MSNBC is in the process of developing a weekend political show to be moderated by Chuck Todd, the network's political director and chief White House correspondent. The new show on MSNBC, to debut in late spring, would provide Todd with a good opportunity to develop his long-form interviewing skills.
Chicago Tribune to Pare Newsroom 20% (Crain's Chicago Business)
The Chicago Tribune plans to cut another 20% of its newsroom staff in yet another bid to reduce expenses amid continuing advertising declines. Staffers were told of the impending layoffs last week, and the cuts will take place over the next several weeks.
Putting Twitter's World to Use (NYT)
The first reaction many people have to Twitter is befuddlement. Why would they want to read short messages about what someone ate for breakfast? But taken collectively, the stream of messages can turn Twitter into a surprisingly useful tool for solving problems and providing insights into the digital mood. BusinessWeek: A flock of new companies are benefiting from Twitter's rapid growth, some generating decent revenue; might the company opt to clip their wings?
Philly Newspapers Offer Creditors $50M Deal to Come Out of Bankruptcy (Philadelphia Inquirer)
The original investors in the 2006 purchase of the Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com have offered their major creditors $50 million to bring the company out of bankruptcy. The proposal was disclosed in a filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Philadelphia yesterday. AP: Philadelphia Newspapers CEO Brian Tierney defended the bonus he received in late 2008, weeks before the company filed for bankruptcy, and said lenders' criticism of the payout is "disingenuous."
Amazon Says It, Not Hacker, Responsible for The Great Amazon Gay Book Debacle (Wired/Epicenter)
The Internet howled in fury over the weekend over gay-and-lesbian themed books disappearing from Amazon.com's rankings, seeing the hand of a censorship-supporting corporation. But Amazon.com says the glitch was internal, unintentional, widespread, and not limited to gay and lesbian products.
Guest Passes Out Live During Glenn Beck (TVNewser)
A guest on Glenn Beck's Fox News show passed out as the opening segment was coming to an end. Beck and his guest, David Buckner, professor of organizational leadership at Columbia University program, were standing at a monitor talking about what is leading American companies to bankruptcy.
Will James Murdoch Run News Corp? (The Daily Beast)
Stryker McGuire: London's media elites -- at least those who don't work for him -- have long loved to hate Rupert Murdoch. Isn't it strange, then, that his 36-year-old son James should emerge as a champion of the newspaper industry?
Defamer Alums Relaunch Movieline as Online Mag (LAT)
Movie aficionados can add yet another online source of film news with the relaunch today of the entertainment magazine Movieline as an Internet publication. Movieline.com will feature "up-to-the-minute blogs, reviews, reader-driven features, comedic commentary, and high-profile interviews."
Former WH Press Secretary Dana Perino Joins Burson-Marsteller (PRNewser)
Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino has joined Burson-Marsteller as "Chief Issues Counselor" for the U.S. Perino held the Bush Administration post from 2007- 2009. She will report to B-M Global executive vice president Josh Gottheimer as part of the firm's Issues and Crisis Group.
HBO Plans Film About 2008 Election (Variety)
HBO Films has optioned "Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime," an in-the-works Harper Collins book by political writers Mark Halperin and John Heilemann. The pay network has hired scribe Charles Leavitt to adapt the behind-the-scenes book to the screen.
Jersey Journal to Survive -- For Now (NYP)
The Jersey Journal has survived another near-death experience. The Newhouse-owned daily newspaper -- put on deathwatch in early February -- will stick around for a while longer, though in slightly smaller form as 12 more positions from the 160-person staff will be let go.
Good Magazine Scales Back Frequency (Folio:)
Good, the three-year-old for-profit magazine with a non-profit ethos, is scaling back frequency. The bimonthly title "for people who give a damn" will go quarterly. The "transportation issue," currently on newsstands, is the first at the 4X frequency.
Kindle-Izing the Magazine (MIN)
Steve Smith: There are now 25 titles listed in the Amazon Kindle catalog under magazines. In terms of convenience and digital delivery, Amazon offers a small slice of the future, when magazines might be delivered over the ether wherever and whenever the user wants to access them.
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