Click here to receive mb's Newsfeed by email.

FCC Reopens Debate on Media Ownership (WSJ)
A divided Federal Communications Commission will consider whether to loosen or remove rules that restrict the ownership of radio and television broadcasters, as well as the ownership of broadcast and newspaper properties in the same market. LAT: Process laid out by the agency draws immediate criticism. FBNY: FCC commissioner Kevin Martin revving up for another push on behalf of media moguls.

Publisher's Friends and Family Struggle to Understand Suicide (WaPo)
Former CIA director R. James Woolsey, a family friend, said he was stunned by the news of the apparent suicide. "It still doesn't seem real to me," Woolsey said. When he last saw Merrill, on Memorial Day, "he seemed his normal, happy, exuberant, engaging self." E&P: Merrill's newspaper has difficulties covering his suicide.

CBS Chief Regrets Unceremonious Rather Exit (Reuters)
CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves said on Wednesday he was sorry about the bitter departure of newsman Dan Rather, who left the broadcaster after protracted talks to renew his contract fell apart. Hollywood Reporter: "It's a sad, sad story. He's a good man, a hell of a reporter, (he) made a mistake," said Mike Wallace of Rather. NYDN: Rather's departure is another reminder that in an age when television gives us more of almost everything, it seems to put less and less value on stars.

Prosecutors Demand Reporters Testify in Steroid Case (NY Sun)
Prosecutors from Los Angeles assigned to investigate leaks of grand jury testimony asked Judge Jeffrey White to reject a motion from San Francisco Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams to quash the subpoenas for intruding on newsgathering protected by the First Amendment.

CBS Chief Exploring Jump Into Movie Biz (NYP)
While one rumor had the network interested in acquiring indie studio Lions Gate, a source said the company's movie-making plans do not involve acquisitions. Les Moonves said yesterday he'd like to make six to eight small-budget films a year, with budgets of $20 million to $30 million. FBLA: Now that daddy Viacom moved out of the house with bratty sister Paramount, CBS Corp. is feeling bold in its new freedom.

Rupe Lures Ex-Spanish PM to Join News Corp. Board (Guardian)
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has recruited one of the most senior statesmen involved in the Iraq war, former Spanish prime minister José Maria Aznar, as a board member. The former politician backed the U.S. and Britain over the invasion of Iraq three years ago despite widespread opposition in Spain.

Newspaper Companies Eying Careerbuilder.com (NYT)
As online advertisers migrate to the Web, most newspapers' revenues from online job advertisers are growing. But CareerBuilder is especially attractive because it is a national brand that is actually attached to newspapers and can increase their revenue while driving traffic to their Web sites.

Should New York Times Co. Merge? (CNN/Money)
Paul R. La Monica: The New York Times Co. has lots of history, but its future isn't promising. Now might be time to succumb to the publishing industry's urge to merge. Let's face it, Wall Street is not overly confident about the company's growth prospects.

Martha's Blueprint Gets Editor (Eat The Press)
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has named former Real Simple special projects editor and international editorial liaison Sarah Humphreys editor in chief of Blueprint.

Univision Sale Falls Apart as Only One Bid Emerges (NYT)
The auction for Univision, the Spanish-language broadcasting company, continued to unravel late last night when a lone bid was rejected as too low, people involved in the auction said. The rejection now puts the sale of the company into question.

Amid Talent Drain, Fortune Holds Onto Star Editor McLean (WWD)
Managing editor Eric Pooley is still recovering from losing senior writer Katrina Brooker to Portfolio last week, but Bethany McLean has turned down offers from Portfolio and the New York Times business desk, and accepted a counter offer from Fortune.

Postie Arango Seeks TV Job (Jossip)
Tim Arango is the one guy at the New York Post that media types care about. Arango regularly breaks Time Warner, Viacom, and Microsoft scoops. But after a storied tenure, we're hearing Arango is ready to take the next leap: television.

An Advisor Who Works Behind the Scenes Aids Tribune Heirs (NYT)
Thomas Unterman is neither a member of the Chandler family nor a trustee overseeing its billions, but he is a major player behind the scenes. He is working as an adviser to two family trusts that are represented by seven trustees, three of whom sit on the Tribune board.

Looking Back on Slate's Gawky Adolescence (Slate)
Bryan Curtis: What's most interesting is that Slate at 10 is old new media, or, maybe, new old media — an evolutionary bridge between traditional print magazines and the outlaw forces of the Web. It's an in-between kind of magazine, and, as such, a birthday celebration can inspire a bit of an identity crisis.

Was CNN's Jolie Interview a 'Watershed Moment'? (LAT)
Scott Collins: Some — not me, of course — might accuse Anderson Cooper of doing a 180 on real news coverage with such a celebrity interview. Angelina Jolie's bona fides as goodwill ambassador aside, is she really the most knowledgeable expert on Africa? CJR Daily: Exit Dan Rather, enter Coop and plump lips.