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On the Brink: Murdoch Said to Be Close to Terms on WSJ (NYT)
News Corp. and advisers for Dow Jones were close last night to agreeing on terms designed to protect the Wall Street Journal's newsroom independence if the company accepts a takeover bid from Rupert Murdoch. However, a deal between Murdoch and the advisers would not necessarily mean that either the Dow Jones board or the Bancroft family would approve the arrangement. NYT: Major exposé says Murdoch's vast media holdings "give him a gamut of tools — not just campaign contributions, but also jobs for former government officials and media exposure that promotes allies while attacking adversaries, sometimes viciously — all of which he has used to further his financial interests and establish his legitimacy in the United States." LAT: Critics cite as the latest example of those dangers Murdoch's little-noticed introduction in China of his red-hot MySpace property. New Yorker: Perhaps the divided Bancrofts will once more muster the votes to deny Murdoch, but, for the first time, the family must deal with 12 independent directors who are as determined to seek a resolution as Murdoch. Slate: Jack Shafer on the "filth and fury" of Rupert Murdoch.

Ex-CBS News Producer to File $50M Sexual-Orientation Discrimination Lawsuit Against Network (FishbowlNY)
Richard Jefferson, a former CBS News producer who was brutally attacked while vacationing in St. Martin last year in a gay-bashing incident, is set to file a $50 million sexual-orientation discrimination lawsuit against CBS News, FishbowlNY has learned. Jefferson alleges that senior vice president Linda Mason tried to control his public comments in the wake of the attack, and wound up terminating him. CBS says Jefferson's suit "reveals a stunningly selective recall of the 'facts,' both real and imagined."

Larry King to Interview Paris Hilton After Networks Snub (TMZ)
"I am thrilled that Larry King has asked me to appear on his program to discuss my experience in jail, what I have learned, how I have grown and anything else he wants to talk about," said the heiress in a statement. "Larry King is not only a world-renown journalist, but a true American Icon. It will be an honor to do his show." LAT: Both CNN and a spokesman for Hilton said she was not being compensated for the interview.

Kidnapped BBC Journalist Shown Wearing Suicide Belt in Tape (Reuters)
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that the kidnappers of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston have made a new video of the journalist wearing what appeared to be explosives around his waist. Haniyeh, prime minister of the Hamas-led government sacked by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, disclosed the video of Johnston in his first major speech since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip.

Iran to Launch Global News Channel (Fars News Agency)
Iran's state broadcaster is to launch "Press TV" on July 2 at a time of mounting tension over its nuclear program, complete with journalists brought in from foreign countries including Britain. The Tehran-based channel is promising the usual on-the-half-hour news bulletins, talk shows and documentaries familiar to viewers of CNN and BBC World — but with a distinctly Iranian spin.

Yahoo's Millard Jumps to MSLO (Mediaweek)
Wenda Harris Millard, one of the media industry's most influential executives, has left Yahoo to join Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia as president, media. She will report directly to CEO Susan Lyne. Millard's new role will be to lead the expansion of MSLO's Internet business, as well as create new cross-platform content and advertising opportunities for its Web, publishing and broadcast arms. Paid Content: Millard stressed that the move was not related to Yahoo's overall restructuring, although she was close to departed CEO Terry Semel and to former COO Dan Rosensweig.

Say 'Cheese' for the King of the A-List (NYT)
This week, Jason Binn will announce that his magazine company, Niche Media, will merge with Greenspun Media Group of Las Vegas — which publishes Vegas, Wynn and Venetian Style, among other magazines — and Ocean Drive Media Group, which publishes Ocean Drive, Ocean Drive Español and several other magazines.

ABC News Cutting 35, Moving Assets To Digital (B&C)
ABC News plans to cut about 35 positions worldwide in an effort to redeploy assets to digital divisions, according to a two-year strategic plan outlined by ABC News President David Westin on Friday in an internal email to the division that was circulated to reporters.

2nd Place a New World for Brian Williams (AP)
Williams and NBC can't fully explain why after two years on top his Nightly News broadcast has suddenly been eclipsed by ABC and Charles Gibson. "It is predictable," Williams said. "This is why I haven't allowed any champagne toasts in the newsroom when the ratings have been flawless and spectacular and joyous. This is a back-and-forth dogfight."

Is YouTube Doomed to AOL's Fate? (AdAge)
Simon Dumenco: YouTube is the new AOL — in all the worst possible ways. There's a tipping point at play here — the moment when a critical mass of media companies and marketers will realize that they can do just fine (and probably much better) if they don't play ball with YouTube — and we're arriving at it just about now.

OK! Scores Longoria Wedding Pix (Page Six)
Sources said People magazine "laid the groundwork" for landing exclusive photos of Eva Longoria and Tony Parker's July 7 wedding — but OK! won the frenzied bidding, paying more than $2 million. It was a surprising end to the battle for the privilege to snap the nuptials, which the Desperate Housewives hottie and her San Antonio Spur fiancé plan to hold in Paris.

TMZ Is the Web Site Celebs Fear (NYT)
In the past, coverage of celebrities often hinged on the promotional agenda of studios, publicists and other handlers. TMZ.com has quickly gained an audience by posting articles garnered from documents, unofficial videotapes, paparazzi shots and other sources. "We work as hard at breaking a Britney Spears story as NBC would work on breaking a President Bush piece," said editor Harvey Levin. BeetTV: TMZ preparing television launch in September

Beeb Sets Sights on Winning Foreign Viewers (LAT)
The BBC is planning a more aggressive push for international audiences and advertising revenue with an overhaul of its overseas television lineup, senior executives said. Darren Childs, managing director of global channels for BBC Worldwide, acknowledged that channels such as BBC America and BBC Prime had suffered from "a lack of focus and a scatter-gun strategy."

NBC Loses Better Deal for Office for Spite (NYP)
The rich syndication deal NBC struck for The Office could reportedly have been a whole lot richer had the Peacock network let financing company Media Rights Capital into the process. Sources say Media Rights Capital offered $275 million cash for the off-network rights to the show — sizably more than $100 million NBC is believed to have secured from TBS and Fox in the deal.

Sale Reunites Maxim's Rob Gregory and CEO Kent Brownridge (MIN)
Gregory moved to Maxim after working for Brownridge as publisher of Men's Journal (2000-2002) and Rolling Stone (2002-2005). "I know Kent's reputation, but I also know that there is no magazine executive better prepared than him," he says. "The Kent of the past was serving Jann. The Kent of the future will be fully in charge."