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Government Abandons Katrina Dead Pics Ban (CNN)
Rather than fight a lawsuit by CNN, the federal government abandoned its effort Saturday to prevent the media from reporting on the recovery of the dead in New Orleans.

eBay to Buy Skype in $2.6B Deal (BBC)
The online auction site has agreed to buy the Internet telephone company, which lets PC users talk to each other for free and make cut-price calls to cell phones and landlines.

Brian Williams: Journalists' Gloves Off Now (AP via Yahoo!)
"Perhaps we've taken something off our fastball and perhaps this is the story that brings a healthy amount of cynicism back to a news media known for it," the "Nightly News" anchorman said. Marketwatch: Katrina hasn't spawned any media stars (yet), writes Jon Friedman. CJR Daily: Paul McCleary visits New Orleans to see how the Times-Pic is putting out the news. NYT: 'Big Easy' media face a difficult future. Washingtonian: Fox News Channel, often accused by critics of carrying water for the Bush administration, aired story after story during the past two weeks about the Katrina disaster that cast the government in a bad light, writes Harry Jaffe. USAT: News media are heeding a "call to arms," writes Peter Johnson. AP via E&P: Even ads are coming back to the Times-Pic. Globe and Mail: Tide turns in U.S. media, writes John Doyle. TV Week: Katrina telefilms in the pipeline.

Yahoo Hires Blogger-Journo for War Reports (LAT)
Kevin Sites, who stirred debate by filming a Marine shooting a wounded Iraqi in Falluja, will spend the next year reporting from nearly three dozen war zones across the globe for the Web giant. NYT: In its first big move into original online video programming, the company is betting that war and conflict will lure new viewers.

The Boy Who Wouldn't Be King (New York Mag)
A son who craves his father's love. A father who believes in his own immortality. The intimate story of the clash that rocked the Murdoch dynasty. Guardian: Rupert seeking to create an "entertainment Google?"

Martha Was Third on Trump's List (Page Six)
Donald Trump may be beaming about landing Martha Stewart for his new version of The Apprentice, but it turns out she wasn't his clear first choice, according to a new book. Time: Martha Stewart talks about her new daily show as well as The Apprentice. Reuters: A tale of two Marthas.

Anderson Cooper Shines During the Storm (NYT)
The 38-year-old anchor has dressed down officials in interviews with polite righteous indignation on behalf of hurricane victims, and at least twice he choked up on air. New York Mag: Cooper's press breakthrough.

Former Columnist DeFede Won't Be Charged (Miami Herald)
Former Miami Herald columnist Jim DeFede will not be prosecuted for secretly taping a phone conversation with indicted Miami politician Arthur Teele Jr. shortly before Teele killed himself.

The Draw of Gossip (WWD)
"It's a lifestyle magazine—really a lifestyle magazine," editor-in-chief Kelli Delaney said originally of Celebrity Living. "It's not gossip." But last week's cover story was "Brad and Angelina's First Big Fight!"

The News Revolution (Seattle Times)
Merrill Brown: The basic assumptions about how we consume news and make decisions in a democratic society, are being altered, perhaps irrevocably, by technologically savvy young people.

Did Media Flub New Orleans Levee Breaks? (WSJ)
It wasn't until Tuesday that most people across the country, apparently including Mr. Chertoff, realized that any levees at all had been breached. Did media outlets get it wrong? WaPo: The Washington Post says it is trying to crack down on the use of anonymous sources, but the paper allowed a "senior administration official" to spin the story of the slow response to Katrina with a claim that turned out to be false, writes Howard Kurtz.

Disney Takes Exception to China's Media Rules (NYT)
As Hong Kong Disneyland prepares to open, the Walt Disney Company will hold off building a similar theme park in mainland China until it is assured that it will be able to air Disney shows on Chinese television.

Revealed! Paparazzi Trade Secrets (Slate)
Brett Sokol unearths the seamy underworld of photographing celebrities for fun and profit.

To Victor Belongs the Legacy (Guardian)
Oliver Burkeman: Victor Navasky's books details his time at The Nation, and his efforts to balance politics with fair reporting at the liberal magazine.

TV's Fear Factor (Salon)
Heather Havrilesky: Ghosts, aliens, terrorists, criminals, sea monsters and female presidents are appearing on television this fall to exploit our deepest, darkest phobias.

Condé Nast's Biz Gamble Has Precedent (NYT)
David Carr: The magazine publisher's decision to bet huge on a new business magazine is not unlike Time Inc.'s 1994 experiment with InStyle.

TV News Scrubbed Clean (LAT)
Orville Schell: Want happy stories delivered by perky, perhaps half-naked, anchors? The future of network broadcasting may suit you just fine.

Mags Beginning to Go Digital in Marketing Strategies (Mediaweek)
But media observers say digital will never overtake print. "One of the main reasons people love magazines is their portability," said Carol Pais, print buying director at Fallon Minneapolis.

Mags' Awards Shows (Independent)
Guy Adams: In a showbiz world dominated by Oscars, Emmys, and Golden Globe, why do mags hold awards parties and what makes celebrities attend?

—David S. Hirschman

IN FRIDAY'S MB BLOGS:

Judge Roberts Hearings: "Tree Falling In The Forest & No One Hears?" [TVNewser]
The confirmation hearings for Judge John Roberts will receive limited coverage as news nets focus on the aftermath of Katrina, Variety says.

CNN Sues To Cover Katrina Aftermath [FishbowlDC]
If you needed any more evidence that the failed response to Hurricane Katrina has lit a fire under CNN, look no further than this evening's memo to staff...

Brian Williams on The Daily Show: "The rules in New Orleans are as good as the last person who made them." [FishbowlNY]
Last night Jon had the guest of guests - Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News, whose combination of reportage from the Superdome and frank blogging made him one of the standouts of the Katrina nightmare. Funnily enough he looks tanned and healthy, as though he just came back from vacation. Hardly. After telling Jon "I like what you've done with the place" they got straight into the interview, which was gripping.

Katrina wreaks aftermath on LA media [FishbowlLA]
Bill O'Reilly responds to Nikki Finke's criticism of his Katrina coverage on his FNC show.

The Franz Experiment [GalleyCat]
PW Daily has heard about the October issue of Harper's, and predicts offended sensibilities throughout the literary community over an essay by Ben Marcus (left): "Why Experimental Fiction Threatens to Destroy Publishing, Jonathan Franzen and Life As We Know It: A Correction." (I think Stephen Zeitchik might have actually read the article, but it's not clear whether Harper's gave him a copy or just told him the highlights.)

Live from Semi-Permanent [UnBeige]
So we're here waiting to hear Charlie White start speaking. According to the press materials, color-printed and stapled in our shiny white envelope (not to mention the extreme laminated awesomeness of our bright-yellow press pass), Charlie's known for getting a little freaky.

Back to School Part 4 [mbToolbox]
I teach at the University of Illinois at Chicago on occasion, and let me tell you, if I knew as a student what I now know as an instructor, I'd have a Nobel Prize by now. Here was one amazing discovery: university librarians know a lot about research.