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WaPo Hires Key Bush Speechwriter as Columnist (E&P)
Michael Gerson, a key aide and speechwriter for President Bush until this summer, will soon join the Washington Post as op-ed columnist, the paper announced yesterday. Gerson will start in January with a twice-weekly column that will also be syndicated.

Televisa Still Covets Univision (NYT)
A consortium of investors led by Grupo Televisa, Mexico's largest media company, is considering a plan to make a $13 billion bid for Univision Communications after losing an auction for the company this summer, executives involved in the negotiations said yesterday.

Despite Buzz and Controversy, Path to 9/11 Doesn't Top Ratings (B&C)
ABC's Path to 9/11 got a lot of pre-broadcast buzz for its controversial treatment of the Clinton administration, but it managed only a third-place finish. In fact, the two controversial 911-related shows on Sunday night were beaten by Fox's animated lineup of The Simpsons, Family Guy and American Dad.

Celebrity Boutique Sues Us Weekly, Saying Lack of Coverage Is Hurting Business (LAT)
The owner of Kitson, the Robertson Boulevard clothing store favored by young celebs such as Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Denise Richards, says that the magazine is intentionally omitting any mention of the store in its issues because of a nasty legal feud.

An 'AP Spy for Saddam'? News Service Responds to Blog Charges (E&P)
Attempting to blunt buzz in the blogosphere about an alleged "Spy for Saddam," the Associated Press released a retort late Monday by Linda Wagner, director of media relations and public affairs, terming the charges "absurd."

Nielsen Mulls Radio Measurement; In Talks With Clear Channel (Mediaweek)
Arbitron may get even more competition for its portable people meter electronic ratings service. In a surprise move, Nielsen Media Research Monday said it is in talks with Clear Channel's electronic ratings committee about measuring radio listening.

Auto Dealers Looking To Online for Ads (NYP)
Big automakers have been rapidly shifting their ad budgets to the Internet in recent years, but deep-pocketed dealer groups are poised to pick up the pace of spending even more. Buyers' migration to the Internet has helped to push up ad rates for popular auto sites, along with bidding for related search terms on Google and Yahoo!

Iranian Newspaper Ordered Closed After Publishing Cartoon (LAT)
Iran has ordered the temporary closure of Shargh, Iran's leading reformist newspaper, just days after the publication printed a cartoon that appeared to lampoon Iranian nuclear negotiations. The Press Supervisory Board ordered the shutdown "for publishing articles insulting to religious, political and national figures, and fomenting discord."

Couric Is Tethered to a Double Standard (WaPo)
Sally Quinn: Today there are more women than men anchoring the news. People are used to seeing women and have accepted them. Solo anchoring the evening news, however, is the last bastion. And the thing that has changed the most is this: Katie Couric is the managing editor of The CBS Evening News.

MSN Overhauls British Portal to Attract More Ads (Guardian)
Microsoft is undertaking the biggest overhaul of its MSN UK portal in four years to offer better advertising opportunities including branded video. The new homepage, which goes live tomorrow, is designed to give brand advertisers more prominence on MSN's prime real estate.

Google's News Archives Raise Questions for Internet Activist (WSJ)
Google made news last week when it said it was launching a service that would allow users to search newspaper archives going back as far as the 18th century. Announcements like that are usually applauded as an advance for the spread of knowledge. But a long-time Internet activist and founder of Internet Archive had some reservations.

CBS Savors the Lead (NYT)
Katie Couric's initial ratings swamped NBC and ABC, but they could fall back to earth once the novelty of watching the first solo woman news anchor wears thin. The ratings on CBS's prime-time shows could also slip. But for now those concerns seem distant to Mr. Moonves. TVNewser: Encouraging data from Katie's first week.

The Economist Effect (CSM)
Dante Chinni: Time's idea about circulation, placing less emphasis on quantity, suggests an approach that several publications, including The Economist, have pursued: It's not how many subscribers you have; it's who they are.

Bloggers Get Under the Fashion Tent (WSJ)
Once snubbed by the insular fashion world for their sometimes snarky reviews and tiny audiences, fashion bloggers are now attracting the attention of the fashion establishment. As blogs claim bigger followings, designers see these independent Web publishers as a new marketing opportunity. FBNY: "Anything but fashion" on Graydon Carter's mind. FBNY: Anna Wintour goes "completely berserk" for Federer.

Surprise Media Guy Pop Quiz (AdAge)
Simon Dumenco: Yes, somehow another three months have elapsed — which means it's time for the quarterly Media Guy Media Studies Pop Quiz. All books and papers off your desks now!

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