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Pentagon Defends Its Detention of AP Photog (AP via IHT)
The Pentagon defended its months-long detention of an Associated Press photographer in Iraq, asserting that it has authority to imprison him indefinitely without charges because it believes he had improper ties to insurgents. But journalism organizations said that covering all sides in the Iraq war sometimes requires contacts with insurgents.

Tribune Responds to Questions About Its Ownership of L.A. Times (LAT)
Tribune Co. chairman Dennis J. FitzSimons defended his stewardship of the Los Angeles Times, telling prominent city figures that the media company had made substantial improvements at the paper over the last six years.

Playboy Names New President of Media (Chicago Tribune)
Playboy Enterprises Inc. has brought in outside media executive Bob Meyers to serve in the newly created position of president of media, overseeing the Chicago-based company's publishing and entertainment operations. Jim Griffith, formerly president of Playboy's entertainment group, left the company late last week.

Sen. Boxer Produces Another Unpublished FCC Report, Says Media Study Was Suppressed (AP via WaPo)
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin has ordered a formal investigation into why two agency reports on media ownership were never made public. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) had written FCC Chair demanding an investigation into whether the FCC is suppressing information for political reasons.

New Fox Unit to Produce Christian Films (LAT)
The company that brought TV viewers programs such as Nip/Tuck, Temptation Island and The Simpsons is expected to unveil plans today to produce as many as a dozen films a year aimed at a Christian audience under a banner called FoxFaith.

Now Playing on Newspaper Web Sites: Campaign '06 TV Spots (E&P)
With newspapers expanding political coverage on their Web sites this year more than ever before, among the most effective — and entertaining — uses of their Internet editions have been links to political ads.

Microsoft Launches YouTube Rival (Seattle Times)
Hopping aboard one of the Internet's white-hot trends, Microsoft has introduced a test version of Soapbox on MSN Video, an online video-sharing service, with hopes it will snatch users away from market leader YouTube and generate revenue through advertising.

Son Completes Unfinished J.R.R. Tolkien Book (Independent)
Christopher Tolkien has spent 30 years working on The Children of Hurin, which Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien started in 1918 and later abandoned. The story involves the elves and dwarves that feature in much of Tolkien's work.

YouTube Model Is Compromise on Copyrights (WSJ)
In a move that could defuse the threat of legal action against it, YouTube is rolling out technology designed to automatically spot copyrighted material that users upload without the permission of media companies, and then to share ad revenue with those companies.

Iraqi Journalist Murdered in Ramadi (AP via IHT)
An Iraqi television journalist was killed Saturday in the volatile town of Ramadi west of Baghdad, the television station he worked for said Tuesday. Ahmed Riyadh al-Karbouli, 25, worked for the Baghdad TV channel in Ramadi.

Ratings Race a Race Again With Couric (NYT)
Two weeks after Katie Couric embarked on her new career as an evening news anchor, one thing is clear: She has thus far made the ratings race among the three network newscasts more competitive than it has been in nearly a decade.

Fashion Week Bells and Whistles on Mag Sites (WWD)
Both Style.com and New York's nymag.com added a number of blogs, video diaries and special contributors to beef up fashion week coverage, but whose online investments paid off most? While close on a percentage basis, judging by sheer numbers points to Style.com.

The Networks' Tale of Three Women (B&C)
Max Robins: To paraphrase the late, great philosopher George Burns, if you can fake enthusiasm, you've got it made. If that's true, then Good Morning America is in serious trouble. Its star host isn't even trying, and the fresh, new face at Today doesn't have to pretend.

More Companies Paying Attention to Blogs (Guardian)
Many firms have started to pay attention as a rapidly expanding slice of cyberspace is devoted to vitriolic, often obsessive blogs listing the shortcomings of well-known companies. Mostly, the contents of such sites are anecdotal. But they can become a significant rallying point for a company's critics.

NYRB's Robert Silvers Continues On (New York Mag)
The question being asked these days by the New York Review of Books' loyal readers and contributors is, can it survive under the editorship of a 76-year-old literary widower who, however robust, hardworking, and determined, will now have to grapple with the burden of going it alone?