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Hollywood and Strikers Watch Clock (NYT)
A protracted war, much like the one the sides fought during a five-month strike in 1988, would pose a particular threat for writers. They have been operating under a strategy intended to shock their employers into an early settlement by shutting down as much television production as possible before alternative programs were in place or guild morale began to flag. A lengthy strike, however, could sap the staying power of the writers. LAT: Writers strike could cost L.A. $21.3 million a day. LAT: The push and pull between honoring the WGA's methodologies and the desire to be productive is a major dilemma for some of the striking guild members. NYP: Thanks to blogs, social-networking sites, and online video, the writers have a cyberspace soapbox to push their case against their studio bosses. Hollywood Reporter: WGA stages big Hollywood solidarity march.

AP Lawyers Will Go to Iraq Next Week to Defend Photographer Bilal Hussein (E&P)
Associated Press executive editor Kathleen Carroll believes AP photographer Bilal Hussein, who finally may be charged with unspecified alleged terrorist crimes in Iraq, can get a fair trial there. But she stressed that the U.S. military's failure to provide AP with specific information or evidence related to charges may well hamper efforts to mount a defense and ultimately free Hussein, whom AP contends is innocent.

If She Did It: Judith Regan's Wild Ride (NYO)
According to a source close to Regan and familiar with the negotiations, she was offered a $6.5 million settlement in August but turned it down. Bertram Fields, Regan's lawyer (though he is not directly representing her in the case), said last week: "We told them their number was unacceptable. They were warned in advance that she was going to file if they didn't increase the settlement offer."

Student Who Drove Halberstam Pleads No-Contest (SF Chron)
Journalism graduate student Kevin Jones, 27, pleaded no contest Tuesday in San Mateo County Superior Court to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in connection with the April 23 crash in Menlo Park that killed legendary journalist David Halberstam. Under a plea deal, he faces a maximum of 30 days in the sheriff's work program

Digital Platforms Add Revenue to Newspaper Coffers (AdAge)
While almost every newspaper's paid circulation and print-ad revenue continue their long, steady declines, the digital platforms that have contributed to the fall are also emerging as newspapers' best lifeline ahead. Ad spending on newspapers' Web sites in the third quarter reached $773 million, for example, a 21.1 percent gain over the third quarter of 2006, according to the Newspaper Association of America.

Imus Hires Former Publicist for Hillary (Portfolio)
Jeff Bercovici: What's harder: Deflecting attacks on Katie Couric and Hillary Clinton, or restoring Don Imus' tarnished reputation? Matthew Hiltzik will soon be able to answer that. The super-publicist who organized Clinton's "listening tour" and guided Couric through her transition from NBC to CBS has added Imus to his high-profile client list.

Lauren Zalaznick to Head Oxygen (Variety)
NBC Universal has tapped Bravo chief Lauren Zalaznick to run its just-acquired cable channel Oxygen. The Peacock announced Zalaznick's added responsibilities on Tuesday, along with the news that it has formally completed its $875 million acquisition of the femme-focused net. Oxygen will be housed under the NBCU Cable group, run by Universal TV Group president and COO Jeff Gaspin.

McGraw-Hill Contacts Galotti Over Book Deal (NYP)
Mr. Big is eyeing a book deal. Ron Galotti, the real-life role model for the character played by actor Chris Noth in the HBO series Sex and the City, said McGraw-Hill had approached him about doing a book. Galotti also had tongues wagging when he showed up at Condé Nast's headquarters in Times Square. It marked the first time he visited the building since his last run as GQ publisher in July 2003.

Will SEC Snafu Mean Millions for NYT Benefits Fund? (NYO)
Did an error made by the Times earlier this year in an S.E.C. filing regarding a pension fund cost the paper a major bargaining chip in its negotiations over benefits? According to the paper's guild, the benefits fund will run dry by December 2008. In order to rescue it, the guild requested that the Times pitch in a little extra. The Times, however, doesn't have much extra of anything to throw around.

NY Times Completes Move to Integrated Newsroom (Beet.tv)
The New York Times has moved into a Renzo Piano-designed building on Eighth Avenue. Begun in April, the move is now complete. Beyond the new design and functionality of the place, the new building has an integrated newsroom. It combines the "print" editorial operations, previously in the paper's headquarters on West 43rd Street, and the digital news operations, which were seven blocks away.

Latest Target of MoveOn: Facebook (LAT)
Liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org launched a campaign Tuesday on Facebook against Facebook, raising privacy concerns for users of the fast-growing social network. At issue is Facebook's new advertising program that lets its members notify friends about movies they rent, items they auction, and movie tickets they buy at partner sites elsewhere on the Web.

Donda West's Plastic Surgeon Cuts Out of Larry King Live Interview (NYDN)
Dr. Jan Adams, who has been tagged by multiple malpractice suits in the past, agreed to speak with King to clear up what he believed to be inaccurate reports about him. Instead, he told CNN's talk show host that the West family asked him not to appear on the show, and then proceeded to walk out.

David Brooks Mourns Passing of Simpler, More Innocent Time in Media (BusinessWeek)
Jon Fine: There is a past era to which [New York Times Columnist] David Brooks wishes to return, one in which he understood the music influencing the popular and semipopular culture, and one in which choices were largely made for him. I was there for part of it, too. And I do not share his nostalgia.

Are Ombudsmen an Expensive PR Ploy or a Useful Tool in Maintaining Journalistic Accountability? (Gelf)
While ombudsmen do not describe their newsroom relationships as particularly chummy, most say that reporters understand the public editor's role and are good sports about being critiqued. "It's a professional relationship," the Washington Post's Deborah Howell says. "They don't have to like me, as long as they respect me."

A-Rod Flunks Media Relations 101, Again (Marketwatch)
Jon Friedman: The Yankees' Alex Rodriguez is widely mistrusted by the media — and by extension, the fans — because he speaks out of both sides of his mouth, seems to care only about money at the expense of any shred of loyalty, and showed bad judgment by staying under the thumb of his distrusted agent, Scott Boras.