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Conrad Black's Fall From Grace Ends With a 6 1/2 Year Jail Sentence (FT)
Conrad Black, the former media magnate was on Monday sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for his role in the multimillion-dollar fraud at Hollinger International, the newspaper group he created and controlled. "I cannot understand how somebody of your stature could engage in the conduct you engaged in and put everything at risk," Judge Amy St. Eve told him. "In this country, no one is above the law." NYT: While the sentence means Black could be nearly 70 when he is released, the amount of time he received was much less than hoped for by prosecutors, who at one time sought a sentence of 24 to 30 years. NYP: Black is about to trade his fancy 17,000-square-foot beachfront mansion for a prison cell that's smaller than his walk-in closet. E&P: Biographer talks about Conrad Black as a "robber baron."

Martha Stewart Closes Blueprint Mag (FBNY)
In an unexpected move, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has killed Blueprint. The magazine was billed as a "fresh, fun guide to personal style"... but staffers were told that MSLO had "misjudged the market." Instead, Blueprint is being folded back into Martha Stewart Weddings. Total number of layoffs is unconfirmed but the company is trying to retain a number of employees. NYP: Editor-in-chief Sarah Humphreys, publisher Amy Wilkins, and design director Deb Bishop are staying put for the time being to work on the special editions of Blueprint.

Strike's War of Words Resumes (Variety)
The tone of the WGA strike keeps getting nastier, with both sides abandoning any pretense of diplomacy. In the wake of Friday's meltdown of negotiations — spurred by the AMPTP's insistence that the Writers Guild of America remove half a dozen demands as a condition of continuing the bargaining — the sides made it clear that there's virtually no chance they'll get back to the table anytime soon. Hollywood Reporter: Industryites all over town were wondering how Friday's news would impact their operations, while the guild and studio reps were deciding next-step strategies in light of the impasse.

Freelancers Walk Out at MTV Networks (NYT)
Scores of workers from MTV Networks walked off the job yesterday afternoon, filling the sidewalk outside the headquarters of its corporate parent, Viacom, to protest recent changes in benefits. The walkout highlighted the concerns of a category of workers who are sometimes called "permalancers": permanent freelancers who work like full-time employees but do not receive the same benefits. Portfolio: Managers were "very supportive" of the protest, one freelancer told Jeff Bercovici.

Times' Sulzberger Ordered to Testify in Trump Case (Bloomberg)
New York Times Co. chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. was ordered yesterday to testify in Donald Trump's libel case against one of the paper's reporters. Judge Michael Kassel also ordered executive editor Bill Keller and business editor Lawrence Ingrassia to testify about their conversations with reporter Timothy O'Brien about his 2006 book, TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald.

Pratt Wasn't VH1's First Choice for Ugly (Portfolio)
Jane Pratt is coming back to TV — but only because some of her peers have better things to do. The founding editor of Jane and Sassy is set to star in a new VH1 series called American Ugly, a reality-TV rehash of ABC's hit sitcom Ugly Betty. But while the premise requires a real-life fashion editor, Pratt wasn't VH1's first choice, according to sources.

Bush to Tap Former WaPo Columnist Glassman to Shape U.S Image (AP)
President Bush plans to tap James K. Glassman, now chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the Voice of America, to be the new undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, administration officials said. The officials said the choice was expected to be made public by Friday.

Porn Producer Sues YouTube Knockoff (LAT)
A major porn producer filed a lawsuit Monday against an X-rated knockoff of YouTube, alleging that it profited from piracy by allowing its users to post videos that include copyrighted material. Vivid Entertainment Group filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court against PornoTube and its parent, Data Conversions Inc., which does business in Charlotte, N.C., as AEBN Inc.

Glamour Producing Documentary Films About Women (WWD)
Glamour has spun off yet another iteration of its "Reel Moments" film franchise with a documentary version of the reader-inspired series, called "Reel Docs." The marketing program will produce three or four documentary films of real women achieving their wildest dreams, based on stories from Glamour readers. The films will be directed by A-list talent yet to be determined and will be sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger.

Hearst Magazines Inks Web Content Deal With Next.TV (Mediaweek)
Hearst Magazines is the latest media company to sign on to distribute content via Next.TV, the new Internet television service which is being built into all new HP notebook computers starting in 2008. The company said it plans to deliver original video content from the magazine brands CosmoGirl, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, and others.

TV Critics Cancel January Meeting (AP)
In more fallout from the Hollywood writers strike, the Television Critics Association says it's canceling its annual January meeting, where networks and cable channels promote upcoming program schedules. Broadcasters had been unwilling to commit to the Los Angeles-area meeting, citing expected budget cutbacks and the possible difficulty of holding sessions about scripted shows, the association said Monday.

Dan Rather to Testify at Hill Hearing on Minority Ownership (B&C)
The House judiciary committee hearing will focus on the impact of media consolidation on localism and diversity. The list includes Rather; Adam Thierer from the Center for Digital Media Freedom, Progress and Freedom Foundation; radio talk-how host Joe Madison; Carol Jenkins of the Women's Media Center; and others.

Fortune Suspends Disbelief With Cheney (CJR)
Anna Bahney: Fortune published an exclusive interview with Dick Cheney on the economy under the headline, "Why is Dick Cheney Smiling?" The story falls down on a couple of points. We don't question the news value of the piece, but we do say the magazine fails to provide proper context and to challenge some self-serving assertions that may not be (and probably are not) true. This basic journalism work is left undone.

Harvard Mag Exposes Profs Whose Assistants Do the Writing (WaPo)
Peter Carlson: The magazine 02138 covers Harvard University generally in a breathless and fawning manner. But the current "Sex! Greed! Scandal!" issue contains a wonderfully acerbic exposé that reveals how some of Harvard's hotshot celebrity professors actually produce their books: They do it "with the help of a small army of student assistants who research, edit, and sometimes even write material for which they are never credited."

CNN Opens New Emirates Bureau (Guardian)
CNN has increased its news-gathering operations in the United Arab Emirates by opening a bureau in Abu Dhabi's media zone and expanding its presence in Dubai. Wilf Dinnick, a former Middle East correspondent for ABC News, becomes an international correspondent for CNN and Samson Desta, formerly a supervising editor on CNN's international desk, becomes bureau chief.