> On MSNBC, Joe Scarborough anchored the coverage, with Pat Buchanan contributing. "How can MSNBC ever be tied to NBC News when it chooses conservative partisan Joe Scarborough to anchor its coverage over the capable and objective Rehberger?," an e-mailer wonders.
> "Nightline (ABC) seemed to start the show with Ted on a cell doing a live report on the Arafat story - they played a canned obit - then picked back up with the tape show," an e-mailer says. But a few minutes later: "Ted is in studio working the Arafat story Live - he must have been en route at 11:35 but was there by 11:40..."
> "Lucky for CNN that Arafat's passing happened with a 'grown-up' on the air," Robert e-mails. "Aaron Brown's presentation is intelligent, realistic and cohesive,especially in a breaking news story.  No giggling anchors making wild speculation here...Brown's the best they've got by a mile.  He is their current Bernard Shaw." (Update: Kate disagrees: "I thought Aaron Brown's coverage of Arafat's death was awful. Slow, halting and repetitive. Unintelligent questions. Wolf Blitzer would have been much better, as he is much more knowledgable on the Middle East."
> "Clinton footage with Barak and Arafat in casual clothes has been on MSNBC a ton," another viewer notes. "When the Israeli leader and Arafat get to door, seemingly uncomfortable - yet amusing - moment when they fight over who goes through the door first."

MSNBC, CNN, and Headline News were live by 11:06pm. "FNC is in O'Reilly repeat," an e-mailer said.
> At 11:01pm, the AP issued an advisory: "A news conference is planned shortly at the French military hospital where Yasser Arafat is being treated. AP is staffing and developments will be expedited." They sent the AP News Alert at 11:11pm.
> CNN's Aaron Brown interviewed Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat at 11:10pm.
> FNC broke into programming by 11:11pm. Laurie Dhue anchored and interviewed Jennifer Griffin.
> "An era is passing," John King said on CNN. (By phone; woken up?)
> CNN had its graphics and bio ready. MSNBC's graphic is top-notch and abnormally large.
> CNN said he died at 3:30am local time. FNC said he died at 4:30am local time.
> Break out lots (and lots and lots) of archival footage. Let's see which handshakes are most popular.

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann continues to cover voting irregularities on his nightly program. From his blog: "Tonight on 'Countdown,' we'll examine the N.C. mess...new fuzzy math in Nevada, allegations against the Democrats in Pennsylvania, Ralph Nader's news conference, and the other voting developments as they occur."

> "Moving with the speed of a Great Lakes ore carrier, CNN just did a Dan Lothian report on voting irregularities in 'Inside Politics,'" an insider joked today.

Brian Williams' strength is connecting with ordinary people, NBC's Steve Capus says. "And at a time when many Americans think the media are out of touch, Williams' reporting style may appeal to them," Peter Johnson concludes in USA Today. But BW can be serious, too: "I tend to think this is important business we're conducting," he says. "Since 9/11, I can't remember a broadcast with a light moment, so that's how I defend it."

Fox News Channel's Chicago bureau "officially celebrates its move to fancy new digs" on Thursday. The net had to pack up when Donald Trump bought the Sun-Times building and announced plans to demolish it. "The upgraded studios are 30 percent larger than the old ones, and provide greater capabilities for guest shots and remote broadcasts," the Sun-Times reports. Shep Smith will host his shows from the Windy City on Thursday...

Overheard from ABC's anchor at a party, according to Cindy Adams: "I'm on the Arafat watch. The minute something happens with him, I'm on the next plane." (Via Wonkette)