'Old Hacks' who covered Vietnam War reunite in former Saigon 35 years after war's end

The aging press corps came together, one more time, on the eve of the day the Vietnam War ended 35 years ago — April 30, 1975 — when communist North Vietnamese forces drove tanks through the former U.S.-backed capital of South Vietnam, smashing through the Presidential Palace gates. It was a dramatic end to a long, bloody war that killed an estimated 3 million Vietnamese and some 58,000 Americans. The journalists also gathered Friday morning to watch Vietnam's formal commemoration of Liberation Day, as it is known here, taking in a parade down the former Reunification Boulevard that featured tank replicas and goose-stepping soldiers in white uniforms. Some 50,000 party cadres, army veterans and laborers gathered for the spectacle, many carrying red and gold Vietnamese flags and portraits of Ho Chi Minh, the father of Vietnam's revolution.

"This was the first foreign war the U.S. ever fought where the press challenged government thinking, challenged the decisions of generals, challenged the political decisions the war was based on," said former CNN correspondent Peter Arnett, (pictured) who won a Pulitzer Prize for his Vietnam coverage in 1966 while working for The Associated Press.

Clcki on the title for the full story.

Global TV anchor Kevin Newman steps down

Global TV anchor Kevin Newman is stepping down from the network’s flagship newscast.
He said in an e-mail to staff that his last newscast will be Aug. 20. Newman says he informed Global management some months ago of his desire for “rest and creative renewal.” His email is vague on his future plans, saying he has no broadcasting job waiting. Newman says he will spend the coming months exploring the exciting new mobile digital world we are entering. Newman took over as Global’s anchor 10 years ago.
“That felt like a nice round number representing a great run without overstaying my welcome,” the email said.

Torstar bid for CanWest papers in doubt

Torstar push to become the biggest newspaper publisher in Canada is in danger. With bidding set to close Friday night in the auction of chain of 46 newspapers, the parent company of the Toronto Star is on the brink of losing its key financial backer. Fairfax Financial the deep-pocketed insurance company that teamed up with Torstar to make an offer on the newspapers, has told bankers it has decided against bankrolling the purchase, according to sources close to the matter. The chain of papers includes 11 large dailies such as the National Post, Vancouver Sun and Ottawa Citizen, along with 35 community papers. At the heart of the matter is the financing Fairfax hopes to arrange. The newspapers are being sold off by CanWest’s creditors, which include Canada’s largest banks, who are trying to recoup $950-million they are owed by CanWest.

Yahoo! I get 47 million deal for a year's work

That's how it is when you're Carol Bartz, CEO of Yahoo Inc.

Rosetta Stone vows to fight Google to the end

Court finds against language software maker Rosetta Stone but it vows to battle on against what it considers an infringment of copyight. The issue revolves around the well known practice of Google paid ads which appear on top of the search engine results. Rosetta Stone claims imposters use this vehicle to pass themselves off the real thing. Reuters

U.K debate live on CNN this afternoon

Click headline above to watch live debate. Below, story on historic live meeting.

CBC president writes to CP chairman

Text of letter dealing with polling firm said to have ties to the Liberal Party.

CBC.ca

Hong Kong daily banned from Shanghai Expo

The Apple Daily ran a headline declaring 'Shanghai Expo bans Apple Daily', saying in the story that its 10 applications for press accreditation had not yet been approved. Other media outlets had already received their approval, Apple reported, adding that it had not been invited along with other Hong Kong media to cover a delegation of city legislators during their visit to the Expo next month. Apple Daily is a vigorously pro-democracy publication, pushing for free elections not just in Hong Kong but on the mainland too. Link above is to the Straits Times in Singapore.

Perelmans put up $27M for Inquirer auction

Bankrupt Phily papers subject to an auction.

Anne Mroczkowski to start June 1 on Global News

Talk about a reason to smile that Mroczkowski smile. She calls it a wonderful surprise and vindication after being cut abruptly by Rogers in January. Anne Mroczkowski will debut Tuesday June 1, 2010 with Leslie Roberts on the 6 pm Global News Hour. Mroczkowski will go head-to-head in competition with former Citytv co-anchor Gord Martineau "I am excited to be a part of this incredible family and to share the anchor desk with Leslie, a journalist whom I have admired for many years," Mroczkowski said of her supper-hour shift after she was dumped by Citytv as Martineau survived a round of deep job cuts.

Charlie Brown sold to licensing company for $175m

Newspaper publisher E.W. Scripps Co. is selling licensing rights for Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the "Peanuts" gang to Iconix Brand Group Inc., the licensing company that owns Joe Boxer and London Fog. The family of late "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz will also own part of the business, giving it more control of and money from the comic strip's legacy. Heirs say the deal announced Tuesday for the 60-year-old comic strip is what the artist would have wanted. Schulz worked for decades to win back the rights to his work, which many other artists like himself sold to appear in print. Scripps will sell its licensing unit, which also represents characters such as Dilbert and Raggedy Ann and Andy, to Iconix for $175 million. The bulk of revenue generated by United Media Licensing comes from the "Peanuts" franchise. AP

Racism complaint against Spec is dismissed

Rather stretched view of racism threatened to stifle speech, it was decided.

Big U.S. papers continue to show circulation losses

AP story on just-out ABC results as reported by Breitbart.

Barbara Budd sees possibilities after As It Happens

Nice sympathizer in Toronto Star

McCallion probe to hear motion by Mississauga News

MISSISSAUGA, ON -- CNW RELEASE -- The City of Mississauga Judicial Inquiry will hold a hearing on Friday, April 30, 2010, to hear a motion by the Mississauga News newspaper for an order that the affidavit of Peter McCallion regarding his ability to pay for counsel at the Inquiry and the cross-examination on that affidavit be made part of the Commission's record. The hearing will commence at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 1 at 950 Burnhamthorpe Road West.
Mr. McCallion was granted standing at the Inquiry on December 14, 2009. He also requested funding for legal counsel for the Inquiry. Mississauga City Council approved funding of up to $100,000, on the condition that he provide evidence of his inability to pay, and only covering the time that Mr. McCallion was testifying. On March 4, 2010 Mr. McCallion brought a motion before the Commissioner, asking him to request the City of Mississauga to reconsider the limit in order to give him the ability to fully participate in the Inquiry. The Commissioner ruled that further evidence was required in order to enable him to make such a recommendation. The Commissioner ordered that Mr. McCallion swear an affidavit as to his ability to pay for legal counsel, and that Commission Counsel cross-examine Mr. McCallion on that affidavit. That cross-examination took place earlier this month.
The affidavit and cross-examination transcript are currently confidential and have been provided only to Commission Counsel. The Commissioner will review the affidavit and the transcript of the cross-examination and make a recommendation to Mississauga City Council as to whether Mr. McCallion should receive additional funding for counsel.

Police raid Gizmodo editor over mssing iPhone

California police have taken six computers and other items from the house of Jason Chen (right) the editor of the gadget blog Gizmodo who appeared on a video on the site showing off a lost Apple iPhone prototype which, it transpired, had been bought from a middleman for about $5,000. The search was carried out last Friday evening, but Gizmodo only revealed that it had happened on Monday evening. Chen was not present when the police entered the house.

Daniel Pearl journalism awards

A joint report by European journalists on the dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast has won the Daniel Pearl Award for international investigative reporting. The Washington-based Center for Public Integrity says the "gutsy" series by Norwegian Broadcasting Corp., The Guardian, BBC and de Volkskrant newspaper "exposed how a powerful offshore oil trader tried to cover up the poisoning of 30,000 West Africans." AP

Florence Honderich, 91: Mother and philanthropist

Distinguished woman who was mother of Torstar chair John Honderich.

Good manners maven Elizabeth Post dead at 90

Elizabeth L. Post, 89, died in Naples, Florida, on April 24, 2010, surrounded by her family. For 30 years Mrs. Post carried the mantle of The Emily Post Institute, Inc., writing more than a dozen books on etiquette, including five editions of Emily Post's Etiquette. Release

Early picture of volcano was inaccurate

Photo editor Wade Laube of the Sydney Morning Herald noticed something wrong with the first transmission of Iceandic eruption. Toning made the picture first circulated to the world (upper) look much more dramatic than the original (lower). Laube's blog.

Jury rejects NY1 reporter's sex harassment lawsuit

Most interesting account of how various evidence came down against Adele Sammarco even though her case was not without some compelling aspects. Picture shows altered image of Sammarco created by a NY1 staffer. One juror said "there might have been some element of truth" to Sammarco's claims but that wasn't enough evidence to support a verdict in her favour. NY Daily News

Libel claimant wants big media to police bloggers

Canadian climate scientist Andrew Weaver, a University of Victoria professor and Canada Research Chair in climate modelling, says National Post articles defaming him were picked up by bloggers and others. The Post should be responsible for tracking down all such material, he says. The claim is seen as a threat to big media but a judge would be brave to support such an impossible task, the Planet Guys conclude. Presumably, the stories were also transmitted by word of mouth. Toronto Star link above.

First 2 UK debates draw 9.4 and 4 million viewers

An average audience of 4m people tuned in to watch Thursday night's prime ministerial debate on Sky, according to early overnight figures.
Ratings for the showdown were well down on last week's ITV1 debate, which attracted an average 9.4m viewers.

Firesale prices for WSJ ads to hurt NYT.

The Wall Street Journal is offering some businesses firesale prices for full-page ads in its highly anticipated New York edition to seduce advertisers away from The New York Times. Reuters

Tory party president questions CBC impartiality in letter to ombudsman

The Conservative Party of Canada's president sent a letter to the CBC on Friday questioning the public broadcaster's impartiality after a pollster who works with the company advised the Liberals to "invoke a culture war" in a recent article.

The letter, provided to Canwest News Service by a Conservative spokesman, responded to comments made by EKOS Research president Frank Graves to the Globe and Mail. Mr. Graves, whose firm provides weekly polling data to the CBC, was reported as saying in a Lawrence Martin column that the Liberal party "should invoke a culture war. Cosmopolitan versus parochialism, secularism versus moralism, Obama versus Palin, tolerance versus racism and homophobia, democracy versus autocracy," to unseat the ruling Conservatives. The column also said that Mr. Graves had "told the Grits that the wedge politics of the Conservatives provide them with an opportunity to stake out a stark alternative. Stop worrying about the West, he's told them." Conservative Party president John Walsh wrote to the CBC's ombudsman saying Graves' comments amount to "giving partisan advice to the Liberal Party of Canada" and asked the CBC if corporation officials knew they were "sharing resources" with the Liberals.

Click on the title to read the full National Post story.

N.Y. civil rights group sues over federal photo ban

A civil rights group accused the U.S. government of harassing law-abiding photographers outside a courthouse, saying in a lawsuit Thursday that a vague federal regulation restricting photography has been used inconsistently and is unconstitutional. The New York Civil Liberties Union used the case of a photographer who was arrested in November outside federal court in Manhattan to illustrate its claim. Antonio Musumeci, the only plaintiff in the lawsuit, was arrested as he videotaped a political protest in a public plaza. Musumeci, a member of the Manhattan Libertarian Party and a software developer for an investment bank, lives in Edgewater, N.J. The civil rights group said the regulation he was accused of violating is unconstitutional because it regulates noncommercial photography in outdoor areas such as sidewalks and plazas, where the public is supposed to have unrestricted access.
The lawsuit, which targeted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Protective Service, accused the government of using the regulation "as an excuse to arrest and harass law-abiding photographers."

CBC looking for news talent in radio operation

The CBC News shakeup continue as the corp moves to have more journalists as presenters in its radio operation. In a memo to staff, Jane Anido, director of national news programs, listed vacancies:

“We are searching for a talented host to work with Alison Smith on our prestigious World At Six program. We're looking for someone with strong journalism skills who is an outstanding on air performer. This is a one-year position backfilling for Bernie McNamee who's currently at The World This Hour.

Also for World At Six, we are looking for a show line-up producer. This is a key new opportunity on the team - as we move into the redevelopment of the program over the next few months. We're looking for someone who's experienced in line-up, has a great programming sense, and who can help lead a strong editorial team.

Finally we have an opening for an editorial assistant on our Hourlies desk, replacing Saira Syed who's off on a year's leave of absence. We are looking for someone who wants to develop their skills working with the team on the Hourly News desk. There will be opportunity for growth and development in other parts of the newsroom too - including other platforms. It's a one year contract.

We are looking for candidates who are committed to producing the high quality journalism CBC News is known for, who are cool under pressure and come with a well developed sense of humour. This is an exciting opportunity to play a role in CBC News Renewal as part of our new integrated world.

For more information on these jobs click on http://cbc.radio-canada.ca/jobs/ or click on the title.

CBC pollster/Liberal adviser?

Globe and Mail columnist Norman Spector writes:

" . . even a poll skeptic such as myself was surprised to read in The Globe and Mail this morning that Ekos’s Frank Graves is simultaneously polling for the taxpayer-supported CBC and providing partisan political advice to the Liberals: “Frank Graves of Ekos Research … has told the Grits that the wedge politics of the Conservatives provide them with an opportunity to stake out a stark alternative. Stop worrying about the West, he’s told them. No need to fear polarizing the debate. It’s what worked for Mr. Chrétien against Preston Manning and Stockwell Day.

"In his advice, Mr. Graves could hardly have been more blunt. ‘I told them that they should invoke a culture war. Cosmopolitanism versus parochialism, secularism versus moralism, Obama versus Palin, tolerance versus racism and homophobia, democracy versus autocracy. If the cranky old men in Alberta don’t like it, too bad. Go south and vote for Palin.’ The Grits haven’t told him whether they favour this approach or not. But they are keen on projecting a more activist agenda for the party.”

To read the full story click on the title.

New York Times returns to profit

New York Times Co. rebounded from a prior-year loss in the first quarter caused by a steep drop in print advertising. The newspaper publisher in the latest quarter reported that total advertising declines continued to moderate, dropping 6%, and cost controls supported the bottom line. Chief Executive Janet Robinson said, "Circulation revenues continued to grow and were up approximately 4% as we were able to command higher subscription and newsstand prices at the New York Times and the Boston Globe."
Newspaper companies are counting on a stabilization of advertising this year, because recent profits have been driven largely by cost cutting that will be hard to sustain. The cuts, along with asset sales, have helped New York Times Co. cut its debt load.

Keith Pelley, who headed CTV's Winter Olympic coverage, gets senior post at CTVglobemedia

Keith Pelley,(pictured) who headed CTV's coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, will become executive vice-president for strategic planning at CTVglobemedia, Ivan Fecan, president and CEO of the company has announced. Pelley will oversee the CTV broadcast consortium as it prepares for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Fecan said Pelley's main task will be "to take a fresh look at how we operate across all of our groups." Pelley, a former president and CEO of the CFL Toronto Argonauts, was named president of Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium in September 2007.
Prior to working with the Argonauts, Pelley was president of TSN.

The Globe and Mail wants to join your Facebook!

The Globe and Mail has introduced new Facebook features to create a more personalized and social user experience at our website. Using Facebook’s new Social Plugins, The Globe has developed a more vibrant and interactive community, allowing readers to connect with millions of Facebook users, share and recommend content and follow friends’ activities and “Likes”, without leaving Globeandmail.com. Now, with a click of a button, the Globe community can easily interact with their current network of Facebook friends and find out what others are reading about on the The Globe and Mail website. The Globe and Mail has introduced three Facebook Social Plugins that will further customize the experience at Globeandmail.com.

To read all about it click on the title.

Why is Stephen Harper such a grouch to the press?: Blizzard

The Toronto Sun's Christina Blizzard writes:

" . . . as someone who spends a great deal of time watching political aides watching media watching politicians, I’m often baffled by the way politicians view journalists.

"Some see the media as the enemy and take every opportunity they can to engage in hostilities.

"It’s an inexplicable strategy that inevitably ends in tears — usually for the politicians.

"This comes to mind after a recent joint news conference featuring Premier Dalton McGuinty and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"Odd though it may seem for two such disparate politicians, Harper and McGuinty seem to be best buddies. They’re on first name terms.

"That’s where the similarity ends.

"What makes these intergovernmental bunfights most remarkable is the stark differences between McGuinty and Harper.

"It’s not just the two men. Their entourages project very different styles.

"I’m one of McGuinty’s toughest critics when it comes to policy.

"On a personal level, however, he’s is far more engaging than Harper.

"McGuinty, you sense, understands he shouldn’t take harsh political commentary personally.

"And in scrums, reporters may be rude, infuriating and embarrassing — but that’s just our job.

"I can write the most scathing column and McGuinty’s staff will still be unfailingly polite. The premier almost always takes my questions — while Harper requires reporters to get on a scrum list.

"Sure, McGuinty brought in his unpopular “five-foot” rule to keep reporters at arm’s length, but he hasn’t limited our access to him.

"This was all etched in vivid relief at the now infamous washroom incident at a news conference in Mississauga recently.

"A male Mountie barged into a washroom and threw me out — citing security. I won’t go over well-worn ground, but such an incident would never have occurred at a McGuinty-only event. . . "

To read the full column click on the title.

Michelle Lang, killed in Afghanistan, remembered in Washington and Ottawa

Calgary Herald reporter Michelle Lang, honoured in life as an award-winning journalist, will now also be remembered for her sacrifice at memorials in Ottawa and Washington D.C. Lang, 34, and four soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device while travelling in Afghanistan in December. She was the first Canadian journalist to die covering the war. In Ottawa, the generosity of a Second World War veteran will ensure that Lang and the soldiers will be remembered on the Tree of Life, a memorial located at Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre in Ottawa. Four hundred who died in battle have so far been honoured with a memorial leaf purchased by friends or relatives for $1,000. Col. (ret.) John Gardam bought a leaf for Lang and the four soldiers who perished in the IED explosion near Kandahar City on Dec. 30.

Ottawa helps pay for Kandahar media centre

What is being called the Kandahar Press Club opened Tuesday, giving local reporters a press centre in which to work, hold news conferences and file stories. Fazal Rehman, a local journalist, who works for Voice of America, says the centre gives the media community a place to meet and exchange ideas. He says healthy debate is important for Afghan democracy. The centre is located behind 10-metre-high concrete blast barriers, which were paid for by the Canadian government. Canada's civilian representative in Kandahar, Ben Rowswell, says journalists in Kandahar are already very aware of the risks, but the centre sends an important message to Afghans about the value of an independent media.

Murdoch out to take over New York Times

Rupert Murdoch built his career and his global media conglomerate, News Corp., by attacking opponents vulnerable to takeovers or innovation. His newest target is the biggest of them all: The New York Times, the Grey Lady of the U.S. newspaper industry, which is struggling to overcome big debts, withering revenue and declining circulation. His weapon of attack is the Wall Street Journal, the daily financial bible he paid – many say overpaid – more than $5-billion (U.S.) to acquire in 2007.

Privacy commissioner joins global group slamming Google

Privacy watchdogs in Canada and nine other countries are warning Google Inc. and other global firms to respect people's privacy rights. They've sent a letter to Google, accusing it of overlooking privacy values and legislation in launching new online products. Canadian Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart is among those who signed the letter. She says corporations like Google pay lip service to privacy, but it is not always reflected in the launch of new products. The privacy watchdogs are particularly disturbed by the recent rollout of the Google Buzz social networking application. Google assigned Gmail users a network of “followers” from among people with whom they corresponded most often and melded this into Buzz without adequately telling users about this new service.

Man charged in attack on Saskatoon journalist

A 22-year-old Saskatoon man charged in connection with the violent attack on StarPhoenix journalist Bob Florence will be held in custody until his next court appearance on Monday. Charles Robert Elwood was arrested Wednesday evening, just a block from where a badly beaten and unconscious Florence was found almost two months ago. Elwood, who is on parole, is charged with aggravated assault. On Feb. 26, after working an evening shift at The StarPhoenix, Florence left the downtown area and headed home. As usual, the 50-year-old Florence was walking. He has never owned a car, preferring to get around the city by walking or bicycling. Just after midnight, at 12:35 a.m. on Feb. 27, police received a report of an unconscious man in the intersection of 37th Street and Avenue B. Florence suffered a severe head injury and was in an induced coma for about three weeks. Transferred recently from Royal University Hospital to Saskatoon City Hospital, he is now in a rehabilitation program. Florence believes he was a victim of circumstance and not of a targeted attack.

Corus seeks buyer for CKRS 98.3 FM radio station in Saguenay, Que.

Corus Quebec is looking for a quick sale of CKRS 98.3, its FM radio station in Saguenay, Que. Corus informed the station's employees on Monday, about a year after CKRS was switched to playing oldies music from a talk format. Corus vice-president Mario Cecchini informed the station's employees of the planned sale said the company wants to find a buyer quickly. The station has been part of Corus for five years since it was part of an exchange of several stations in Quebec with Astral Media.
Both Astral and Corus Entertainment Inc. have said in recent financial reports that their radio divisions are continuing to suffer from a drop in advertising, while their TV operations have picked up.

What would Daniel Ellsberg do with the Pentagon papers today?

Intresting take in The New York Times:

Before Wikileaks, or even the Internet, there were just plain leaks.

Two weeks ago, Wikileaks.org released a classified video showing a United States Apache helicopter killing 12 civilians in Baghdad. The reaction was so swift and powerful — an edited version has been viewed six million times on YouTube — that the episode provoked many questions about how such material is now released and digested.

Put another way: if someone today had the Pentagon Papers, or the modern equivalent, would he still go to the press, as Daniel Ellsberg did nearly 40 years ago and wait for the documents to be analyzed and published? Or would that person simply post them online immediately?

Mr. Ellsberg knows his answer.

“As of today, I wouldn’t have waited that long,” he said in an interview last week. “I would have gotten a scanner and put them on the Internet.”

Click on the totle to read the whole story.

RIM says video is big challenge to telecom networks

Research in Motion says it is far from certain that video will become the "killer app" that defines smartphones, but even so the BlackBerry maker says developing more efficient delivery is necessary to prevent video from choking airwaves. The popularity of feature-rich smartphones such as the BlackBerry, Apple's iPhone, and Motorola's Droid has surged, but they use as much as 30 times as much bandwidth as regular mobile phones to run the applications, or "apps," that make them so popular. This has led to more dropped calls and choppy service. As video on smartphones becomes more popular, it is leading to more congestion, and forcing carriers to spend billions to upgrade networks and buy more wireless spectrum. RIM Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis (pictured) told a conference that it is already presenting a big challenge to networks.

NYT public editor raps paper's use of anonymous sources

Under the headline "Squandered Trust," N.Y. Times public editor writes:

"Despite written ground rules to the contrary and promises by top editors to do better, The Times continues to use anonymous sources for information available elsewhere on the record. It allows unnamed people to provide quotes of marginal news value and to remain hidden with little real explanation of their motives, their reliability, or the reasons why they must be anonymous."

Click on the title to read the full story.

Negative coverage prompts Alberta city to take its ads out of town

No one covers Wetaskiwin, Alta., politics like the Times Advertiser. Its solid coverage of city council's 2009 debate over liquor store hours earned writer Jerold Le-Blanc second place last month in the Best Business Writing category for newspapers with circulations over 10,000 in the Canadian Community Newspaper Association's Better Newspapers Competition. The paper's attention to touchy local issues, including crime problems and questionable municipal spending, hasn't escaped the notice of Wetaskiwin's Mayor and city council either. They're not fans. Last month, council voted unanimously to pull city advertising from the free local paper and award it instead to a free paper based in the town of Millet, Alta., a community just under a half-hour to the north.

Canwest Global wins more time from its lenders to complete its restructuring

Canwest Global Communications has a new deal with its lenders to give it more time to complete its restructuring. The company, which had faced a deadline of Thursday, said it must now deliver a recapitalization plan to an ad hoc committee of its noteholders by April 30. Canwest's lenders also agreed to extend to May 31 by which it is required to obtain approval for its plan and Aug. 11 by which it must repay its debtor-in-possession financing.

Former Spoiled Magazine Editors Get Rude Awakening

Brandon Holley, the 43-year-old editor in chief of Yahoo!'s Web site for women Shine, was profiled a while back in New York Times. Holley was once editor of Jane magazine at Condé Nast before the sassy women's magazine was shut down in July 2007. Now she works out of her Red Hook, Brooklyn home. Shine is doing well as it approaches its second anniversary (No. 2 in traffic behind Glam Media) and Holley insists editing the site is a "great job." But she and some of the original editors of the site had a hard time transitioning from the glitzy print world to stay-at-home blogging and editing. Two of her eight original editors quit since the site's launch.

To read the whole story click on the title.

Rolling Stone's archive going online - for a price

For the first time Rolling Stone is inviting its readers on the long, strange trip though the magazine's 43-year archive, putting complete digital replicas online along with the latest edition. But you'll have to pay to see it all. With a new site launching Monday, Rolling Stone will become one of the most prominent magazines to decide that adding a "pay wall" is the best way to make money on the Web. AP

Gannett Co., Inc. Reports First Quarter Results

Story from Reuters.

Reporter named in security leak case

The Washington Post said that the reporter was Siobhan Gorman, an intelligence correspondent for The Baltimore Sun at the time and subsequently at the Wall Street Journal. Calls to the Sun seeking comment were not returned and the Journal declined to comment. Reports say a U.S. national scurity official, now charged, was so close to the reporter that he helped her edit her stories with the information he provided. AP

W Network adjusts schedule to attract M demographic

Corus Entertainment Inc. is making programming adjustments aimed at luring more men to the women-focused W Network, after a change in the way TV broadcasters tally viewers revealed guys were tuning out when their female partners tuned in. The Spec.com

You're not anonymous on the Net

Potentially precedent setting case in which local paper has been ordered to provide names of readers who submitted allegedly libellous comments. Chronicle Herald

Flyonthewall.com "imperiled" by hot-news ban

Fascinating legal challenge to the speed of internet reporting. Flyonthewall made its request to U.S. District Judge Denise Cote, who last month issued an injunction requiring it to wait two or more hours before publishing research from Bank of America Corp's Merrill Lynch unit, Barclays Plc and Morgan Stanley Reuters on Yahoo Finance

Historic U-K Election Debate Held In Manchester

A remarkable first in the U-K. And a long time coming. The first of historic televised election debates will take place in Manchester later, with the main party leaders going head-to-head from 8.30pm Sky News

Conservative think tanks fund news sites in U.S.

AP reports that "a growing number of conservative groups" are bankrolling startup news organizations around the U.S. This as newspapers are cutting back their statehouse bureaus. The concern is expressed by AP sources of hidden agendas. The story would suggest however that AP has their number. TPG

CNN says it's a 'category of one' in unbiased news

One-time all-news leader fighting to get advertising in new world of opiniated news.

CRTC wants massive media, telecom rules reform

Konrad von Finckenstein, the chairman of Canada’s broadcasting and communications regulator, is calling for massive reforms to the country’s media and telecom rules, but remains staunchly against opening up the domestic market to foreign takeovers. Vancouver Sun

AP, ABC News win journalism awards

Ben Feller of The Associated Press and Jake Tapper of ABC News have won the Merriman Smith Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure. AP

Google, Yahoo to take over TV as Web Connections Become Norm

Most TV sets for sale by 2013 will be able to connect to the Internet right out of the box, setting the stage for companies such as Google Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and Intel Corp., to make televisions a lot more like computers and smartphones. Bloomberg

Yahoo introduces daily news-based series

Yahoo's news site is launching a daily 90-second series based on its most popular stories. Yahoo says it is teaming with Toyota and the production company Reveille to make "Who Knew?" The feature made its debut Monday on the popular news page. AP

Reports of TV's death greatly exaggerated

Soft information about online vs television revenues. Globe and Mail

Tony Parsons moves to CBC Vancouver

RELEASE -- (Edited) -- Tony Parsons has joined CBC News Vancouver as co-host of the local supper hour newscast. Parsons will add his talent into Vancouver’s local news scene with Gloria Macarenko, Claire Martin and Shane Foxman. Parsons will be seen on CBC News Vancouver weekdays at 5:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., beginning today. "Tony Parsons has been synonymous with local news in Vancouver for 35 years and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the CBC News Vancouver team,” said Johnny Michel, Managing Director, BC Region, CBC. “He is the most recognizable face in local news and has an innate gift to get to the heart of what matters for Vancouverites "I am fortunate to have had an exceptional career in broadcast journalism and look forward to joining the team at CBC,” said Parsons. “Together we will continue to cover the stories and issues that British Columbians care about everyday.

Oprah unauthorized bio says she threw diva snit

"I was astounded that the woman who seems so open and uninhibited is really so choked by secrets," said Kitty Kelley, who interviewed more than 800 people and spent four years researching the book" Book says Oprah popped off about "doing steps" in Washington bookstore.

2010 Pulitzer prizes handed out

The winners of U.S. journalism's most prestigious awards were getting them Monday in New York City. The 2010 Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music were to be handed out at Columbia University

Harlequin buys back stake from Axel Springer

Torstar Corporation will buy the remaining share of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Harlequin Enterprises Limited. It signed an agreement to acquire full ownership of its German publishing business, Cora Verlag, from Axel Springer Verlag, Harlequin's joint venture partner in Germany since 1976. The transaction is subject to German regulatory approval.

Telus to expand broadband in Quebec

RELEASE -- Telus today announced it is investing $250 million in Quebec in 2010 as it continues extending the reach and speed of its advanced wireline and wireless broadband services to more communities in Quebec. CNW

Harper names new spokesman

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has appointed one of his closest and most faithful aides as his official spokesman. Dimitri Soudas, 30,(pictured) who has worked for Harper for eight years, replaces John Williamson as director of communications. Soudas, whose most recent position was associate director of communications, will be the prime minister's fifth communications director in five years. Soudas's partisanship has landed him in trouble in the past.

Kidnapped Mexican jounalist found with throat slit

The body of a kidnapped Mexican journalist has been found with his throat slit, federal prosecutors said Sunday. The family of Enrique Villicana Palomares, a columnist for the daily newspaper The Voice of Michoacan in central Mexico, reported him missing last week after he didn't make it to a university where he taught writing.
Federal prosecutors said in a written statement that his body was found Saturday in the state capital, Morelia, after someone demanded a ransom. The statement did not say whether a ransom was paid, and prosecutors were not available. Investigators have not determined if Palomares was targeted because of his work as a journalist. His family told the press advocacy organization Reporters Without Borders that he was a member of the indigenous Purepecha group, and that he had written columns about attacks by armed groups on members on his community.

N.Y. Times editorial meeting goes online via video

The New York Times public editor writes about the daily editorial meeting now seen on the newspaper's web page. Excerpts:

"The Times introduced a regular video newscast on its Web site late last month. “TimesCast” shows scenes from the morning meeting where planning starts for the next day’s paper, and it features editors and reporters discussing the top stories that are developing, often with compelling video and photography from world hot spots. . . .


"But several stumbles in the past few weeks have demonstrated some of the risks for a print culture built on careful reporting, layers of editing and time for reflection as it moves onto platforms where speed is everything and attitude sometimes trumps values like accuracy and restraint. . .

"It once did not matter if editors had all of their facts straight at the morning news meeting; there was plenty of time for reporting and editing. But with the world looking over their shoulders, things are different. Editors are dressing better, speaking in complete, sound-bite sentences, and mistakes are embarrassing. . . ."

Click on the title to read the full story.

Reuters journalist killed in Bangkok protests

A Reuters television cameraman was shot dead on Saturday during a violent clash between Thai troops and anti-government protesters in Bangkok that killed 12 people.
Hiro Muramoto, a 43-year-old Japanese national, was shot in the chest and arrived at Klang Hospital without a pulse, hospital Director Dr Pichaya Nakwatchara said.
Muramoto, who had worked for Reuters in Tokyo for more than 15 years, was married with two childr

Shaw to invest $100 million in wireless service

Shaw Communications Inc. plans to launch its long-awaited wireless business in late 2011, at which point many of its rivals will have grabbed shares of the competitive mobile phone market. The Calgary-based cable TV, Internet and digital phone provider said Friday it will invest $100 million this year on its wireless rollout. The new details do little to satiate investor curiosity, said Genuity Capital Markets analyst Dvai Ghose. "It's all very, very vague. What they don't tell you is how much more they plan to spend, which markets." Shaw spent $190 million on wireless licences nearly two years ago, when Ottawa let new players enter an industry.

Tiger Woods pushes Masters ratings up 47 percent

Tiger Woods was almost done playing as ESPN began coverage of the Masters' second round Friday, a day after the network rode interest in his return from a self-imposed hiatus to its highest golf ratings ever. The Nielsen Co. said 4.94 million people watched ESPN's opening round coverage on Thursday, 47 percent more than last year's first round. The reason was abundantly clear: curiosity-seekers who wanted to see how Woods looked, acted and played golf since his personal life publicly crumbled in a shocking sex scandal.

Shaw profit slips

Calgary-based Shaw Communications Inc.'s profit slipped 11 per cent in its second quarter despite growth in its revenue, the cable television, internet and phone company reported Friday. Shaw had net earnings of $138.7 million, or 32 cents per share, for the three months ended Feb. 28, down from $156.6 million, or 36 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier. Analysts had expected 33 cents a share. The company also said it was increasing capital spending for its burgeoning wireless business, announcing plans to invest $100 million this fiscal year in a bid to launch the division by late 2011.

FP Newspapers fund to convert to corporation

FP Newspapers Income Fund, owner of a variety of Canadian newspapers, including the Winnipeg Free Press, Brandon Sun and several community papers, says it plans to convert into a corporation. The fund says that unitholders will vote on the matter at its annual meeting scheduled for May 5. Many trusts have been converting to the corporate model in anticipation of new federal rules that will tax most business income trusts like corporations beginning in 2011. If the transfer is approved, the corporation will operate under the name FP Newspapers Inc., the fund said.

Female journalists denied bathroom access at PM event

The Star's Tanya Talaga reports:
Female journalists covering a prime ministerial event at a Mississauga road maintenance facility felt they were in the Dark Ages when the RCMP restricted them from using a men’s washroom. In search of relief prior to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s arrival, a columnist tried to use the men’s bathroom while a reporter stood guard outside. The two women were ordered out and away from the area by the RCMP. Oddly, the journalists were told they could be escorted to the loo while the PM was at the podium making a $138-million infrastructure announcement.

Harper’s deputy press secretary Andrew MacDougall said the bathroom situation was a security issue.

“A washroom was available for all times but when the PM had to move, access was restricted temporarily until movement was complete,” he said.

Any time the PM is moving through hallways or buildings, the RCMP secures the premises. “It is standard procedure,” MacDougall said, adding there was a woman’s bathroom outside the main area.

A pregnant reporter also had to wait until she was given the go-ahead by the RCMP that all was clear.

No delay in digital TV switch, Clement says

Industry Minister Tony Clement says he doesn't want delays in the transition from analog to digital TV, despite loud warnings from networks and consumer advocates that Canada is far from ready for it. An estimated 900,000 Canadian households that rely on antennas don't have televisions equipped to receive those new digital signals, due to begin in August 2011. About another 44,000 won't have access to TV at all unless they invest in a satellite dish.

CRTC audits reveal abuses of community channel: Lobby group

CRTC audits of community channels operated by Canada' largest cable companies from 2002 through 2005 (the last year in which the CRTC monitored them) show numerous abuses, said the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations today. In 2002, the CRTC found that 11 of the 13 systems it audited, including Shaw, Cogeco, Access, Eastlink, and Rogers, could not be evaluated because of missing tapes, tape malfunctions, and inconsistencies between logs and tapes. Rogers routinely exceeded the maximum of two minutes per hour of promotional ads allowed (sometimes by as much as 7 minutes), and doubled the 15-second limit for sponsorship messages.
Community channels were created in the 1970s to enable Canadians to actively participate in their own broadcasting system.