August 2006

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For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org

JOURNALISM
The Media's Post-Katrina Flaw: Boredom

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Wireless Carriers Seek Faster Repairs
CRS report on Emergency Communications
Federal judge orders halt to NSA spy program
AT&T says Cooperation with NSA could be Legal
GAO: Anti-drug advertising campaign a failure

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Gore Lashes Out at Media Consolidation
Journal Register Puts Five Dailies On Selling Block

BROADCASTING
A Sense of Indecency
AFA Puts Out Alert On CBS' 9/11
EchoStar Settles Suit with Stations
TV archives predicted to boost broadcasters' revenues
USDA Funds Rural DTV Conversion

TELECOM
Consumers Paying Billions due to Misallocated Telecom Costs

NETWORK NEUTRALITY/INTERNET
FTC chief Critiques Net Neutrality
The New Network Neutrality: Criteria for Internet Freedom
Feds Renew Contract with Net Oversight Body
A Watchdog Group Warns Against AOL=92s Free Software

LABOR
New York Seeks to Open More Film-Crew Jobs to Women and Minorities
'The Blade' Operating Fine Without Locked Out Employees, Says GM

JOURNALISM

THE MEDIA'S POST-KATRINA FLAW: BOREDOM
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR:=20
Danny Heitman, Baton Rouge Advocate]
[Commentary] The first anniversary of hurricane=20
Katrina has once again attracted an army of=20
journalists to New Orleans, site of the worst=20
natural disaster in American history. While=20
Tuesday's anniversary promises to bring even more=20
attention to one of the most documented events in=20
national journalism, many residents of the flood-=20
ravaged Crescent City continue to insist that=20
reporters are missing the story. The locals=20
frequently complain that even after months of=20
coverage by TV, print, and Internet outlets, the=20
full dimension of the disaster has somehow eluded=20
the media's yardstick. Although some sloppy=20
reporting has figured into the distortion, the=20
divide between Katrina's perception and its=20
substance seems to have less to do with=20
negligence or intentional bias, and more to do=20
with the inherent limits of journalism as a=20
craft. Journalism is frequently derided for its=20
embrace of mindless repetition, but the=20
industry's understandable desire for what is new=20
and interesting has not inclined it to capture=20
the frequent monotony of existence in=20
post-Katrina New Orleans. If the everyday=20
challenges of post- Katrina Louisiana fail to=20
register in the global media machine, it is=20
perhaps because journalism, by its nature, sees=20
the world as a series of dramatically packaged=20
episodes rather than the dry continuum that a recovery from disaster can be.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0829/p09s01-coop.html

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

WIRELESS CARRIERS SEEK FASTER REPAIRS
[SOURCE: Mobile Tech Today]
A year after Hurricane Katrina, a squabble has=20
broken out among the utilities on the front lines=20
of disasters over whether cellphone service=20
should get priority for repairs. Power and=20
landline phone companies are resisting wireless=20
carriers' requests for preferred=20
treatment. About 1,000 of the 7,000 cell sites=20
along the Gulf Coast were knocked out by Katrina,=20
and cellphones were virtually useless in New=20
Orleans. Noting that wireless service has become=20
a lifeline during disasters, CTIA-The Wireless=20
Association told the Federal Communications=20
Commission this month that most outages stemmed=20
from cell towers that lost power or landline=20
phone service. Phone-company wires carry cell=20
calls once they reach the local tower. Electric=20
and phone companies worked to restore wireless=20
service as quickly as possible after the storm,=20
says CTIA's Christopher Guttman-McCabe. But, he=20
says, cellular networks could be revived more=20
quickly if placed on a priority list that=20
includes hospitals, public safety agencies and water plants.
http://www.mobile-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=3D45713

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS: THE EMERGENCY ALERT=20
SYSTEM (EAS) AND ALL-HAZARD WARNING
[SOURCE: Congressional Research Service, AUTHOR: Linda K. Moore]
This report summarizes the technology and=20
administration of the Emergency Alert System and=20
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric=20
Administration/National Weather Service=20
all-hazard network, new programs in Department of=20
Homeland Security, and some of the key
proposals for change.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RL32527.pdf

FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS HALT TO NSA SPY PROGRAM
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com 8/17, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
The warrantless Internet and telephone=20
surveillance program authorized by the Bush=20
administration violates the U.S. Constitution and=20
must cease immediately, a federal judge ruled.=20
The landmark decision makes U.S. District Judge=20
Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit the first judge to=20
strike down the National Security Agency's=20
once-secret program. The American Civil Liberties=20
Union had filed suit against the government,=20
claiming the program "ran roughshod" over the=20
constitutional rights of millions of Americans=20
and ran afoul of federal wiretapping law. In a=20
sweeping victory for the ACLU and its clients,=20
which included organizations representing=20
criminal defense lawyers, journalists,=20
Islamic-Americans and academics, Taylor appeared=20
to knock down several major legal arguments that=20
the Bush administration has used to defend the=20
program since it was revealed by The New York=20
Times last December. "Plaintiffs have prevailed,=20
and the public interest is clear, in this matter.=20
It is the upholding of our Constitution," the=20
judge wrote in her 43-page opinion. The decision=20
immediately drew an appeal from the U.S.=20
Department of Justice, which argued in a=20
statement that "the Terrorist Surveillance=20
Program is an essential tool for the intelligence=20
community in the War on Terror." The Bush=20
administration also requested that the judge's=20
opinion be put on hold until the appeals process=20
is complete. The government appealed the decision=20
to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
http://news.com.com/Federal+judge+orders+halt+to+NSA+spy+program/2100-10...
3-6106772.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

AT&T SAYS COOPERATION WITH NSA COULD BE LEGAL
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com 8/22, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
James Cicconi, AT&T's senior executive vice=20
president for external and legislative affairs,=20
offered a glimpse into how a company could be=20
required to cooperate with a federal entity such=20
as the National Security Agency. He said there=20
are "very specific federal statutes that=20
prescribe means, in black and white law, for=20
provision of information to the government under=20
certain circumstances." "We have stringently=20
complied with those laws," Cicconi said. "It's=20
pretty obvious, you know, as far as the court=20
case is going, that they've not reached a=20
different conclusion." AT&T has neither=20
confirmed nor denied that it has cooperated with=20
the NSA. Cicconi's remarks seem to indicate that=20
AT&T received formal authorization from the U.S.=20
Department of Justice to authorize the program.=20
The existence of such a letter has never been=20
confirmed. If a letter of certification exists,=20
AT&T could be off the hook in its lawsuits.=20
Federal law says that a "good faith" reliance on=20
a letter of certification "is a complete defense=20
to any civil or criminal" lawsuit.
http://news.com.com/AT38T+says+cooperation+in+NSA+spying+was+legal/2100-...
0_3-6108386.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

ANTI-DRUG ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN A FAILURE, GAO REPORT SAYS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Donna Leinwand]
A $1.4 billion anti-drug advertising campaign=20
conducted by the U.S. government since 1998 does=20
not appear to have helped reduce drug use and=20
instead might have convinced some youths that=20
taking illegal drugs is normal, the Government=20
Accountability Office says. The media campaign,=20
which purchases TV time, radio spots and=20
newspaper ads, changed its advertising theme last=20
year. The old approach said parents and informed=20
teens were =93the Anti-Drug.=94 The latest version=20
encourages teens to be =93above the influence.=94 The=20
report by the GAO, the investigative arm of=20
Congress, confirmed the results of a $43 million,=20
government-funded study that found the campaign=20
did not work. That evaluation, by Westat Inc. and=20
the University of Pennsylvania, said parents and=20
youths remembered the ads and their messages. But=20
the study said exposure to the ads did not change=20
kids' attitudes about drugs and that the=20
reduction in drug use in recent years could be=20
attributed more directly to a range of other=20
factors, such as a decline in high school=20
dropouts. The Westat study also said youths could=20
interpret the ads to suggest that marijuana use=20
is more common than it actually is. The GAO=20
report, released Friday, urges Congress to stop=20
the White House's National Youth Anti-Drug Media=20
Campaign unless drug czar John Walters can come=20
up with a better strategy. President Bush's=20
budget for 2007 asks Congress for $120 million=20
for the campaign, a $20 million increase from=20
this year. Walters' office disputed the study and=20
noted that drug-use rates among youths have=20
declined since 1998. A 2005 survey by the=20
University of Michigan indicated that 30% of=20
10th-graders reported having used an illicit drug=20
the previous year, down from 35% in 1998. The GAO=20
report is =93irrelevant to us,=94 says Tom Riley,=20
spokesman for the White House Office of National=20
Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). =93It's based on ads=20
from 2=BD years ago, and they were effective, too.=20
Drug use has been going down dramatically.=20
Cutting the program now would imperil (its) progress.=94
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060829/a_drugcampaign29.art.htm

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

GORE LASHES OUT AT MEDIA CONSOLIDATION
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Jill Lawless]
Former Vice President Al Gore said Sunday=20
ever-tighter political and economic control of=20
the media is a major threat to democracy. Gore=20
said the goal behind his year-old "interactive"=20
television channel Current TV was to encourage=20
the kind of democratic dialogue that thrives=20
online but is increasingly rare on TV. "Democracy=20
is under attack," Gore told an audience at the=20
Edinburgh International Television Festival.=20
"Democracy as a system for self-governance is=20
facing more serious challenges now than it has=20
faced for a long time. "Democracy is a=20
conversation, and the most important role of the=20
media is to facilitate that conversation of=20
democracy. Now the conversation is more=20
controlled, it is more centralized." He said that=20
in many countries, media control was being=20
consolidated in the hands of a few businesspeople=20
or politicians. In the United States "the only=20
thing that matters in American politics now is=20
having enough money to put 30-second commercials=20
on the air often enough to convince the voters to=20
elect you or re-elect you," he said. "The person=20
who has the most money to run the most ads usually wins."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060828/ap_on_re_eu/britain_gore_2

JOURNAL REGISTER PUTS FIVE DAILIES ON SELLING BLOCK
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher, AUTHOR: Joe Strupp]
Journal Register Company put five of its New=20
England daily papers up for sale Monday,=20
according to Chairman and CEO Robert Jelenic, who=20
said the papers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island=20
were not making an acceptable profit. The=20
Massachusetts papers being shopped around are The=20
Herald News in Fall River and Taunton Daily=20
Gazette in Taunton. In Rhode Island, the company=20
is seeking to sell The Call in Woonsocket, The=20
Times in Pawtucket, and the Kent County Daily=20
Times in West Warwick. In addition, a weekly=20
group of papers, the Southern Rhode Island=20
Newspaper Group in Wakefield, is for sale. The=20
properties up for sale have a combined=20
circulation of less than 40,000. They generated=20
revenues of approximately $39.9 million and=20
produced operating cash flow of approximately=20
$8.9 million for the 12 months ended June 25,=20
2006, the company revealed. Journal Register owns=20
27 daily papers and 366 non-dailies.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003053846

BROADCASTING

A SENSE OF INDECENCY
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Meredith McGehee, Campaign Legal Center]
[Commentary] The Federal Communications=20
Commission, at the prodding of the U.S. Congress=20
(which authorizes the Commission=92s budget), has=20
slapped selected broadcasters with steep fines=20
for indecency. But that has not changed the cozy=20
relationship between broadcasters and the agency=20
charged with regulating them. The fines imposed=20
for indecency are just a drop in the bucket=20
compared to what the government should be=20
requiring of broadcasters for using our public=20
airwaves. The FCC=92s quick response to broadcasts=20
of indecent material stands in stark contrast to=20
the agency=92s refusal to act on defining=20
broadcasters=92 public-interest obligations in the=20
digital age, which is now quietly stretching into=20
its sixth year! So how is it that the FCC can=20
regulate indecency to the point of calculating=20
down to a specific dollar figure varying amounts=20
for exposed body parts, but shows signs of=20
paralysis in spelling out broadcaster=20
obligations? The FCC=92s failure to act has huge=20
consequences for the viewing public, as=20
broadcasters pay nothing for the extremely=20
valuable licenses they are granted by the=20
government. The National Association of=20
Broadcasters has waged an intense public=20
relations campaign to convince citizens and=20
policy-makers of its members=92 commitment to=20
fulfilling their public-interest obligations. The=20
effort would actually be funny if it were not so=20
indicative of how ineffective the FCC has been in=20
regulating this powerful industry. This is all=20
bad enough, but there is more. Broadcasters are=20
looking for another, and even bigger, handout=20
from the government today: They want the FCC to=20
force cable operators to carry as many streams of=20
programming as the broadcasters can squeeze from=20
the digital spectrum that the government gave=20
them for free. Not surprisingly, broadcasters are=20
strong supporters of multicast must-carry and=20
cable operators are vigorously opposed. FCC=20
chairman Kevin Martin has made no secret of the=20
fact that he wants to push such a requirement=20
through, but he has yet to muster the support of=20
a sufficient number of his colleagues to make it=20
happen. It=92s long past time for the FCC to serve=20
the public, and to stop making excuses for the=20
broadcast industry. Public interest obligations=20
are just that, in the public interest. The FCC=20
needs to remember that and start collecting at=20
least this token rent on the public=92s airwaves.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6361883.html?display=3DOpinion
Also see --
* What Community Service?
http://www.benton.org/benton_files/whatservice.doc

AFA PUTS OUT ALERT ON CBS' 9/11
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The American Family Association has sent out an=20
action alert under the heading "CBS To Air=20
Profanity-Laden Program" asking members to=20
complain to the FCC and CBS affiliates and to=20
"share this information with your Sunday School=20
class." The program in question is the CBS=20
documentary "9/11." CBS will air content warnings=20
before and during the documentary's Sept. 10=20
airing. The show, which has aired twice before=20
unedited, features firemen and other emergency=20
workers swearing in the heat of one of the most=20
cataclysmic events of our time. CBS has said it=20
does not expect to have any problems with the=20
FCC, pointing to the FCC's decision that the FCC=20
found that the swearing in film "Saving Private=20
Ryan" was not indecent in context.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6366305.html?display=3DBreaki...
News

ECHOSTAR SETTLES SUIT WITH STATIONS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Steve Donohue]
EchoStar said Monday morning that it settled a=20
nine-year-old lawsuit with ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox=20
affiliate associations that will allow it to=20
continue to deliver distant network signals to=20
subscribers that qualify for the programming.=20
Dish, which had reached similar settlements=20
earlier with hundreds of other TV stations,=20
including ABC, NBC and CBS O&Os, also agreed to=20
pay the affiliate associations $100 million. Only=20
affiliates not owned by News Corp.'s Fox agreed=20
to the settlement. Fox withdrew from negotiations=20
last week. =93Fox is still holding out, and as=20
sister company of DirecTV, it's reasonable to=20
guess that they're not in any hurry to sign,=94=20
said Craig Moffett, an analyst at Sanford C.=20
Bernstein. News Corp. controls EchoStar's larger rival, DirecTV Group.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6366237.html?display=3DBreaking+News
* EchoStar to pay $100M to settle dispute with networks
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060829/echostar29.art.htm

TV ARCHIVES PREDICTED TO BOOST BROADCASTERS' REVENUES
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson]
Commercial broadcasters could make a third of=20
their revenues by 2009 from the "long tail" of=20
old programmes sitting unexploited on archive=20
shelves, the BBC's director of new media has=20
predicted. Ashley Highfield, who is in charge of=20
the BBC's future media and technology division,=20
said that broadcasters' back catalogues currently=20
accounted for a negligible share of viewing,=20
compared with the online success of books, music=20
and films. By 2009, he predicted, the "long tail"=20
could account for 25 per cent of television=20
consumption and 33 per cent of the revenues of=20
commercial broadcasters that allowed on-demand viewing of their programmes.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/35720f58-36fb-11db-89d6-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)

USDA AWARDS OVER $4.9 MILLION TO FUND RURAL=20
PUBLIC TELEVISION DIGITAL CONVERSION PROJECTS
[SOURCE: Department of Agriculture press release]
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner=20
announced that public television networks and=20
stations in nine states will receive $4.97=20
million to enable them to provide digital=20
broadcasting services to rural residents. The=20
funds are being provided through USDA Rural=20
Development's Public Television Digital=20
Transition Grant program. Funding of selected=20
applicants will be contingent upon meeting the=20
conditions of the grant agreement. USDA Rural=20
Development's mission is to increase economic=20
opportunity and improve the quality of life in=20
rural communities. As a venture capital entity,=20
Rural Development has invested over $72 billion=20
since the beginning of the Bush Administration to=20
provide equity and technical assistance to=20
finance and foster growth in homeownership,=20
business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=3Dtr...
contentid=3D2006/08/0319.xml

TELECOM

CONSUMERS PAYING BILLIONS DUE TO MISALLOCATED TELECOM COSTS
[SOURCE: National Association of State Utility=20
Consumer Advocates press release 8/22]
The National Association of State Utility=20
Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) told the Federal=20
Communications Commission that =93seismic changes=94=20
in the type of services provided over local=20
telephone lines have resulted in consumers=20
overpaying billions of dollars in their local=20
telephone rates. In comments and affidavits filed=20
at the FCC, NASUCA argues that cost allocation=20
procedures have not kept pace with today=92s=20
telecommunication environment. Telephone=20
companies have invested billions of dollars in=20
their networks to provide unregulated=20
long-distance and high-speed Internet data=20
services. However, based on antiquated FCC=20
=93separations=94 rules, most of these costs are=20
still allocated to local telephone customers=92=20
bills. =93It is unfair that local telephone=20
customers subsidize huge investments in=20
unregulated technologies that do not assist in=20
their ability to make calls within their=20
community. This is an issue of fundamental=20
fairness,=94 said David Bergmann, chairman of the=20
NASUCA telecommunications committee and assistant=20
consumers=92 counsel with the Office of the Ohio=20
Consumers=92 Counsel. =93The FCC=92s procedures and=20
rates need to be updated and, according to our=20
experts, that should result in lower local=20
telephone bills.=94 According to NASUCA=92s experts,=20
if costs were properly assigned to the=20
unregulated ventures the costs support, local=20
telephone customers could see lower =93subscriber=20
line charges=94, which are line-item fees included=20
on all monthly local telephone bills. In=20
addition, through the possibility of separate=20
proceedings by state regulators, the lowering of=20
basic local service rates could also occur. As=20
telephone technology has moved from an analog=20
system supporting voice services to a more modern=20
digital environment supporting Internet and=20
data-based usage, the method used by the FCC to=20
assign the cost of these technology upgrades to=20
customers has not changed. The FCC is in the=20
process of examining its =93separations rules=94=20
which dictate how these costs are assigned to the=20
parts of telephone companies=92 business that=20
cause, and benefit from, the expenses.
http://www.nasuca.org/newsroom/NASUCA%20Separations%20Comments%20PR.pdf

NETWORK NEUTRALITY/INTERNET

FTC CHIEF CRITIQUES NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com 8/21, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt=20
Majoras expressed sharp skepticism toward=20
proposed laws that would levy extensive Net=20
Neutrality regulations on broadband providers.=20
She said extensive Net Neutrality legislation=20
currently pending in the U.S. Senate is=20
unnecessary because there has been no=20
demonstrated harm to consumers, that normal=20
market forces would likely prevent any problems,=20
and that new laws would cause more problems than=20
they solve. "I ask myself whether consumers will=20
stand for an Internet that suddenly imposes=20
restrictions on their ability to freely explore=20
the Internet or does not provide for the choices=20
they want," Chairman Majoras said. Because the=20
FTC shares enforcement authority with the Federal=20
Communications Commission over certain types of=20
deceptive practices by broadband providers,=20
Chairman Majoras' remarks could nudge some=20
senators who have been cautious supporters of Net=20
Neutrality to a more laissez-faire position. A=20
new Internet Access Task Force at the FTC will=20
evaluate Net neutrality proposals in detail,=20
Chairman Majoras said, and present a report with=20
its conclusions. The Public Knowledge advocacy=20
group, which often supports additional regulation=20
of large telecommunications companies, took issue=20
with Majoras's comments, saying 98 percent of=20
broadband customers receive their service from=20
either the telephone company or the cable=20
company. "There are no market forces at work=20
here, much as Chairman Majoras wishes there to=20
be," the group said in a statement.
http://news.com.com/FTC+chief+critiques+Net+neutrality/2100-1028_3-61079...
html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

THE NEW NETWORK NEUTRALITY: CRITERIA FOR INTERNET FREEDOM
[SOURCE: saschameinrath.com]
[Commentary] What exactly do you need for true=20
Network Neutrality? Here's ten interrelated=20
points for optimal networking: 1. Requires Common=20
Carriage. 2. Is Open Architecture and Supports=20
Open Source Driver Development. 3. Is Open=20
Protocol and Open Standard. 4. Supports an=20
End-to-End Architecture (i.e., is composed of a=20
dumb network). 5. Is Private (e.g., no back=20
doors, deep packet inspection, etc.). 6. Is=20
Application-Neutral. 7. Is Generally Low-Latency=20
and First-In/First-Out (i.e., requires adequate=20
capacity for both). 8. Is Interoperable. 9. Is=20
Business Model Neutral. 10. Is Run by its Users=20
(i.e., is internationally representative and
non-Amerocentric).
http://www.saschameinrath.com/2006aug28the_new_network_neutrality_criter...
for_internet_freedom

FEDS RENEW CONTRACT WITH NET OVERSIGHT BODY
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com 8/16, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
The U.S. government renewed its contract with the=20
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and=20
Numbers, effectively extending its grip on the=20
administrative body that coordinates Net=20
addressing until up to 2011. The new contract=20
between the Marina Del Ray, Calif.-based=20
nonprofit and the U.S. Department of Commerce=20
covers technical functions related to the=20
Internet domain name system (DNS) and is=20
scheduled to go into effect on Oct. 1, one day=20
after the existing contract expires. Technically,=20
the agreement lasts for one year, and the=20
government has the option of renewing it each=20
year for up to four additional years. "In=20
executing this contract the Department of=20
Commerce has confirmed that ICANN is uniquely=20
positioned to perform this function," Paul=20
Twomey, the organization's CEO, said in a=20
statement. The move appears to be consistent with=20
a set of Internet governance principles issued=20
last summer by the Commerce Department that=20
ignited a worldwide debate. In addition to=20
asserting its plans to retain control over the=20
Internet's "root," the master file that lists=20
what top-level domains are authorized, the Bush=20
administration said it planned to maintain its supervision over ICANN.
http://news.com.com/Feds+renew+contract+with+Net+oversight+body/2100-102...
-6106417.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

A WATCHDOG GROUP WARNS AGAINST AOL'S FREE SOFTWARE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Tom Zeller, Jr]
Dealing yet another blow to AOL, a leading=20
software watchdog group warned users away from=20
AOL=92s free client software yesterday on the=20
ground that it displayed characteristics=20
consistent with =93badware.=94 The term badware=20
describes a wide array of downloadable=20
applications that try to install extra components=20
on a computer without clearly informing users of=20
what they are or what they will do. The group,=20
StopBadware.org, posted an =93open inquiry=94 into=20
the AOL software yesterday, meaning that a=20
dialogue has been opened with the company and=20
that a full =93badware=94 designation is still=20
pending. The report, however, stated that the=20
AOL client software, which provides subscribers=20
with a suite of services, also installed extra=20
software deceptively, altered the Web browser and=20
other computer components without notifying the=20
user, and did not uninstall completely, among=20
other =93badware behaviors.=94 Similar=20
characteristics are often found in pernicious=20
forms of spyware and adware, often called=20
malware. The StopBadware organization was founded=20
in part to assist consumers in spotting shady=20
software. The group is run by the Berkman Center=20
for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School=20
and the Oxford Internet Institute of Oxford University.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/29/technology/29aol.html
(requires registration)

LABOR

NEW YORK SEEKS TO OPEN MORE FILM-CREW JOBS TO WOMEN AND MINORITIES
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Joseph Fred]
The Bloomberg administration is seeking to expand=20
job and training opportunities for minorities and=20
women in the off-screen crews that form the=20
backbone of the thriving film and television=20
production industry in New York City. Mayor=20
Michael R. Bloomberg has said that the effort is=20
intended to continue the work of a City Council=20
task force on diversity in the film industry,=20
which Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn=20
established early this year. She acted after some=20
council members complained that minority groups=20
and women were underrepresented in the often=20
well-paying production jobs even as the film=20
industry was being aided by city and state tax=20
breaks. Now the administration is putting=20
together what it calls a working group that =93will=20
have a goal of developing specific=20
recommendations in six months=94 for increasing job=20
and training opportunities in the industry for=20
minorities and women, said Daniel L. Doctoroff,=20
the deputy mayor for economic development and=20
rebuilding. The group is to include=20
representatives from production companies and=20
labor unions. Advocates for increasing such=20
opportunities said a group having the mayor=92s=20
imprimatur would signal the strength of the city=92s commitment on the issu=
e.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/29/nyregion/29film.html
(requires registration)

'THE BLADE' OPERATING FINE WITHOUT LOCKED OUT EMPLOYEES, SAYS GM
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher, AUTHOR: Joe Strupp]
One day after locking out some 200 non-editorial=20
employees in three bargaining units, the general=20
manager of The Blade in Toledo, Ohio says the=20
paper is operating fine, and with less than half=20
the number of workers who were kept out. The five=20
locked-out groups are among seven bargaining=20
units currently engaged in contract negotiations,=20
including the 350-member Newspaper Guild, which=20
remains on the job. Blade spokeswoman LuAnn Sharp=20
has said the lockouts are the paper's way of=20
putting pressure on the unions for new contracts,=20
which have not been in place since the previous=20
agreements ended March 21. Union leaders reacted=20
to the first lockout with a subscriber and=20
advertisers boycott, which they stepped up over the weekend.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003053840
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Communications-related Headlines is a free online=20
news summary service provided by the Benton=20
Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday=20
through Friday, this service provides updates on=20
important industry developments, policy issues,=20
and other related news events. While the=20
summaries are factually accurate, their often=20
informal tone does not always represent the tone=20
of the original articles. Headlines are compiled=20
by Kevin Taglang headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
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