August 2007

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Advocates call for more high-speed Internet access
ISPs to rural America: Live with dial-up
The Cost Of America's Slow Internet Connection
Why ConnectKentucky makes a bad model for U.S. broadband
EarthLink to cut 900 jobs, close offices
A Permanent Ban On Internet Taxes?

BROADCASTING
FCC's Digital Television Consumer Education Workshop

CABLE
Martin Backing TAC In Comcast Dispute
NBC Universal agrees to buy Sparrowhawk Media

SPECTRUM/WIRELESS
Spectrum Management: Auctions
If Sirius and XM merge, Terrestrial wants to merge too

ACCESSIBILITY
DOE Funds Mobile Media Captioning Research

LABOR
'Kid Nation' puts Hollywood labor tension into sharp focus
Writers Guild and Studios Heading Back To Bargaining Table

INTERNATIONAL
In Europe, a Push by Phone Companies Into TV
Slim Pickings

BOOKS OF NOTE
Media Work: 'Everyone's Job Is on the Line'
Communication Revolution: Critical Junctures and the Future of Media

QUICKLY -- Deal to Buy Dow Jones Gets Antitrust=20
Clearance; GOP Steps Up Web Presence With Veteran=20
of Yahoo, MSN; Oldest JOA Set For Early End;=20
Racial Disparity Affirmed in Tobacco Advertising;=20
The technology kids want, versus what they need

INTERNET/BROADBAND

ADVOCATES CALL FOR MORE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Rural advocacy groups and educators told two=20
members of the Federal Communications Commission=20
on Tuesday that a lack of high-speed Internet is=20
hurting Arkansas=92 Delta and other poor regions=20
trying to lift their low economic and academic=20
rankings. The FCC members listened as advocates=20
and Internet service providers called for more=20
federal assistance in giving rural areas access=20
to broadband Internet. =93We have not successfully=20
transititioned into the information age, and I=20
would contend a lot of that is because we=92re not=20
delivering broadband to our people,=94 said Rex=20
Nelson, alternate federal co-chairman of the=20
Delta Regional Authority. =93Having access to=20
broadband in even the most rural areas of our=20
country is as important as getting that=20
electricity to them and air conditioning to them=20
back in the 1940s and the 1950s.=94 Sen. Mark Pryor=20
(D-Ark) invited commissioners Jonathan S.=20
Adelstein and Michael J. Copps to a special=20
hearing at the Central Arkansas Library System=92s=20
main library in downtown Little Rock. He said=20
afterward the Universal Service Fund is one way=20
more high-speed Internet access could be offered.
http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2007/aug/28/advocates-call-more-high...
eed-internet-access/
* Arkansas Librarian Laments State of Rural Broadband at Senate Hearing
http://blogs.ala.org/districtdispatch.php?title=3Darkansas_librarian_lam...
s_state_of_rura&more=3D1&c=3D1&tb=3D1&pb=3D1
* Copps: The State of Broadband
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Where are we heading in this still-new=20
Twenty-first century and what role are=20
telecommunications going to play in shaping our=20
future? My answer to that is that the future=20
will belong to those who learn best how to deploy=20
all these new technologies, products and=20
services. My answer is we have to get this right=20
for America. And part of my answer,=20
unfortunately, is that right now we're not where=20
we need to be. Oh, I know we all have lots of=20
new gizmos and gadgets and that advanced=20
telecommunications like broadband have brought us=20
some pretty fundamental changes, including right=20
here in Arkansas. But I also know that other=20
countries are eating our lunch in building their=20
communications infrastructures and I believe that=20
America's lack of a concerted national strategy=20
to get back in the lead is tantamount to playing=20
Russian roulette with our future. Let me begin by=20
saying that my overriding objective since going=20
to the FCC in 2001 has been to bring the best,=20
most accessible and cost-effective communications=20
system in the world to all of our people-and I=20
mean all of our people. We can't leave anybody=20
behind in this great new age of high-speed=20
communications. That means those who live in=20
rural America, those who live in the inner city=20
and those who live on tribal lands; it means not=20
just the affluent and privileged, but those who=20
are economically disadvantaged and those with=20
disabilities. Each and every citizen of this=20
great country should have access to the wonders=20
of communications. I'm not talking about doing=20
all these people some kind of feel-good,=20
do-gooder favor by including them; I'm talking=20
about doing America a favor. I'm talking about=20
making certain our citizens can compete here at=20
home and around the world with those who are=20
already using broadband in all aspects of their lives.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276303A1.doc
* Adelstein: The State of Broadband
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
We are only scratching the surface of the=20
opportunities that broadband can bring. We stand=20
at the threshold of a revolution in the=20
applications that will ride over broadband=20
infrastructure. By expanding the reach of=20
advanced communications technologies, we can=20
bring new hope to many communities where it is in=20
short supply.... I am increasingly concerned that=20
we have failed to keep pace with our global=20
competitors over the past few years. Each year,=20
we slip further down the regular rankings of=20
broadband penetration. While some have protested=20
the international broadband penetration rankings,=20
the fact is the U.S. has dropped=20
year-after-year. This downward trend and the=20
lack of broadband value illustrate the sobering=20
point that when it comes to giving our citizens=20
affordable access to state-of the-art=20
communications, the U.S. has fallen behind its global competitors.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276283A1.doc

ISPs TO RURAL AMERICA: LIVE WITH DIAL-UP
[SOURCE: ComputerWorld, AUTHOR: Robert Mitchell]
You can't get there from here. That old New=20
England saw is an apt metaphor for the state of=20
high-speed rural broadband. While many=20
telecommunications carriers are posting record=20
profits this year, millions of U.S. homes and=20
businesses still have no access to broadband --=20
and that's no coincidence. The return on equity=20
that Wall Street demands from players in today's=20
largely unregulated telecommunications business=20
all but requires carriers to abandon rural=20
America. As population density drops outside of=20
metropolitan areas, it's impossible for=20
telecommunications companies or cable service=20
providers to justify the tens to hundreds of=20
thousands of dollars per mile it can cost to=20
bring fiber to every rural community, let alone=20
every home. The result: Today, just 17% of rural=20
U.S. households subscribe to broadband service,=20
according to the Government Accountability=20
Office. And a recent report from the Organization=20
for Economic Co-operation and Development says=20
the U.S. dropped from fourth in the world in=20
broadband penetration in 2001 to 15th place in 2006.
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=3DviewArticleBasi...
rticleId=3D299844&intsrc=3Dhm_list

THE COST OF AMERICA'S SLOW INTERNET CONNECTION
[SOURCE: RTTNews, AUTHOR: editorial( at )rttnews.com]
[Commentary] While America once held the place of=20
the most wired country in the world, its Internet=20
connection has dropped behind in the broadband=20
race. And the numbers show that not only is=20
America's connection slower, it's costlier. Who=20
is to blame for this communication dilemma? In=20
the early 1990's Verizon and other phone=20
companies were given $200 billion to lay out=20
fiber-optic wire. The fiber-optic wire would have=20
improved service. However, over 10 years later,=20
the average speed in the U.S. continued to lag behind the rest of the world.
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=3D20070827\ACQRTT200=
708271608RTTRADERUSEQUITY_0656.htm&selected=3D9999&selecteddisplaysymbol=3D=
9999&StoryTargetFrame=3D_top&mkt=3DWORLD&chk=3Dunchecked&lang=3D&link=3D&he=
adlinereturnpage=3Dhttp://www.international.nasd

WHY CONNECTKENTUCKY MAKES A BAD MODEL FOR US BROADBAND
[SOURCE: MuniWireless, AUTHOR: Carol Ellison]
[Commentary] The United States risks falling=20
deeper into the world-wide digital divide if=20
states model their future after a Kentucky=20
initiative that embraces DSL as the broadband=20
standard. ConnectKentucky is largely focused on=20
expanding service through private providers=20
heavily invested in DSL. It has succeeded in=20
getting a majority of residents in that rural=20
state connected. But, when it comes to national=20
policy, consideration should not stop at just=20
building out current service. Contrast=20
ConnectKentucky to the goals in Minnesota where=20
communities are eying fiber build-outs as the=20
solution. Communities that enjoy a wealth of=20
broadband choices have enjoyed a plethora of=20
broadband options from private providers for some=20
time. The concern is not getting broadband but=20
getting fast reliable service that can support=20
the bandwidth-hungry applications customers want=20
delivered. As areas around the nation achieve=20
universal connectivity and begin looking to what=20
more they want and expect of broadband, the=20
question will increasingly turn from access to=20
speed, reliability, and whatever it takes to run=20
the applications communities deem necessary to their future and well-being.
http://www.muniwireless.com/article/articleview/6359/1/3

EARTHLINK TO CUT 900 JOBS, CLOSE OFFICES
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Greg Bluestein]
Internet service provider EarthLink said Tuesday=20
that it would cut 900 jobs - or about half its=20
work force - and close four offices in an effort=20
to reduce operating costs. The moves come as the=20
company continues struggling to generate revenues=20
as dial-up access customers turn to high-speed=20
alternatives from cable and phone companies. The=20
company had counted on the right to sell=20
customers access to citywide wireless networks in=20
exchange for helping cities build the networks.=20
But amid questions about customer demand and the=20
technology's performance, EarthLink announced in=20
April that it was reviewing new deployments while=20
evaluating the performance of the current rollouts in four cities.
http://www.miamiherald.com/business/technology/story/217855.html
* Municipal Wi-Fi too big a challenge in Texas?
[SOURCE: Network World, AUTHOR: Linda Musthaler]
When EarthLink came down to Houston, last April=20
to sign a contract to provide Wi-Fi service=20
across the city=92s enormous 640 square miles, it=20
probably had big dollar signs in its visions.=20
However, looks like the ISP may be backing away=20
from that vision now that it has had a chance to=20
sober up. The Houston Chronicle reported last=20
week that EarthLink is months behind schedule in=20
getting started with Houston=92s Wi-Fi project, and=20
there are doubts it will go forward at all.
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/techexec/2007/0827techexec1.html

A PERMANENT BAN ON INTERNET TAXES?
[SOURCE: Forbes.com 8/23, AUTHOR: Brian Wingfield]
By all accounts, it's fairly safe to say that=20
Congress is not going to allow state and local=20
taxes on Internet service, at least for the next=20
several years. Previously, there had been some=20
speculation that Congress would let the current=20
ban expire on Nov. 1, but with so many bills in=20
play, that no longer seems to be the case.=20
However, when lawmakers return from their summer=20
recess next month, Capitol Hill will be abuzz=20
with a debate over whether to keep the Web=20
indefinitely tax free--and it boils down to a=20
good old-fashioned American debate over states'=20
rights. The Bush administration is looking to=20
influence the debate. Earlier this month,=20
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Commerce=20
Secretary Carlos Gutierrez sent a letter to key=20
leaders of Congress, notably House Speaker Nancy=20
Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Harry=20
Reid (D-NV) urging them to support the permanent Internet tax ban.
http://www.forbes.com/technology/ebusiness/2007/08/22/internet-tax-ban-b...
wash-cx_bw_0823taxes.html

BROADCASTING

FCC'S DIGITAL TELEVISION CONSUMER EDUCATION WORKSHOP
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
- The Federal Communications Commission today=20
announced the agenda topics and tentative=20
speakers for the Digital Television Consumer=20
Education Workshop to be held Wednesday,=20
September 26, 2007, at FCC Headquarters, 445 12th=20
St., SW, Washington, DC, in the Commission=20
Meeting Room. It will begin at 8:00 AM and end=20
at 3:45 PM. The purpose of the workshop is to=20
provide an opportunity for all interested parties=20
to jointly discuss the challenges associated with=20
the upcoming transition and explore ways to=20
develop coordinated consumer education=20
activities. Organizations representing a broad=20
range of consumers and other stakeholders will be=20
represented, including those who represent senior=20
citizens, low-income consumers, non-English=20
speakers, people with disabilities, tribes, and=20
public interest organizations working on behalf=20
of underserved customers or those living in rural=20
areas. A preliminary agenda is attached. During=20
the workshop, the public can e-mail questions for=20
the panelists at dtvworkshop( at )fcc.gov Panel=20
discussions include: 1) What Are the Government's=20
and Industry's Roles in Facilitating the DTV=20
Transition? 2) two Consumer Interest and Advocacy Group Roundtables.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276258A1.doc

CABLE

MARTIN BACKING TAC IN COMCAST DISPUTE
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Continuing his quest to make more friends in the=20
cable industry, Federal Communications Commission=20
Chairman Kevin Martin has apparently endorsed a=20
ruling that would designate The America Channel=20
(TAC) a regional sports network (RSN) qualified=20
to obtain carriage from Comcast through=20
arbitration. The proposal would reject a Comcast=20
petition for declaratory ruling, which accused=20
TAC of gaming the agency=92s 2006 Adelphia merger=20
order that included some network carriage=20
protections for RSNs unaffiliated with either=20
Comcast or Time Warner. TAC at one point filed an=20
anti-trust suit to block the merger. In an effort=20
to obtain majority support, Chairman Martin told=20
the other commissions that the agency would=20
launch an inquiry hoping to firm up the=20
definition of RSNs. While the inquiry was=20
pending, Chairman Martin promised the FCC would=20
not involve itself in any more TAC-Comcast disputes
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6472429.html

NBC UNIVERSAL AGREES TO BUY SPARROWHAWK MEDIA
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Gavin Haycock]
NBC Universal said on Tuesday it will double the=20
size of its cable operations outside the United=20
States with the acquisition of Sparrowhawk Media,=20
the private equity-backed owner of the Hallmark=20
channel. Sparrowhawk, with 18 channels, will be=20
integrated into NBC's global networks division,=20
bolstering its channel offering to 30 and=20
bringing in an additional 60 million subscribers.=20
The relationship between Sparrowhawk and NBC goes=20
back several years, starting with a licensing=20
deal involving "Law and Order." NBC is the=20
biggest supplier of programming content to=20
Sparrowhawk. Hallmark's international channels=20
broadcast across 152 territories in Europe, the=20
Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia. Its=20
library of classic films includes "Moby Dick" and=20
"Gulliver's Travels." Hallmark UK, the largest=20
channel in the group, carries NBC Universal=20
series such as "Law & Order," "House" and "Monk."
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DindustryNews&storyID=
=3D2007-08-28T210913Z_01_L28858709_RTRIDST_0_INDUSTRY-NBC-SPARROWHAWK-DC.XML
* NBC Universal Buys International Cable Networks
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=3D120119
* NBC Buys TV Group Overseas
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/business/media/29nbc.html?ref=3Dtodays...
er
* NBC Universal diversifies
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-nbc29aug29,1,1956015....
ry?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

SPECTRUM/WIRELESS

SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT: AUCTIONS
[SOURCE: Congressional Research Reports via openCRS, AUTHOR: Linda Moore]
Radio frequency spectrum policy issues before=20
Congress are characterized by economic,=20
technological and regulatory complexity. Of=20
particular interest to policy makers are the=20
allocation of spectrum for specific types of use=20
(such as TV broadcasting, radio, advanced=20
wireless services, or unlicensed) and the=20
assignment of licenses for exclusive or shared=20
use of specific frequencies. Today, most=20
frequencies allocated for commercial uses are=20
assigned through auctions, with licenses going to=20
the highest bidder. Another important allocation=20
of spectrum is for unlicensed use. Both=20
commercial and non-commercial entities use=20
unlicensed spectrum to meet a wide variety of=20
monitoring and communications needs. Issues that=20
have been raised in the discussion over how best=20
to allocate this spectrum include the creation of=20
national licenses with open access for wireless=20
devices, the treatment of designated entities --=20
with references to NextWave, blind bidding, how=20
much spectrum is needed for public safety=20
communications, and proposals to provide spectrum=20
for shared use between public safety and the=20
private sector. In particular, proposals put=20
forth by Cyren Call, Frontline, and Google, Inc.=20
have sparked an ongoing public debate about the=20
"highest and best use" for the spectrum currently=20
designated for auction by the Deficit Reduction Act.
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL31764

IF SIRIUS AND XM MERGE, TERRESTRIAL WANTS TO MERGE TOO
[SOURCE: Orbitcast]
[Commentary] Broadcasters Beasley, Citadel,=20
Entercom, Greater Media, Lincoln Financial Media=20
and Saga Communications have filed a joint filing=20
asking that the FCC consider relaxing ownership=20
restrictions when deciding on the Sirius-XM=20
merger. The companies write, "one essential=20
protection would be the elimination of local=20
radio ownership rules, which would allow AM and=20
FM broadcasters to offer more diverse services to=20
compete with SDARS on the local level." joint=20
filing goes on to suggest a fully interoperable=20
receiver - one that supports terrestrial radio as=20
well as satellite radio - be designed as part of the conditions
http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/if-sirius-and-xm-merge-terrestrial-wan...
to-merge-too.html

ACCESSIBILITY

DOE FUNDS MOBILE MEDIA CAPTIONING RESEARCH
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
WGBH has received a $600,000 grant from the=20
Department of Education's National Institute on=20
Disability and Rehabilitation Research=20
(http://www.ed.gov), to support its=20
groundbreaking efforts to make handheld media=20
accessible for people who are deaf or hard of=20
hearing, President Henry Becton Jr. announced.=20
Titled "Captioning Solutions for Handheld Media=20
and Mobile Devices" (award number H133G070122),=20
the grant provides WGBH's Carl and Ruth Shapiro=20
Family National Center for Accessible Media=20
(NCAM) with $600,000 over three years to research=20
and develop technical solutions for delivering=20
captioned content to iPods, cell phones, PDAs and=20
other mobile devices. "From TV programs to school=20
science experiments to corporate training=20
presentations, more and more video content is=20
being delivered through handheld media," said=20
Larry Goldberg, Director of Media Access for=20
WGBH. "Yet the 28 million Americans who are deaf=20
and hard of hearing can't fully benefit from this=20
content because it lacks captions." Through the=20
grant, WGBH will research ways of embedding=20
captioning solutions within handheld devices and=20
develop prototypes that will serve as=20
proof-of-concept models for the mobile technology=20
industry and public policymakers. WGBH also will=20
explore and develop strategies for captioning=20
media that is streamed directly to mobile devices=20
via wireless networks, multi-channel DTV=20
distribution or downloaded to desktop computers=20
and then transferred to mobile devices.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6472229.html?rssid=3D193

LABOR

'KID NATION' PUTS HOLLYWOOD LABOR TENSION INTO SHARP FOCUS
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Maria Elena Fernandez]
For 40 days, the children of "Kid Nation" hauled=20
wagons, cooked meals, managed stores and cleaned=20
outhouses, all in the name of building a society=20
in front of reality TV cameras. Were they=20
working? There doesn't seem to be a simple=20
answer. But what is clear is that CBS' new=20
reality venture, which placed 40 children on a=20
New Mexico ranch without any contact with their=20
parents, has become a flash point in a television=20
genre actors and writers have long blamed for=20
taking jobs from them. Scheduled to premiere=20
Sept. 19, "Kid Nation" has become the subject of=20
several official investigations, highlighting=20
some of the inherent problems in reality=20
television, which keeps costs down by avoiding=20
paying writers and actors. The stakes are high=20
for the networks that profit from the=20
entertainment and for the Hollywood guilds that=20
have joined the "Kid Nation" fight as the=20
industry girds for a possible strike this year.=20
To make their larger point about reality=20
television, the guilds have seized on "Kid=20
Nation" with its added dose of controversy -- the welfare of children.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-et-kidnation29aug29,1,...
353.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage
(requires registration)

WRITERS GUILD AND STUDIOS HEADING BACK TO BARGAINING TABLE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Ben Grossman]
The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of=20
Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP)=20
will return to the negotiating table on=20
Wednesday, September 19. The sides will begin to=20
see if they can make any headway ahead of the=20
expiration of the guild=92s current deal with the AMPTP at the end of Octob=
er.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6472444.html?rssid=3D193

INTERNATIONAL

IN EUROPE, A PUSH BY PHONE COMPANIES INTO TV
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Kevin O'Brien]
Several European phone companies plan to announce=20
significant expansions of Internet protocol=20
television, or IPTV, this week, led by Deutsche=20
Telekom, which is spending 3 billion euros and=20
has linked about 4 in 10 German households to=20
broadband TV. The moves will put Europe, which=20
some analysts say already is the leader in=20
Internet TV, further ahead of the United States=20
and Asia. But despite the flurry of worldwide=20
interest in digital video, skeptics say it is not=20
clear that IPTV has a future as a stand-alone business for telephone compan=
ies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/business/worldbusiness/29tele.html?ref...
todayspaper
(requires registration)

SLIM PICKINGS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Burton Folsom, Hillsdale College]
[Commentary] In the world of wealth, the big=20
news this summer is that Carlos Slim, 67, of=20
Mexico may have surpassed Bill Gates as the=20
world's richest person. Inevitably, writers=20
compare Mr. Slim, who built his wealth on a=20
telecommunications monopoly, to America's=20
so-called "robber barons" -- including men such=20
as John D. Rockefeller, James J. Hill and Henry=20
Ford. Mr. Slim, by contrast, is better=20
characterized as a "political entrepreneur," who=20
relied more on manipulating Mexico's bureaucracy=20
than on satisfying consumers in a competitive=20
arena. His major opportunity came when President=20
Carlos Salinas de Gortari decided to privatize=20
some inefficient industries. Mr. Slim bought=20
Telmex, the nation's phone company, in 1990 in a=20
controversial auction which was decidedly less=20
than transparent. With that purchase came a=20
six-year monopoly guaranteed by the government.=20
Although Mr. Slim was supposed to relinquish the=20
monopoly in 1997, he used a variety of legal and=20
political tools to maintain it, for example=20
filing injunctions in court to block orders from=20
the regulator to provide competitors fair access=20
to his network. According to OECD figures,=20
Mexican consumers and businesses still pay above=20
market telephone rates. Fewer than one-fourth of=20
Mexican homes have telephones. With a near=20
monopoly of fixed-line telephones and data access=20
(the Internet), Mr. Slim has reaped windfall=20
profits which, wisely invested, have propelled=20
him to immense wealth. Meanwhile, Mr. Slim's=20
newer ventures -- his construction company and=20
his oil services company -- rely on government=20
contracts for their major business. Recently=20
President Felipe Calder=F3n met with Mr. Slim and=20
urged him to accept greater competition.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118835568263611924.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
nion
(requires subscription)

BOOKS OF NOTE

MEDIA WORK: 'EVERYONE'S JOB IS ON THE LINE'
[SOURCE: I Want Media, AUTHOR: Patrick Phillips]
Shortly after the U.S. Labor Day holiday comes=20
the publication of "Media Work," a new book=20
exploring the changing nature of work for=20
professionals in advertising, journalism, film=20
and television production, and game=20
development. Author Mark Deuze is a professor of=20
telecommunications at Indiana University in=20
Bloomington, Ind., and journalism and new media=20
at Leiden University in The Netherlands, his=20
native country. He also maintains a personal blog=20
on issues related to new media and digital=20
culture. In "Media Work," Deuze researches the=20
"work histories" of professionals employed in all=20
kinds of media, in countries from Australia to=20
South Africa to the United States. The goal of=20
the book, he says, is to provide a better=20
understanding of the contemporary realities of=20
working in the media and help prepare the next=20
generation for a career in this "exciting yet uncertain industry."
http://www.iwantmedia.com/people/people69.html

COMMUNICATIONS REVOLUTION: CRITICAL JUNCTURES AND FUTURE OF MEDIA
[SOURCE: The New Press]
In "Communication Revolution," Robert McChesney=20
explains why we are in the midst of a=20
communication revolution that is at the center of=20
twenty-first-century life. Yet this profound=20
juncture is not well understood, in part because=20
our media criticism and media scholarship have=20
not been up to the task. Why is media not at the=20
center of political debate? Why are students of=20
the media considered second-class scholars?=20
McChesney=92s concise history of media studies=20
shows how communication scholarship has grown=20
increasingly irrelevant in recent years, even as=20
media became a decisive issue of our times. Now=20
the burgeoning media reform movement, in which=20
McChesney has been a key player, has made it even=20
more clear that the revolution in communication=20
calls for a transformation in the way we think about media.
http://www.thenewpress.com/index.php?option=3Dcom_title&task=3Dview_titl...
etaproductid=3D1692

QUICKLY

DEAL TO BUY DOW JONES GETS ANTITRUST CLEARANCE
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal]
Dow Jones and News Corp. said the Federal Trade=20
Commission granted early termination of the=20
Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust waiting period for=20
the proposed acquisition of Dow Jones by News=20
Corp. The companies said the antitrust clearance=20
satisfies one of the deal's closing conditions.=20
The proposed acquisition, which is expected to=20
close in the fourth quarter, is still subject to=20
certain approvals and conditions.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118834987556711744.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

GOP STEPS UP PRESENCE WITH VETERAN OF YAHOO, MSN
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Jose Antonio Vargas]
A few weeks ago, Cyrus Krohn, 36, left a job with=20
Yahoo in Santa Monica, Calif., to become director=20
of the Republican National Committee's eCampaign=20
department. The lifelong Republican's task is to=20
help the GOP, the party that mastered direct mail=20
and talk radio, do the same with the Internet.=20
Michael Kinsley, his old boss at Slate, said of=20
Krohn: "He's a really nice guy, and he's really=20
an operator. That's a rare combination." Krohn is=20
one of the speakers today at a conference hosted=20
by Google and the Heritage Foundation designed to=20
teach Hill staffers and conservative activists=20
about the promise (and possible perils) of the=20
new media landscape. See Q&A at the link below.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/28/AR200708...
1714.html
(requires registration)

OLDEST JOA SET FOR EARLY END
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher]
Another joint operating agreement (JOA) is having=20
an early demise, and this time it involves the=20
country's oldest. The E.W. Scripps company=20
announced plans to sell The Albuquerque (NM)=20
Tribune, an afternoon newspaper published Monday=20
through Saturday. If Scripps does not find a=20
buyer, it will close the afternoon paper. The=20
Tribune is published as part of the of the=20
country's first and longest-running JOA. The=20
controlling partner is the Journal Publishing=20
Co., which owns The Albuquerque Journal, the=20
morning newspaper published seven days a week.=20
The JOA was created in 1933 and has been amended=20
several times. It is set to expire in 2022.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003631966

RACIAL DISPARITY AFFIRMED IN TOBACCO ADVERTISING
[SOURCE: New York Times 8/28, AUTHOR: Nicholas Bakalar]
The density of billboards advertising tobacco=20
products is more than twice as high in black=20
neighborhoods as in white, researchers have found in a review of studies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/health/28disp.html
(requires registration)

THE TECHNOLOGY KIDS WANT, VERSUS WHAT THEY NEED
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Tom Regan]
In the days of yore -- circa 1990 -- the only=20
technology you needed for school was a=20
calculator. And that was only if the teacher=20
would allow you to use it. Now -- for the early=20
years, say kindergarten through fourth grade --=20
you can get by with no technology at all. But as=20
you get closer to middle school, a computer with=20
Internet access becomes more of a necessity.=20
Teachers will often give assignments that require=20
a student to use the Internet for research. After=20
a computer and Internet access, technology=20
choices for students become more of a toss up =96=20
especially when it comes to cellphones.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0829/p17s01-stct.html
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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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