October 2007

For upcoming media policy events, see=20
http://www.benton.org/event/2007/10/05/month/all/all

NEWS FROM THE FCC
FCC: No Suppression of Ownership Report
FCC Eases Way for Station Sales
The Buddy System
FCC won't probe disclosure of phone records
FCC Moves 700-MHz Auction Date to Jan. 24
FCC to Conduct More White-Spaces Tests
FCC Continues EEO Audits
FCC Fines Stations

DTV TRANSITION
Television's big switch-over

CABLE/SATELLITE
Cities Weigh In Against Franchise Changes
Satellite Firms Praise Tax Bill
Iowa Judge Nixes New Fees

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Disabled Less Likely to Be Online
Major Internet Hubs See Lesser Influence
ACLU Calls for Congressional Hearings on Net Neutrality
MySpace, PayPal let candidates fund-raise online
Vonage Settles Patent Suit With Sprint

JOURNALISM
Senate Bill Aims to Define Who Is a Journalist
Survey Finds Huge Gap Between How Republicans and Democrats View Media
Black & White & Red Faces All Over: Chicago Law Hurts Free Papers
Murdoch gets feet under WSJ boardroom table
Thomson clearance on Reuters runs on
Newspapers, bloggers now on same page

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Democrats Seem Ready to Extend Wiretap Powers

QUICKLY -- The Big Push in TV This Fall is Mini;=20
America's second techiest city may surprise some

NEWS FROM THE FCC

FCC: NO SUPPRESSION OF OWNERSHIP REPORT
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Jim Abrams]
Federal Communications Commission investigators=20
said Friday they found no evidence senior=20
managers suppressed an agency report on locally=20
owned TV stations because the results conflicted=20
with FCC policy. They did raise questions about=20
reasons for not releasing a report on the radio=20
industry. The FCC=92s Inspector General=92s office,=20
after conducting what it described as the largest=20
investigation in its history, said that while=20
disputes over quality and timing did lead to the=20
local TV report not being released in 2004, "the=20
evidence clearly indicates that agency=20
management=92s like or dislike of the results was=20
not a factor." The yearlong investigation came=20
after a former staff attorney for the FCC=92s Media=20
Bureau alleged that senior managers had=20
suppressed the report and ordered that copies be=20
destroyed. Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer of=20
California, Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Ron=20
Wyden of Oregon asked the FCC to look into the charges.
http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S217229.shtml?cat=3D10056
* Report of Investigation into Allegations that Senior Management
Ordered Research Suppresses or Destroyed
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-277152A2.pdf
* FCC Didn't Quash Studies, Says Inspector General
=93The Inspector General=92s report, unfortunately,=20
air brushes with some pretty soft colors what=92s=20
been going on at the FCC with regard to media=20
consolidation," said Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND).=20
"For example, one of the e-mails included in the=20
report clearly reveals a mind set at the FCC=20
against disclosing information that would=20
document the negative impact of media=20
consolidation. I think there=92s more to this than=20
the Inspector General was willing to see, even=20
though some of it was in plain sight.=94 FCC=20
Commissioner Michael Copps was equally=20
unimpressed. "Today's report is most notable for=20
what it fails to contain," he said. "It doesn't=20
include interviews with key FCC staff. It=20
declined to seek interviews with FCC officials=20
all the way up the chain of command. And it=20
doesn't explain why a study that reached striking=20
and exceedingly relevant conclusions wasn't=20
finalized and made a part of the record, even=20
though supervising economists concluded that the=20
technical flaws could be easily fixed. The=20
nagging feeling remains that we don't yet have the entire story."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6487597.html?rssid=3D193
* FCC Report: Media Studies Not Suppressed
FCC investigators were unable to interview=20
Michigan State University law professor Adam=20
Candeub, the former FCC staff member who claimed=20
the two media studies had been suppressed. =93I=20
didn't trust the process,=94 Candeub said, adding=20
that the report contained errors. =93It says I=20
supplied information to senators. That=92s not true and it=92s not substant=
iated.=94
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6487839.html?rssid=3D196
* FCC Didn't Suppress Media Ownership Reports, Agency Probe Says
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=3D20601087&sid=3DaNjSRBrhEgX4

FCC EASES WAY FOR STATION SALES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC has backed off an effort to make new=20
buyers responsible for the sins of previous=20
station owners. Communications lawyers balked=20
when the commission tried to modify =93tolling=20
agreements,=94 which allow the agency to approve a=20
license renewal and sale while still=20
investigating a complaint. The commission wanted=20
to make the buyer liable, a prospect that could=20
have killed some transactions. =93If you are a=20
buyer and the FCC says that in order to get the=20
deal done, you have to sign on to potential=20
liability for an indecency violation that starts=20
at $325,000 a pop, the potential liability could=20
be extraordinary, particularly if you were buying=20
a small-market TV station worth $3 million,=94 said=20
one attorney, who along with others asked not to=20
be identified because they have cases pending=20
before the commission. =93Who's going to buy it=20
when there are a couple of $325,000 wild cards out there?=94
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6487853.html

THE BUDDY SYSTEM
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] A disturbing Government=20
Accountability Office (GAO) report released last=20
week said that some lobbyists were tipped by FCC=20
staffers about what items would be voted on at=20
upcoming meetings. Information is power, and=20
knowing the agenda ahead of time gave those=20
lobbyists an advantage. Nonpublic information,=20
including public meeting agenda items, shouldn't=20
be disclosed until it is available in a public=20
notice issued. While the commissioners have been=20
pushing for a change in the sunshine laws to=20
permit more than two commissioners to meet in=20
private, that sounds like a commission going in=20
the opposite direction. Why not have a lot more=20
public meetings so the issues they need to hash=20
out together can be done in full view? The GAO=20
report was requested by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA),=20
the chairman of the House Telecommunications &=20
Internet subcommittee, who wants a more=20
transparent and open FCC process. The public=20
deserves no less, regardless of who is in power.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6487856.html
* The FCC=92s Forgotten Mandate
[Commentary] When the FCC was established in=20
1934, it was tasked with the regulation of the=20
public airwaves in a manner that supports=20
diversity, localism and competition. Yet today we=20
have six companies who control a vast majority of=20
what we see, read and hear; and these same Big=20
Media companies are being given handouts by the=20
FCC that allow them to get even bigger. Somewhere=20
along the way, the FCC has forgotten its=20
commitment to the public. Media shapes our lives=20
in powerful ways, and we should have an equally=20
powerful say in shaping it. We need the FCC to=20
reclaim their mission and invite the public to the table.
http://www.stopbigmedia.com/blog/?p=3D129

FCC WON'T PROBE DISCLOSURE OF PHONE RECORDS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Peter Kaplan]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin turned down a congressional request to=20
investigate reports that phone companies turned=20
over customer records to the National Security=20
Agency, citing national security concerns. At=20
issue are reports last year that some big=20
telephone companies allowed the U.S. government=20
access to millions of telephone records for an anti-terrorism program.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0535834320071005
* House Telecom Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA)
"I am disappointed by the FCC=92s response. I still=20
hold that it is well within the authority of the=20
independent agency responsible for the=20
enforcement of our nation=92s communications=20
privacy laws to investigate the very serious=20
reports that the intelligence agencies were using=20
telephone companies to obtain phone records and=20
Internet data on citizens without proper, prior=20
authorization. I believe the agency could conduct=20
its own examination of such reports in a way that=20
safeguards national security. But the real=20
roadblock here continues to be the Bush=20
administration. The letter to the FCC from the=20
Director of National Intelligence is unsurprising=20
given that this administration has continually=20
thwarted efforts by Congress to shed more light on the surveillance program=
."
http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=3Dcom_content&task=3Dview&id=3D...
2&Itemid=3D141
* FCC rebuffs investigation of carriers in wiretap program
http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=3D/20071008/FREE/710080...
1005/rss01

FCC MOVES 700-MHZ AUCTION DATE TO JAN 24
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Federal Communications Commission released=20
the rules of the road for its auction (Auction=20
73) of some of the reclaimed analog-broadcast=20
spectrum, including moving the start date from=20
Jan. 16 to Jan. 24. The FCC said it wanted to=20
give bidders a little more time, but could not=20
push it to Jan. 25 or 28, as some commenters had=20
asked, saying that was cutting it too close to=20
the deadline set by Congress, January 28. Bidders=20
and interested spectators should write down these=20
dates: 1) Auction Seminar: Nov. 19; 2) Auction 73=20
and 76 short-form application (FCC Form 175)=20
filing window opens Nov. 19 at noon (EST); 3)=20
Auction 73 and 76 short-form application (FCC=20
Form 175) filing window deadline: Dec. 3, prior=20
to 6 p.m.; 4) Auction 73 upfront payments (via=20
wire transfer): Dec. 28, 6 p.m.; 5) Mock auction:=20
Jan. 18; and 6) Auction 73 begins Jan. 24.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6488145.html?rssid=3D193
* FCC Public Notice
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-4171A1.doc

FCC TO CONDUCT MORE WHITE SPACES TESTS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Federal Communications Commission will=20
conduct another round of testing on unlicensed=20
mobile wireless devices FCC Chairman Kevin Martin=20
hopes to be able to authorize for use in the=20
vacant channels, or so-called white spaces=20
between digital-TV broadcast channels. The FCC=20
doesn't want to waste any time conducting the new=20
tests. It said Friday that anybody who wants a=20
device tested should get it to its Office of Engineering and Technology ASA=
P.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6487840.html?rssid=3D193
* FCC press release (Oct 5)
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-4179A1.doc
* FCC To Conduct New White Spaces Testing
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6487864.html?rssid=3D196
* FCC will keep testing white space devices
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/481
* Cisco: FCC Shouldn't Rush White-Spaces Rules
Computer company Cisco Systems advised the=20
Federal Communications Commission that it should=20
postpone allowing unlicensed mobile devices to=20
operate in the digital-TV-spectrum band until it=20
can be assured that there will be no harmful interference to DTV reception.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6487667.html?rssid=3D193

FCC CONTINUES EEO AUDITS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
On October 4, 2007, the Federal Communications=20
Commission mailed the third set of its Equal=20
Employment Opportunity (EEO) audit letters for=20
2007. This mailing was sent to randomly selected=20
multi-channel video programming distributors=20
(MVPDs). The FCC annually audits the EEO=20
programs of randomly selected broadcast licensees=20
and MVPDs. Each year, approximately five percent=20
of all broadcast stations and MVPDs are selected=20
for these random EEO audits. By Public Notices,=20
DA 07-399, released February 12, 2007, and DA=20
07-2553, released June 13, 2007, the Media Bureau=20
announced its mailing of similar audit letters to broadcast stations.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-4152A1.doc

FCC FINES STATIONS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Federal Communications Commission issued one=20
of its larger fines -- $10,000 -- against WFFT-TV=20
Fort Wayne for failure to keep the proper records=20
on its children's and public-interest=20
programming. Also fined $4,000 was WSJV-TV=20
Elkhart, Ind., for failing to file similar=20
documents, but it was only missing two quarters' worth.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6487748.html?rssid=3D193

DTV TRANSITION

TELEVISION'S BIG SWITCH-OVER
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] On Feb. 17, 2009, it could snow all=20
across America. Not outside, but in living rooms,=20
on TV sets. That's the date when broadcasters=20
will switch to digital transmission, rendering=20
millions of standard analog TVs useless.=20
Consumers can avoid this whiteout, but only if=20
they're prepared. And there's the challenge: How=20
to inform the roughly 20 million households=20
relying exclusively on analog sets that pull in=20
their reception for free, through rabbit ears or=20
a rooftop antenna. Analog TVs that receive cable=20
or satellite will not be affected. Consumers who=20
own these sets don't necessarily need to know why=20
the federal government is mandating the change=20
(to free up the airwaves for other purposes, such=20
as wireless and public-safety communications =96=20
though added benefits are better pictures and=20
more channels). But they do need consistent and=20
unbiased information on what to do and they need=20
to be able to act on it. More than anything,=20
what's needed is oversight and coordination of=20
the conversion. Congress should designate one of=20
the two government agencies involved in this=20
project to take the lead, or empower an=20
independent group to oversee the transition.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1009/p08s01-comv.html
* Mandated DTV Education Rules are Dumb Idea
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Harry A. Jessell]
[Commentary] Democrats have to accept the fact=20
that some folks are not going to understand that=20
their over-the-air analog signals are going until=20
after they are gone. So, if they want to help,=20
they should make sure coupons and converter boxes=20
are available after the cut-off.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/10/09/daily.2/

CABLE/SATELLITE

CITIES WEIGH IN AGAINST FRANCHISE CHANGES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Alliance for Community Media filed a brief=20
with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth=20
Circuit Thursday arguing that the FCC's video=20
franchise decision was arbitrary and capricious=20
and that the Commission does not have the=20
authority to regulate local franchising=20
authorities, saying that the Cable Act gives that=20
responsibility to state and local governments. In=20
December 2006, the FCC smoothed telcos' path to=20
video franchises after a bill backed by=20
Republican lawmakers to do much the same died in=20
Congress over the network-neutrality issue. The=20
FCC's rule changes were also the result of an=20
ongoing inquiry into whether local franchising=20
authorities were unreasonably denying franchises=20
and thus slowing the rollout of competition to cable and broadband service.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6487397.html?rssid=3D193

SATELLITE FIRMS PRAISE TAX BILL
[SOURCE: Multichannel News]
DirecTV and EchoStar Communications lauded a=20
Congressional bill introduced to =93prevent=20
discriminatory state taxation=94 among multichannel=20
video-service providers. The bill =97 introduced by=20
Reps. John Conyers (D-MI), Chris Cannon (R-Utah),=20
Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Trent Franks (R-AZ) =97 is=20
dubbed the =93State Video Tax Fairness Act of=20
2007.=94 It would bar states from imposing a=20
discriminatory tax on any means of providing=20
multichannel video-program distribution services=20
including Internet Protocol TV, satellite TV or=20
cable. The bill defines =93discriminatory taxes=94 as=20
those imposed on =93substantially equivalent=94 pay TV services.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6487825.html

IOWA JUDGE NIXES NEW FEES
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
A Polk County, Iowa, judge has struck down a=20
portion of the state=92s newly minted state=20
franchising bill, asserting that a clause=20
retroactively allowing cities to collect=20
franchise fees in excess of the actual cost of=20
regulation is unconstitutional. District Court=20
Judge Michael Huppert made the ruling in one of=20
seven lawsuits filed by individuals against Iowa=20
cities, challenging the amount of franchise fees=20
collected. The lawsuits against Des Moines,=20
Davenport, Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque,=20
Sioux City and Waterloo, were filed last=20
September. The plaintiffs contend that franchise=20
fees, charged at a rate of 5% of an operator=92s=20
gross revenues but paid by consumers, are an=20
illegal tax under state law because they exceed the actual cost of regulati=
on.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6487824.html

INTERNET/BROADBAND

DISABLED LESS LIKELY TO BE ONLINE
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Anick Jesdanun]
Americans with disabilities and other chronic=20
conditions are less likely to use the Internet,=20
but those who are online are among the most avid=20
consumers of health-related information, a new=20
study finds. Half of those with chronic=20
conditions use the Internet, compared with=20
three-quarters of those without, the Pew Internet=20
and American Life Project said. That's partly=20
because those with chronic conditions tend to be=20
older and less educated, two factors linked with=20
lower Internet usage overall, said Susannah Fox,=20
an associate director at Pew and the study's main=20
author. Other barriers include difficulties=20
navigating the Web for those with, say, poor=20
vision or motion control. But when they are=20
online, those with chronic conditions are more=20
apt to seek health information online - at least for some tasks.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INTERNET_HEALTH?SITE=3DVAHAR&SECT...
=3DTECHNOLOGY&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
* E-patients With a Disability or Chronic Disease
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/222/report_display.asp
http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/EPatients_Chronic_Conditions_2007.pdf

MAJOR INTERNET HUBS SEE LESSER INFLUENCE
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Anick Jesdanun]
The recent rush by major Internet portals to buy=20
advertising companies and extend their sales=20
networks is a sign that the business of being a=20
one-stop shop for information and entertainment=20
isn't what it used to be. Gone are the days of=20
emphasizing ways to attract and keep visitors -=20
the way television networks long have operated -=20
by creating destinations with anything people=20
might need for work, leisure or companionship.=20
Instead, those companies are now more=20
aggressively trying to follow Web surfers=20
elsewhere - and bring lucrative advertising to=20
them. As people increasingly turn to blogs,=20
social-networking sites and other sources of=20
user-generated media, Google Inc., Yahoo Inc.,=20
Microsoft Corp. and Time Warner Inc.'s AOL have=20
spent more than $10 billion collectively this=20
year to acquire companies and technologies that=20
help extend their online advertising networks. So=20
instead of relying solely on being portals for=20
consumers, the major companies are creating=20
one-stop shops for advertisers, who are=20
increasingly wanting to buy ads centrally and=20
place them where the eyeballs are. The networks=20
take care of feeding the ads to smaller sites.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DECLINING_PORTALS?SITE=3D1010WINS...
CTION=3DHOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
-- See also --
* U.S. Online Ad Spending Topped $5 Billion in Second Quarter
[SOURCE: Bloomberg 10/4, AUTHOR: Vivek Shankar]
U.S. online advertising spending topped $5=20
billion in the second quarter, a record for a=20
three- month period, signaling that more=20
advertisers are abandoning newspapers and=20
television. Companies boosted expenditures 25=20
percent to $5.1 billion from a year earlier, the=20
Interactive Advertising Bureau and=20
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reported. For the=20
first half, spending rose to about $10 billion,=20
also a record. Spending on network television=20
spots fell 3.6 percent to $11.8 billion in the=20
first half, while newspaper ads declined 5.8=20
percent to $12.9 billion. Radio ad spending fell 2.7 percent to $5.14 billi=
on.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=3D20601087&sid=3Dau1nNO6kgLR8

ACLU CALLS FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: American Civil Liberties Union 10/5]
The American Civil Liberties Union on Friday=20
called on Congress to hold hearings to explore=20
recent anti-consumer actions taken by several=20
Internet service providers that infringed on=20
users' freedom of speech and access to lawful=20
information. The ACLU believes Congress must take=20
action to restore the network neutrality=20
protections that were in place before 2005 and=20
ensure the Internet remains vibrant, innovative and free of discrimination.
http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/internet/32096prs20071005.html
-- See also --
* Net Neutrality a Must for Working Americans
Some of the most powerful voices in labor are=20
throwing their full support behind Net=20
Neutrality=AD calling it crucial to the success and vitality of our democra=
cy.
http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/10/05/net-neutrality-a-must-for...
rking-america/

MYSPACE, PAYPAL LET CANDIDATES FUND-RAISE ONLINE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Michele Gershberg and Kenneth Li]
MySpace will let politicians and non-profit=20
groups raise money for their campaigns through=20
its popular social networking site in a service=20
developed with online payments company PayPal.=20
MySpace, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp,=20
offers candidates and charities an audience of=20
nearly 110 million monthly users worldwide, many=20
of them teens and young adults.
http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSN0432660320071004

VONAGE SETTLES PATENT SUIT WITH SPRINT
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Peter Svensson]
Vonage will pay Sprint Nextel $80 million to=20
settle a patent suit. On Sept. 25, a jury in the=20
U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., found=20
that Vonage infringed on six Sprint patents, and=20
ordered Vonage to pay $69.5 million in damages.=20
Sprint also agreed to license Vonage its=20
portfolio of more than 100 patents on connecting=20
calls between a regular telephone network and a=20
packet-switched network such as the Internet. The=20
settlement does not put all of Vonage's legal=20
troubles behind it. In March, another jury=20
awarded Verizon Communications Inc. $58 million=20
in damages, plus 5.5 percent royalties on future=20
revenues after finding that Vonage violated three=20
Verizon patents. Litigation continues in that suit.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-sprint-nextel-vonage,0,406...
story?track=3Drss
* Vonage Pays Sprint $80M to Settle Patent Dispute
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6488016.html?rssid=3D196

JOURNALISM

SENATE BILL AIMS TO DEFINE WHO IS A JOURNALIST
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Walter Pincus]
The Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 passed=20
the Senate Judiciary Committee last week with=20
bipartisan support. It is better known as the=20
reporter's shield law. While the proposal has=20
progressed much further in Congress than past=20
efforts, it is far from a sure thing and=20
continues to draw opposition, at least in its=20
current form, from the Justice Department and the=20
Office of the Director of National Intelligence=20
(DNI). One of the biggest issues is just who is a=20
journalist, or in the phrase the bill uses, a=20
"covered person." Once that definition is=20
clarified -- and even Judiciary members say it's=20
not settled -- a journalist would under most=20
circumstances not have to disclose to federal=20
authorities or in civil lawsuits the identity of=20
sources who have been promised confidentiality.=20
Also protected will be records, communications,=20
documents or other information that this "covered=20
person" receives from confidential sources, as=20
well as notes the journalist makes of=20
conversations with these sources. The Senate=20
committee bill employs a broad definition: A=20
"covered person" is someone "engaged in=20
journalism," which itself is defined as "the=20
regular gathering, preparing, collecting,=20
photographing, recording, writing, editing,=20
reporting or publishing of news or information=20
that concerns local, national, or international=20
events or other matters of public interest for dissemination to the public."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/07/AR200710...
1273.html
(requires registration)
* The Public=92s Right to Know
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] What the press is seeking, and what=20
the Senate Judiciary Committee has now endorsed=20
in compromised form, is not a blank check or an=20
absolute protection against ever revealing a=20
source. It is a balancing of interests that seeks=20
to avoid harm to news gathering but allows=20
disclosure of sources when found to be truly necessary to protect the count=
ry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/opinion/09tue3.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)

SURVEY FINDS HUGE GAP BETWEEN HOW REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS VIEW MEDIA
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher]
Less than half of all Americans have a great deal=20
or a fair amount of trust in the mass media.=20
Nearly 3 in 4 republicans say the media is "too=20
liberal." Exactly twice as many Democrats (66%)=20
express some faith in the media compared with=20
Republicans (33%). Some 22% of Democrats find the=20
media "too conservative." The Gallup survey of=20
1,010 adult Americans, taken in mid-September,=20
revealed that only 9% of Americans say they have=20
a great deal of trust and confidence in the mass=20
media to report the news "fully, accurately, and=20
fairly," while another 38% say they have a "fair=20
amount" of trust in the media to do this. This=20
total of 47% trust stands in contrast to the=20
Gallup finding in 1976 which pegged it at 72%.=20
But Gallup adds: "Americans are less likely to=20
perceive bias in their local news media than in the national news media."
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003655051

BLACK & WHITE & RED FACES ALL OVER: CHICAGO LAW HURTS FREE PAPERS
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher, AUTHOR: Mark Fitzgerald]
A Chicago law passed unanimously last winter to=20
bar the indiscriminate door-to-door distribution=20
of menus, brochures, and other advertising flyers=20
also bans many circulation practices for free=20
newspapers. The provision applying the ban to=20
newspapers was discovered by Ron Roenigk, the=20
publisher of two free community papers on the=20
city's Northwest Side, Inside, and Inside Lincoln=20
Park. "It passed 50 to nothing -- and I'm sure 49=20
of (the aldermen) didn't even read the=20
legislation," he said. Roenigk did read the law,=20
however -- and became alarmed at its=20
implications. Chicago is awash in free papers,=20
including dailies published by the city's biggest=20
newspaper, the Chicago Tribune. Ironically, the=20
clauses extending the litter bill to newspapers=20
were added by an alderman in the distribution=20
area for one of Roenigk's papers. Ald. Manuel=20
"Manny" Flores of the First Ward now wants to=20
rewrite the section, and has invited Roenigk and=20
other publishers to advise him on better=20
language. In another irony, Roenigk changed the=20
20,000-distribution Inside Lincoln Park newspaper=20
to home delivery when an anti-litter ordinance=20
that was limited to certain neighborhoods took=20
effect two years ago. "It's our answer to a TMC=20
(total market coverage) product," he said. "We=20
figured we could use it as the delivery vehicle=20
for the pizza menus, flyers, etc." that could no=20
longer be slipped under doors or left on stoops.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003655410

MURDOCH GETS FEET UNDER WSJ BOARDROOM TABLE
[SOURCE: Financial Times 10/7, AUTHOR: Joshua Chaffin and Aline van Duyn]
News Corp=92s $5bn deal to acquire Dow Jones and=20
its crown jewel, the Wall Street Journal, is not=20
expected to close until December. Yet in the=20
corridors of the publisher=92s lower Manhattan=20
headquarters, News Corp and its chief executive,=20
Rupert Murdoch, are already making their presence=20
felt. The television in the lobby, once regularly=20
tuned to cable business network CNBC, now=20
features News Corp=92s Fox News Channel. Meanwhile,=20
Mr Murdoch himself has become a regular visitor,=20
setting up office in one of the conference rooms.=20
During visits, he has met reporters and=20
scrutinized everything from company strategy to=20
the placement of specific photos in the Journal,=20
according to people familiar with the matter. The=20
man who launched his global media empire from a=20
single Australian newspaper has also impressed=20
Dow technicians with his knowledge of printing=20
minutiae. The rapid pace of integration talks=20
reflects Mr Murdoch=92s personal enthusiasm for his=20
prized acquisition. It is also a result of=20
regulators not challenging the deal, which means=20
that there are few legal obstacles to in-depth planning.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3fb59a28-7518-11dc-892d-0000779fd2ac.html
(requires subscription)

THOMSON CLEARANCE ON REUTERS RUNS ON
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson]
Regulators may not decide whether to clear=20
Thomson=92s =A39bn bid for Reuters before next=20
February, after the European Commission ruled=20
Monday that the deal should be subject to an=20
in-depth investigation. A second-stage=20
investigation had been expected, but some=20
analysts had been hoping for a clearance as soon=20
as the end of this year. The proposed deal,=20
ann=ADounced in May, =93would raise serious doubts as=20
regards adverse effects on competition in several=20
markets of the financial information sector=94, the=20
Commission said. It highlighted particular=20
con=ADcerns in the provision of data-feeds; access=20
to specific databases; to realtime and=20
after-market research, and the provision of news=20
services. Analysts see few problematic overlaps=20
between the two businesses, except in small areas=20
such as research estimates. But the deal would=20
narrow the number of large financial data=20
providers from three to two, affecting=20
competition with Bloom=ADberg and smaller specialists.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a85e2000-75da-11dc-b7cb-0000779fd2ac.html
(requires subscription)

NEWSPAPERS, BLOGGERS NOW ON SAME PAGE
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Alana Semuels]
Once upon a time, newspapers wanted nothing to do=20
with bloggers, those amateurs who opined on=20
anything that caught their fancy, whether it was=20
interesting, or accurate, or not. That was then.=20
Now newspaper websites, desperate for readers and=20
revenue, are increasingly in cahoots with=20
bloggers, posting and plugging them and even=20
sharing advertising revenue. Purists may sniff at=20
these online liaisons but, as the print newspaper=20
industry shrinks, they may be inevitable.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-newsblogs9oct09,1,514...
4.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

DEMOCRATS SEEM READY TO EXTEND WIRETAP POWERS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Eric Lichtblau and Carl Hulse]
Two months after insisting that they would roll=20
back broad eavesdropping powers won by the Bush=20
administration, Democrats in Congress appear=20
ready to make concessions that could extend some=20
crucial powers given to the National Security=20
Agency. Administration officials say they are=20
confident they will win approval of the broadened=20
authority that they secured temporarily in August=20
as Congress rushed toward recess. Some Democratic=20
officials concede that they may not come up with=20
enough votes to stop approval. As the debate over=20
the eavesdropping powers of the National Security=20
Agency begins anew this week, the emerging=20
measures reflect the reality confronting the=20
Democrats. Although willing to oppose the White=20
House on the Iraq war, they remain nervous that=20
they will be called soft on terrorism if they=20
insist on strict curbs on gathering intelligence.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/washington/09nsa.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)

QUICKLY

THE BIG PUSH IN TV THIS FALL IS MINI
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Janice Rhoshalle Littlejohn]
As the TV season kicks off, you may be noticing=20
bite-sized shows -- story-driven shorts usually=20
no more than a minute long. With shorter=20
attention spans and the rise of digital video=20
recorders making viewers more adept at commercial=20
avoidance, ''breaking up commercial pods with=20
compelling content is a way to make programs and=20
networks more sticky and to keep viewers from=20
drifting, which has an effect not just on the=20
programs' ratings but on the network's bottom=20
line,'' says John Rash of the Minneapolis-based=20
advertising agency Campbell Mithun. The fact is:=20
The whole industry is winging it. ''And anybody=20
who says anything different is basically lying to=20
you,'' says Ben Grossman, Los Angeles bureau=20
chief of the trade magazine Broadcasting & Cable.=20
''I mean, it's still not a lot of money in it=20
yet. It's basically promotion. But that said,=20
everybody feels, and probably rightfully so, that=20
they've got to be in the game.''
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/10/08/daily.4/

AMERICA'S SECOND TECHIEST CITY MAY SURPRISE SOME
[SOURCE: Computerworld, AUTHOR: Todd R. Weiss and Sharon Machlis]
Data for 2006 from the U.S. Census Bureau's=20
annual American Community Survey (ACS), released=20
just last month, reveal what could be called a=20
metropolitan area's "TQ" (technology quotient) --=20
how "techie" a region's overall workforce is,=20
based on the number of self-reported computer=20
professionals. And some of the results turn=20
stereotypes upside down. Roughly 6 percent of the=20
D.C. metro area workforce is made up of "computer=20
specialists," compared with 8.3 percent in=20
Silicon Valley. The third-highest concentration=20
of IT workers is in Raleigh/Cary, N.C., at 5.3=20
percent of the workforce, followed closely by=20
Boulder, Colo., and Huntsville, Ala., each at 5.2=20
percent. The remainder of the top 10 technology=20
worker areas is rounded out, in order, by=20
Bloomington/Normal, Ill.; Trenton-Ewing, N.J.;=20
Austin-Round Rock, Texas; Manchester-Nashua,=20
N.H.; and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash. "We=20
always thought we belong in the same breath as=20
the Silicon Valley folks ... because we always=20
had a significant workforce in IT," said Richard=20
Doud, president of the Arlington (Va.) Chamber of=20
Commerce. "There's a lot of IT jobs in the area.=20
There's a lot going on here." That's due largely=20
to the heavy concentration of government agencies=20
and contractors. In addition, companies tend to=20
congregate where there already are government=20
facilities, educational facilities and other=20
businesses. "Companies like to group," he said.=20
"It has to do with the availability of workers."
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/10/05/Americas-second-techiest-city_...
tml?source=3DNLC-TB&cgd=3D2007-10-05
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------