October 2007

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JOURNALISM
Senate Committee Backs Shield Law by 15-2 Vote

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
XM, Sirius Shareholders to Vote On Merger
Clear Channel Closes Deal To Sell More Radio Stations

INTERNET/BROADBAND
A Nationwide Public Safety Wireless Broadband Network
Health Care Needs an Internet Revolution
45% of mobile phone users want better Internet access

BROADCASTING
Local Service Initiative Grants
The changing media landscape
Giuliani Pulled No Punches on the Radio

DIGITAL CONTENT
Labels Win Suit Against Song Sharer
Fridays go from casual to e-mail-free

QUICKLY -- Markey Lauds Conagra's commitment to=20
combat childhood obesity; Republicans urge action=20
on tech issues; Communities hire private firms to=20
manage public libraries; Chicago bans distribution of free newspapers

JOURNALISM

SENATE COMMITTEE BACKS SHIELD LAW BY 15-2 VOTE
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher/Associated Press]
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday=20
advanced a bill to shield reporters from being=20
forced to reveal their sources in federal court,=20
setting up a floor fight between supporters and=20
Bush administration allies who believe the=20
measure would harm national security. The 15-2=20
vote sent the legislation to the Senate floor,=20
where it was expected to face more challenges if=20
not efforts to stall or kill it. A similar=20
measure also awaits floor action in the House.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003652937
* Bloggers land legal shield in Senate panel vote
Anyone regularly engaged in "journalism," which=20
would seem to include some bloggers, wouldn't=20
generally be forced to divulge confidential=20
sources in federal cases under a bill approved=20
Thursday by a U.S. Senate committee.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9791263-7.html
* Senate Judiciary Committee Passes Shield Law
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6487223.html?rssid=3D193

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

XM, SIRIUS SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE ON MERGER
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
XM and Siruis Satellite Radio have scheduled=20
tandem shareholders meetings for Nov. 13 to vote=20
on their proposed merger. Neither the Federal=20
Communications Commission nor the Federal Trade=20
Commission has approved the merger, which would=20
create a single satellite-radio company and=20
combine satellite licenses the FCC initially=20
indicated should not be held by one owner. But=20
the companies -- which argued that an XM-Sirius=20
combination would create a stronger competitor in=20
a crowded audio market -- vowed that they will=20
get the OK and want to have that shareholder=20
approval teed up so that the deal can move=20
quickly after a decision in its favor.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6487196.html?rssid=3D193

CLEAR CHANNEL CLOSES DEAL TO SELL MORE RADIO STATIONS
[SOURCE: MediaDailyNews, AUTHOR: Erik Sass]
Clear Channel has closed deals to sell 66 of its=20
smaller radio stations. The sale of 52 stations=20
to Gap Broadcasting, and another 14 to Bicoastal=20
Media, are part of its ongoing push to sell a=20
total of about 450 stations in small and=20
mid-sized markets. The news comes a week after=20
Clear Channel's shareholders voted to sell a=20
majority of their stakes to two private-equity=20
firms: Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital=20
Partners. Gap Broadcasting, based in Houston,=20
will pick up stations concentrated in Texas.=20
Clear Channel Radio initiated the sale of=20
hundreds of smaller stations to concentrate on=20
its most profitable businesses serving larger markets.
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=3DArticles.san&s=...
8608&Nid=3D34947&p=3D380709

INTERNET/BROADBAND

A NATIONWIDE PUBLIC SAFETY WIRELESS BROADBAND NETWORK
[SOURCE: The Police Chief, AUTHOR: Harlin R. McEwen, IACP]
[Commentary] Public safety professionals in the=20
United States must have access to the most modern=20
and reliable communications technology that the=20
nation offers, so they can communicate with each=20
other and with federal officials, across agencies=20
and geographies during emergencies. The ability=20
of public safety agencies to have seamless=20
nationwide roaming capability on a wireless=20
broadband network that is hardened to public=20
safety requirements is not only achievable but=20
essential for public safety agencies to meet=20
their increasing responsibilities.
http://policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=3Ddisplay&a...
cle_id=3D1272&issue_id=3D92007

HEALTH CARE NEEDS AN INTERNET REVOLUTION
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Bill Gates, Microsoft]
[Commentary] We live in an era that has seen our=20
knowledge of medical science and treatment expand=20
at a speed that is without precedent in human=20
history. Today we can cure illnesses that used to=20
be untreatable and prevent diseases that once=20
seemed inevitable. We expect to live longer and=20
remain active and productive as we get older.=20
Ongoing progress in genetics and our=20
understanding of the human genome puts us on the=20
cusp of even more dramatic advances in the years=20
ahead. But for all the progress we've made, our=20
system for delivering medical care is clearly in=20
crisis. At the heart of the problem is the=20
fragmented nature of the way health information=20
is created and collected. Technology is not a=20
cure-all for the issues that plague the=20
health-care system. But it can be a powerful=20
catalyst for change, here in the U.S. and in=20
countries around the globe where access to=20
medical professionals is limited and where better=20
availability of health-care information could=20
help improve the lives of millions of people.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119154401245949675.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
nion
(requires subscription)
* Your Health Data, Plugged In to the Web
Microsoft launched a free, ad-supported online=20
health portal called HealthVault yesterday that=20
allows people to upload their medical records to=20
the Web and share the information with doctors.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/04/AR200710...
0984.html
* Prognosis is dicey for new Microsoft health record site
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-microsoft5oct05,1,206...
6.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

45% OF MOBILE PHONE USERS WANT BETTER INTERNET ACCESS
[SOURCE: Internet Retailer]
Nearly 45% of U.S. mobile phone users say that=20
better Internet access will be a key factor in=20
their next mobile phone purchase, according to a=20
new study for The Kelsey Group. Only 26% of the=20
mobile phone service subscribers surveyed=20
currently opt for an Internet access plan. Among=20
the 500 cell phone users surveyed for the =93Mobile=20
Market View=94 study, maps and local commercial=20
search are preferred Internet applications. In=20
the past six months, 9.8% of respondents used=20
their mobile phones to conduct Internet searches=20
for products and services in their area. During=20
the same period, 10.7% downloaded or looked at=20
maps, while 10.9% indicated they had downloaded=20
search or mapping applications for use on the=20
Internet to supplement those that came with their mobile phones.
http://www.internetretailer.com/dailyNews.asp?id=3D23957

BROADCASTING

LOCAL SERVICE INITIATIVE GRANTS
[SOURCE: Corporation for Public Broadcasting]
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)=20
announced the first round of recipients of CPB's=20
Local Service Initiative Matching Grant Program.=20
The Local Service Initiative is designed to=20
provide seed money for the development of new or=20
significantly enhanced public service initiatives=20
aligned with a station's strategic plan. Funding=20
for this initiative will support projects that=20
strengthen the stations' role and relevance in=20
their communities over the long term and also=20
increase the public's awareness of the station's=20
local service. Local Service Initiative Grant=20
Recipients: Vegas PBS: Keeping Kids Fit=20
($200,000); Alabama Public Television, Arkansas=20
Educational Television Network, the Kentucky=20
Network and Maryland Public Television: STEM=20
Collaborative ($800,000); WGBY: Latino Youth=20
Media Project ($106,800); and Nashville Public=20
Television: Next Door Neighbors ($200,000).
http://www.cpb.org/pressroom/release.php?prn=3D621

THE CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Susan=20
D. Whiting, Nielsen Media Research]
[Commentary] Conventional wisdom these days has=20
it that television is dying. Like most=20
conventional wisdom, it's dead wrong. The fact is=20
people will continue to watch more television in=20
the future, not less. But they will do it in new=20
and different ways. What makes this possible is=20
the ability to convert all forms of information=20
into myriad streams of ones and zeroes. Add to=20
this a new generation of consumers who have grown=20
up almost entirely digital. They move=20
effortlessly from one device to another, more so=20
than many of the companies that are trying to=20
reach them. The challenge then, for those who do=20
want to reach them, will be to determine which=20
platforms will be most appropriate for any given=20
person, place or time. Thus, content producers=20
and distributors, advertisers and their agencies=20
will continually have to adjust their business=20
strategies amid changes in television use and=20
consumer expectations. But the opportunity to=20
target specific audiences and truly engage them will be unprecedented.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2007/10/04/EDBJSI2...
DTL

GIULIANI PULLED NO PUNCHES ON THE RADIO
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Michael Powell]
A look at =93Live From City Hall ... With Rudy=20
Giuliani=94, a radio program on WABC that ran=20
during the mayor's eight-year term. It starred=20
Mayor Giuliani, of course, but also Joe from=20
Manhattan and Sal from Brooklyn. Giuliani the=20
Presidential Candidate is a pasteurized fellow=20
who favors smiles and reasoned talk and=20
self-deprecating humor. But to listen to a=20
Giuliani sampler =97 55 taped hours of his old=20
radio program, which ran from 1994 to 2001 =97 is=20
to hear the uncensored and unbowed Mr. Giuliani,=20
an irascible figure familiar to millions of New=20
Yorkers. He grooved on his unfiltered roar. =93I=20
didn't have to be a slave to press coverage,=94 he=20
wrote of his radio program in his book=20
=93Leadership.=94 =93I was deliberately going beyond=20
the newspapers, communicating directly to the=20
people.=94 The radio tapes offer a rough chart of=20
Mr. Giuliani=92s journey from iconoclastic=20
Republicanism in 1994 to something closer to=20
Ronald Reagan-quoting orthodoxy by 2001.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/us/politics/05radio.html?hp
(requires registration)

DIGITAL CONTENT

LABELS WIN SUIT AGAINST SONG SHARER
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jeff Leeds]
In a crucial legal victory for record labels and=20
other copyright owners, a federal jury yesterday=20
found a Minnesota woman liable for copyright=20
infringement for sharing music online and imposed=20
a penalty of $222,000 in damages. The verdict=20
against Jammie Thomas of Brainerd, Minn., brought=20
an end to the first jury trial in the music=20
industry=92s protracted effort to rein in piracy=20
with lawsuits against individual computer users.=20
Since 2003, record labels have brought legal=20
action against about 30,000 people, accusing them=20
of trafficking in copyrighted songs.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/business/media/05music.html?ref=3Dtoda...
aper
(requires registration)
* Music Industry Wins Illegal Downloading Case
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/04/AR200710...
2256.html

FRIDAYS GO FROM CASUAL TO E-MAIL-FREE
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Michelle Kessler]
E-mail can be a useful communication tool, and=20
people who write a lot of it are more likely to=20
receive it, IDC tech analyst Mark Levitt says.=20
But it can quickly get out of hand. White-collar=20
workers often receive 140 messages a day. Each=20
day, about 39.7 billion person-to-person e-mails,=20
17.1 billion automated alerts, and 40.5 billion=20
pieces of spam (not including this note) are sent=20
worldwide. Today about 150 engineers at chipmaker=20
Intel will kick off "Zero E-mail Fridays." E-mail=20
isn't forbidden, but everyone is encouraged to=20
phone or meet face-to-face. The goal is more=20
direct, free-flowing communication and better=20
exchange of ideas, Intel principal engineer=20
Nathan Zeldes says in a company blog post.=20
E-mail-free Fridays already are the norm at cell=20
carrier U.S. Cellular and at order-processing=20
company PBD Worldwide Fulfillment Services in=20
Alpharetta, Ga. Prominent techies are tackling=20
the problem individually by declaring "e-mail=20
bankruptcy" =97 deleting or archiving an entire=20
in-box and starting over. [CRAZY! we say. No=20
email Fridays... what's next? Unsubscribing from listservs? Nutty!]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20071005/1a_bottomstrip05_dom....
.htm

QUICKLY

MARKEY LAUDS CONAGRA=92S COMMITMENT TO COMBAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY
[SOURCE: Rep Ed Markey (D-MA)]
ConAgra Foods, Inc. has agreed to place limits on=20
the food products it markets to children,=20
pledging to set nutritional criteria for the=20
foods the company will advertise in media=20
primarily directed to children under 12, though=20
the specific criteria will not be finalized until=20
early 2008. In response, House Telecom=20
Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA) said, "I=20
want to commend ConAgra for its voluntary=20
commitment, which indicates that ConAgra=20
recognizes its responsibility to children and the=20
importance of taking steps to combat the=20
childhood obesity epidemic. As childhood obesity=20
is a serious public health issue, it is vital=20
that food and beverage marketers adopt socially=20
responsible marketing strategies. I look forward=20
to reviewing the full details of ConAgra=92s new criteria."
http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=3Dcom_content&task=3Dview&id=3D...
0&Itemid=3D141
* ConAgra To Limit Food Ads Targeted To Kids
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6487226.html?rssid=3D193

REPUBLICANS URGE ACTION ON TECH ISSUES
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Frank Davies]
Worried that Democrats in Congress were getting=20
too much credit for leadership on tech-industry=20
issues, GOP House leaders Thursday pressed=20
Speaker Nancy Pelosi to move quickly on several=20
tech priorities, including allowing more skilled=20
workers from overseas. In a letter to Pelosi,=20
D-San Francisco, Minority Leader Rep. John=20
Boehner, R-Ohio, and at least 30 other=20
Republicans also called for quick action on=20
making the Internet tax moratorium permanent. In=20
addition, Republicans want an expanded=20
research-and-development tax credit, building on=20
an increase enacted last year, and a renewed=20
effort to encourage the use of electronic medical records.
http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci_7091661

COMMUNITIES HIRE PRIVATE FIRMS TO MANAGE PUBLIC LIBRARIES
[SOURCE: The Associated Press, AUTHOR: Julia Silverman]
For years, state and local governments have been=20
privatizing certain functions, such as trash=20
collection, payroll processing and road=20
maintenance. Contracting with an outside company=20
to run a library is a relatively new phenomenon,=20
one that has been gaining in popularity as=20
communities look for ways to save money. The=20
practice has generated a backlash from those who=20
argue that municipalities are employing a=20
backdoor method of union-busting, and those who=20
say such profit-making ventures go against the=20
notion that libraries are one of the noblest=20
functions of government in a democracy. Most of=20
the 15 or so U.S. municipalities that have=20
outsourced their libraries have signed on with=20
LSSI, which is the biggest player in the field=20
but is privately held and does not disclose=20
earnings. In the past year, Texas cities San Juan=20
and Leander, California cities Redding and=20
Moorpark, and the Jackson-Madison County library=20
system in Tennessee have become LSSI clients.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20071005/a_libraries05.art.htm

CHICAGO BANS DISTRIBUTION OF FREE NEWSPAPERS
[SOURCE: Inside, AUTHOR: Ronald Roenigk]
The Chicago City Council voted 50-0 to outlaw the=20
distribution of free newspapers, periodicals, and=20
directories inside the city limits. The=20
legislation also outlaws leaving "unsecured=20
bundles" of papers in both public and private=20
property. This is precisely how many of Chicago=92s=20
community, alternative, and ethnic newspapers are currently delivered.
http://www.insideonline.com/site/epage/46804_162.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
...and we're outta here. Savor those victories=20
coming tomorrow and Sunday... Go Cubs!
--------------------------------------------------------------
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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