News Media Guild

This is the third entry in a series examining John McCain’s health proposals and how they have been covered in the press. Most people are finally beginning to realize that if they have even the most minor of preexisting health problems, they probably won’t qualify for health insurance; if they do qualify, the insurer won’t cover them for the ailments...

James Rainey in today's LA Times (emphasis mine): It seems like just about everybody has spent the last week beating up on the media for showering too much love on Barack Obama, during what John McCain's camp derides as the Obama World Tour. True, statistics show broadcast networks have devoted more than twice as much airtime in...

I often enjoy (and often agree with) Jack Shafer's stuff. But, what's up with this? Shafer wonders "why hasn't the press commented" on a recent National Enquirer story involving John Edwards supposedly visiting a supposed love child. "Is it because it broke too late yesterday afternoon, and news organizations want to investigate it for themselves before writing about...

Associated Press
Excluding one-time charges -- which include goodwill and other charges based on the falling value of its assets -- Lee Enterprises earnings dropped 44.1% in the third quarter. Print advertising revenue declined 8.2%, and online advertising revenue increased 5.3%. || Read the release.

The McClatchy Co. reported its second-quarter net income per share fell to 24 cents from 42 cents in the year ago period, with one-time gains from unusual events unable to offset a continuing slump in ad revenue. McClatchy also said it repaid $294.7 million in debt in the second quarter, reducing its total debt to $2.10 billion from $2.40 billion at the end of the first quarter, and hinted it may reduce its dividend in the third quarter.

Lee Enterprises Inc.. continued the string of bad newspaper earnings reports Thursday, announcing a plunge in ad revenue that included a 9.1% fall-off in online advertising. Earnings for the third fiscal quarter ended June 29 fell to 6 cents per share from 49 cents per share a year ago. Lee cut its operating expenses by 2.3% to $202.1 million, with wages and compensation down 3%, and reduced the number of full-time equivalent employees by 4.9% for the quarter.

The Buffalo News reports that President Bush today signed a bill renaming part of Route 20A near Ralph Wilson Stadium [in Buffalo] after Tim Russert. The bill, which Congress passed overwhelmingly, renames the section of the highway between Abbott Road and California Road "Timothy J. Russert Highway." And: The renamed highway won't be the last tribute to...

Los Angeles Times
Broadcast networks have devoted more than twice as much airtime in recent weeks to Barack Obama than to John McCain, but don't assume that more coverage is always good coverage, says James Rainey. "Reports from the Mideast and back home in recent days have revealed that reporters were determined not to cut Obama any slack. That's only right."

Newsroom workers at the Star Tribune on Wednesday ratified an agreement for a three-year labor contract that includes a 16-month wage freeze, followed by three semiannual raises ranging from 1 to 1.5 percent. It also shifts a greater share of health care costs to employees but maintains the company’s pension plans. The company also will cut six newsroom jobs by offering voluntary buyout packages. The vote by Guild members was 210-27.

Reuters | McClatchy
McClatchy's online advertising revenue grew 12.5% during the quarter, though total ad revenue fell 16.8% to $406.3 million. Net income slid to $19.7 million, or 24 cents per share, from $35.2 million, or 43 cents per share, a year ago. || Read the release.

There's the Bob Novak-and-his-black-Corvette-hit-a-guy-yesterday story on Politico (according to a witness, "a black Corvette convertible with top closed plows into the guy. The guy is sort of splayed into the windshield.") And Novak's name also appears in another (arguably more interesting) Politico piece today headlined, "GOP losing the new-media war." Writes Jonathan Martin: Republicans have no lack...

Washingtonian
More quotes from Harry Jaffe's piece on Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth:

The New York Times is reeling from a triple whammy: sky-high newsstand prices, job cuts and bad news on the downgrade front. The namesake company said yesterday the cover price will go up 25 cents to $1.50 on Aug. 18. It added it will slash more jobs amid sinking profit and a weakening economy. And just before 5 p.m., Standard & Poor’s placed the company on credit watch with negative implications.

Clichés are sometimes true. here’s one—photographers don’t like to give speeches. At a recent event, photographer Antonin Kratochvil screened slideshows of his work: American soldiers coolly observing the Iraqi distressed and dead; Lebanese militant youths standing restlessly near decaying walls; American evangelicals speaking in tongues. The photographer then clambered onstage, ruddy and scarf-wrapped (“The Bedoins wear them!”) for his...

Clichés are sometimes true. here’s one—photographers don’t like to give speeches. At a recent event, photographer Antonin Kratochvil screened slideshows of his work: American soldiers coolly observing the Iraqi distressed and dead; Lebanese militant youths standing restlessly near decaying walls; American evangelicals speaking in tongues. The photographer then clambered onstage, ruddy and scarf-wrapped (“The Bedoins wear them!”) for his...

Politico.com
Wonkette's Ken Layne says that half-jokingly. He points out that "nobody would tolerate if, at the end of 'Meet the Press,' if a bunch of weirdos stormed the studio and started screaming weird racist stuff. Theyd call the police." Daniel Libit notes: "Websites ranging from the smallest of blogs straight through to the New York Times are struggling to discourage spammers and bomb-throwers without tamping down the larger, productive give-and-take."

Portfolio.com
Former Wall Street Journal managing editor Paul Steiger says: "I see no evidence, nor do my friends there report any evidence, of the bad Rupert [Murdoch] showing up, trying to move the coverage in a way that advances his business interests. So, to me, my fears haven't been realized." He adds: "I know something about the economics of that paper. It is not making money. [Murdoch] is pouring money into that paper to try and upgrade it."

The Wall Street Journal leads its front page with a report saying that states are getting “slammed” with budget problems as tax receipts dry up. The poor economy, with the housing bust leading the way, is causing state budgets to come up $40 billion short and forcing them to cut spending. The paper says revenue from income, corporate,...

Slate | National Enquirer | Sharon Waxman

Well, the coverage of the Obama trip has reached the point that the media are now nightly fodder for the "Daily Show," where the intrepid correspondents talk about how, uh, aroused they are covering the conquering hero of Europe, the Middle East and Asia.