Joe the Plumber Hits Media Coverage, Tells 'E&P' He Hopes Palin Does Not Run in 2012 'E&P' on Twitter: Here's How to Hit the Tweet Spot! McClatchy Launches Digital Editions on the Kindle As 'NYT' Chicago Pages Debut, Local Papers Deliver 'Exclusives' EXCLUSIVE: Newspaper Sites' Time Spent Dropped in October UPDATE: AP Layoff Count Hits 90, Meets Goal 'Indy Star' Leads Fight for Lobbying-Laws Reform Ad Revenue Sees 13th Consecutive Quarter of Decline in Q3 NYT Co. Board Amends Bylaws to Ensure Transparency in Shareholder Nominations 40 Years Ago Today: Photos of My Lai First Appeared But Photographer Often Forgotten | This week's top stories Mediaweek: Top Headlines

AUBURN, Maine A reporter for the Sun Journal suffered a fractured back while rolling down a hill inside a car-sized inflatable ball during a media preview of the ride at Lost Valley ski area.

Rebekah Metzler and photographer Lincoln Benedict were strapped inside the plastic sphere known as "the Zorb" Thursday afternoon when it bounced off a hay-encased post and went airborne before landing hard a couple of seconds later.

Metzler drove back to the newspaper's office in Lewiston before being taken to Central Maine Medical, where she remained Friday.

The Zorb was scheduled to make its public debut at Lost Valley this weekend. Diane Moreau, co-owner of Lost Valley, told the newspaper she has begun an investigation into the incident and was considering additional safety measures.