By: E&P Staff In today's edition, Dennis Hastert denies he is under investigation for corruption, a Canadian newspaper takes heat for a questionable anti-Iran article, and a critic wants the White House Press Corps to "stop whining."
***
House Speaker Hastert Demands Retraction From ABCDespite a flat denial from the Department of Justice, federal law enforcement sources tonight said ABC News has
reported that Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert is "in the mix" in the FBI investigation of corruption in Congress. Speaker Hastert said tonight the story was "absolutely untrue" and has demanded ABC News retract its story.
***
Jurkowitz to D.C. Journos: Stop Whining and Do Your Job"When a president succeeds in maintaining public support, either by dint of the wisdom of his policies or by outmaneuvering a complacent, sloppy, or petty press, that?s the way the system works," writes Mark Jurkowitz. "Conversely, when journalists succeed in raising legitimate doubts about the nation?s leadership and manage to earn the trust of the citizenry, that?s healthy too."
***
Newark 'Star-Ledger' Wins ABA AwardThe American Bar Association has awarded the Star-Ledger in Newark a 2006 "Silver Gavel Award" for its coverage of "Liberty, Security and the Patriot Act."
***
Canadian Newspaper Apologizes for Anti-Iran ReportThe National Post ran the piece on its front page Friday along with a large photo from 1944 that showed a Hungarian couple wearing the yellow stars that the Nazis forced Jews to sew to their clothing. The story, which included tough anti-Iran comments, was picked up widely by Web sites and by other media. "Is Iran turning into the new Nazi Germany? Share your opinion online," the paper asked readers Friday.
***
Did 'NYT' Overreact to Pellicano Trial?"A top television executive (with no ties to Paramount) wondered whether the Times had been overreaching," writes Kim Masters. "Another executive, this one from the previous Paramount regime, thought the stories seemed like character assassination."
***
'LAT', "WSJ' Journos Honored for European ReportingThe German Marshall Fund of the United States has announced the recipients of the 2006 Peter R. Weitz Prize for excellence and originality in reporting on European affairs. Sebastian Rotella, Los Angeles Times Paris bureau chief, has been awarded the $10,000 senior prize for a series of articles focusing on "Europe?s Restive Muslims." The $5,000 junior prize for outstanding coverage of Europe by a journalist under 35 has been awarded to Philip Shishkin of The Wall Street Journal?s Istanbul office for his insightful work covering the politics and people of Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
***
Some Advice for Philly's New Newspaper OwnersFirst, you paid $562 million for a mouthpiece. Don't be afraid to use it. I can understand pledging not to interfere with reporting because of potential conflicts, but there is no reason that your voices -- new voices -- shouldn't be heard on the editorial page.
***
Bidders Who Lost Out on Philly Papers May Try for Other KR OrphansOnex and Black Press will now turn their attention to several other papers still on the block as a result of that deal. Mr. Black would not disclose which titles his group is looking at, but the companies have toured the Akron Beacon Journal in Ohio. In addition to that paper, five others are left up for sale, including the Aberdeen American News in South Dakota, the Duluth News Tribune in Minnesota, the Fort-Wayne News-Sentinel in Indiana, the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota and the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader in Pennsylvania.
***
'Arrogant Corporate Tools' at Gannett Ruining Journalism?"We naive journalists like to tell ourselves that the largest newspaper chain in the country (by circulation, anyway) is undermining its own long-term future by promoting ... journalists who are outright nifty at corporate-speak, at manipulating spreadsheets and at kissing the derrieres of their immediate superiors," writes Willy Stern.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here