DAILY KOS: Rathergate: much more than meets the EYE

EJC: The French media consumer is about to enter a brave new world where broadcasters and advertisers can study and dissect their habits wherever they are. Early next year, Médiamétrie, a French audience survey company, will roll out a new system using inaudible tones emitted from television broadcasts that can give a richer view of the popularity of shows by demographic group and format. Ultimately, the company intends to track select volunteers beyond their living rooms and television sets to radio, personal computers, mobile phones and perhaps video game consoles that double as tiny television sets. The aim is to create the most accurate method yet for measuring viewing, giving advertisers a better sense of how much they should be paying and how much broadcasters should be charging for programs recorded and watched at another time. (International Herald Tribune)

I WANT MEDIA.COM Google May Start Buying Content Companies

Google’s stated goal is to organize the world’s information, not buy it. But, at some point down the road, the Internet giant will start buying content companies, media observers predict. Google “will have no choice,” as its torrid growth eventually tails off.

Dubai Buys ‘Substantial’ Stake in Sony Corp

Dubai International Capital, the $13 billion fund manager whose investors include the emirate’s ruler, is buying a “substantial” stake in Sony, seeking to diversify its sources of income.

News Corp Rumored in Talks to Buy LinkedIn

News Corp. is said to be talks to buy business social networking service LinkedIn, according to TechCrunch UK. If the deal were to happen, it would bring MySpace and LinkedIn under the same corporate roof. A spokesman for LinkedIn says there is “absolutely no truth in the rumor.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/11/22/bcnlinked122.xml

Murdoch Admits Editorial Control of Papers

Rupert Murdoch has admitted to a British parliamentary inquiry on media ownership that he has “editorial control” over which party his tabloids support in an election. Also: Murdoch wants his U.K. Sky News to be more like the U.S. Fox News, but his son James “ignores” him.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21942569/

HILLARY LINK TO MURDOCH QUESTIONED

During a Hillary Clinton campaign event in Iowa on Saturday night, a woman in the audience rose to ask the presidential candidate about Rupert Murdoch’s ownership of multiple media outlets, and whether Americans would “lose out democracy” if one person is in control of the media.

SAY NO TO THE SIRIOUS/XM MERGER PLAN

Consumer Groups Call on FCC to Reject XM-Sirius Merger

New report shows lack of competition and little consumer benefit to satellite radio merger proposal

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union and Free Press today urged the Federal Communications Commission to reject the proposed XM-Sirius merger. In their report filed with the Commission, the consumer groups argue that joining the two satellite radio companies would eliminate competition and negatively impact American consumers.

“The proposed XM-Sirius merger is not in the interest of American consumers,” said Dr. Mark Cooper, director of research for the Consumer Federation of America and lead author of the report. “Leaving one company to monopolize the satellite radio industry would result in higher prices and fewer choices — with no foreseeable public benefit.”

The report details the XM-Sirius merger’s many negative side-effects — both for consumers and for the satellite radio industry. For consumers, the merger would reduce the number of channels and formats available and result in fewer cost-saving incentives. The loss of competition in the industry would cause a dramatic drop in spending on talent and retail.

PR WATCH: A Victory for Ehren Watada — and for Freedom of the Press

Sarah Olson writes:

Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada saw his case move one step closer to resolution earlier this month when a federal court issued a preliminary injunction against a second court martial. The Army’s prosecution of the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq has been in legal limbo since a February court martial ended abruptly, when the military judge threw out a stipulation agreement and declared a mistrial.

In June 2006, Lt. Watada held a press conference where he declared that the Iraq War was illegal, and that it was his duty to refuse orders to deploy. Lt. Watada was charged with violations of article 87 and 133 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for refusing to deploy to Iraq, and publicly explaining his reasons for doing so. If convicted, he faced up to six and a half years in prison.

Following February’s mistrial, the Army refiled charges against Lt. Watada, and prepared for a second court martial. The defense argued Fifth Amendment protection against being tried for the same crime twice, and filed appeals with every level of military court. Lt. Watada’s claims to constitutional protections were not heard in court until the case reached the civilian, federal district court, in Tacoma, WA.

Lt. Watada’s refusal to deploy to Iraq launched him into the public spotlight. His refusal to obey direct orders made him the center of controversy, and he drew sharp criticism from many fellow members of the officer corps. At the same time, many active duty soldiers expressed gratitude to the Lieutenant for giving voice to the rising opposition to the war among those being asked to fight it.

HAL SNYDER WRITES TO CORRECT

That anthrax report (yesterday) is old, dating from 2001.

RESPONSE TO YESTERDAY’S LETTER ON WHAT TO DO TO SURVIVE RECESSION

DXM writes

Dissector Sets All Time Record for Bad News

In answering one of your reader/writers about what to do about bad news, and the News Dissector set an all time record in the Monday edition, I don’t have the answer. We don’t yet know what the meaning of (how bad) bad is, but already it feels a lot like Y2K, which didn’t happen because the computer-user community got real compliant real quick from when we first learned the nature of the problem.

Here on the Oregon Coast, the towns of Florence and Newport were Y2K complaint for our electricity - only to learn that our source of electricity, in Eugene, was out of Y2K compliance so if they went down, we’d be taken down with them. We raised hell with the inlanders, they got compliant, and we all lived happily ever after - at least until December 13th, 2000, and September 11, 2001, and March 23, 2003.

In a financial crisis, keeping the lights on is important, but on that one we’re at (utility) district’s mercy. They aren’t going to send us electricity if no one is willing or able to pay for it. Storing enough food and water for a year, the way the Mormons and survivalists do seems sensible enough.

Also, matches, toilet paper, and year supply of kitty krunchies if you have a cat, and batteries if you don’t live comfortably stumbling around in the dark without music on your iPod.

?

LOS CUATRO GENERALES

GUARDIAN: Video game of Spain’s civil war causes outrage

A computer game that allows players to take sides in the Spanish civil war has caused outrage at a time when the country is still struggling to come to terms with the legacy of the conflict.

Shadows of War: The Spanish Civil War is the first game dedicated to the 1936-39 conflict, which cost the lives of an estimated 500,000 people and resulted in General Franco’s 36-year dictatorship. It has been designed to enable players to take on the role of Franco’s victorious forces or the defeated republicans.

The release date is particularly contentious as it falls on November 20, the anniversary of the death of Franco, when fascist groups gather to commemorate the late dictator. It also comes weeks after the Spanish parliament passed the historical memory law, which for the first time recognises Franco’s victims, and was one of the most hotly disputed pieces of legislation in 30 years of democracy.

Gaming websites have been full of criticism for the game, with some viewing the idea of playing the part of
a fascist soldier as repellent. Others, however, welcome the chance to rewrite history and emerge victorious as a republican soldier.

Well, at least Generalissimo Franco is still dead.

JEFF JARVIS TO NPR’S ON THE MEDIA

I’m a fan and loyal listener of On the Media. They devoted their entire show this week to the fate and future of the book and though it had plenty of good segments, I was frustrated listening to it because I knew of other interviews I wish they’d done that I could have suggested — if only they’d asked.

And so it struck me that On the Media should open up the process of making its show. When they decide to make an entire episode about one media topic — which I encourage to forestall the show’s slide into becoming just another politics and public affairs show — why shouldn’t they tell the audience — media-savvy, by definition — and ask them who they know and what they want to know. They could tell us what they’re thinking of making and we could beat that. If the BBC can publish its rundown for a daily news show to ask for input, why can’t OtM?

I would have told them about the Institute for the Future of the Book, which is doing fascinating work about not only the form of the book but the process of writing. I would have suggested that they report more about the new benefits being digital brings to books — being searchable, linkable, lasting. I might have liked to have heard a debate about John Updike’s screed against digital at the booksellers’ convention a year ago. I could have sent them lots of links about all this (and I’m not pushing to be interviewed myself… though it has been awhile). I know that many members of their audience would have had more more good suggestions.

COMMENT WELCOME

Thanks for joining me today as I attempt a daily counter narrative to some of what we are reading. Thanks to all who send in items or correct mistakes. 3000 plus words a day is probably too many for anyone to attempt especially when this is not my main gig. Could I do better. You bet—with your help and support.

write: Dissector@mediachannel.org