Quote of the day
I couldn't resist snipping this one on Britney Spears, from a PlanetOut opinion column: "It's no wonder half the country is blind and deaf to politics when political discourse is so removed from the concerns of the people. The media continues to fail as well. For example, CNN's news crawl reported Britney's marriage directly before a story about multiple soldiers dying from a grenade in Iraq...Something is wrong with American priorities." 2:23:24 PM

Shouldn't They Be Watching SpongeBob?
Forget that a big percentage of cable news net viewers are grandparents. Among children ages 6 to 11, Fox News viewership was up 100% in 2003, and CNN viewership was up 20%, Media Life reports. "Despite the growth, neither Fox News nor CNN could compete with Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network for a slot at the top of the ratings." Shocking. But the article rightly points out how adults influence children's TV habits. (Hat tip: Lost Remote) 12:25:10 PM

CNN Election Express in Iowa
CNN's "Election Express" campaign bus is making its first swing through Iowa, broadcasting Inside Politics and Crossfire from across the state. "The Election Express will film live from Des Moines today through Monday and travels to Ames on Tuesday," the Iowa City Press-Citizen reports. "After [University of Iowa on Wednesday], the bus travels Thursday to Cedar Rapids, followed by a Friday trip to Davenport." (Also: This DM Register story points out one problem with ABC's bus: no bathroom!) 12:16:29 PM

Weekend Media Show Previews
On Fox News Watch, the topics include Pete Rose's gamble, Maria Shriver's activism, Howard Dean's anointment, and Britney Spears's stupidity... On Reliable Sources, a panel of newspaper writers weigh in on the upcoming Iowa caucuses. 6:49:15 AM

Pissed at Paula:
Dean Supporters Denounce 'Clark News Network'
Dean supporters are pissed off at Paula Zahn for a dust-up during her interview with Joe Trippi Friday; 261 (and counting) comments in the campaign blog are a long, compelling read. "For students studying journalism or wanting to study journalism -- Paula Zahn is a study of how to not to conduct and interview and be caught with your pants down." Talk about devotion to Dean. (Also: 326 comments to a thread on Judy Woodruff's Dean interview earlier in the day.) The best comment after the Zahn interview?: "I'm sending more money to the campaign." The power of the blog... 12:01:18 AM

"Meager Estimation of the Fourth Estate"
Under the headline "Trashing the media," LA Times staffer Reed Johnson examines the state of the press in Saturday's Los Angeles Times. The lede: "Veteran journalists are coming to some grim conclusions about their industry. Are they raising red flags or merely grinding axes?" 12:00:34 AM

MSNBC Iowa Caucus Coverage Plans
Big surprise: MSNBC plans live coverage of the Iowa Caucus. The press release was put out on Friday afternoon. Hardball will be live from Des Moines from Thursday the 15th up to the 19th. On caucus night, Chris Matthews will host live coverage from 7 to 10; pause for Scarborough Country for an hour; back live in Iowa until midnight; then wrap with a live Olbermann Countdown until 1am. Chris Jansing live reports from the hawkeye state begin Monday. 11:42:50 PM

Some Fun With Morning Papers
NewsNight's Morning Papers segment climaxed with the tabloid Weekly World News. "We should have covered this one," Aaron Brown said, then revealed the headline: "Bat Boy Led Our Troops To Saddam's Hole." "And incredibly, they have a picture of Bat Boy," Brown deadpanned... 10:58:59 PM

"One Area Where CNN Beats FOX Easily"
TVHeads points to Internet news site rankings, where CNN.com is #1 and FoxNews.com places 9th. Hey, you take what you can get... 10:33:06 PM

Resolutions for the Media
Eric Burns' FoxNews.com column shares viewer resolutions for the media in 2004. He says the most common theme was a request for more objectivity by the media. "Leavee out ideological viewpoints and report the news, fair and balanced," one viewer wrote. Another asks: "Can you create a separate channel for Michael Jackson so I don’t have to keep changing the channel?" Good stuff. 8:36:14 PM

"Who made CNN king-maker?"
Beating up on Howard Dean, or demonstrating liberal bias? A TV Spy poster writes that "CNN is DEFINITELY doing a hatchet job on Dean...Media organizations are now making and breaking candidates." On the other hand, the conservative Media Research Center's Cyber Alert accuses CNN of going soft: "CNN set out Wednesday night to prove that Howard Dean was no liberal as Governor of Vermont, but reporter Kelly Wallace used as her authoritative sources the editor of a self-described “alternative” newspaper and a local Democratic legislator." 7:58:10 PM

"Rupert's World"
A fascinating cover story in the January 19th Business Week: "Rupert's World" describes Murdoch's global satellite empire and a coming "fierce new media war." Snip: "On the news channel front, a big fight is likely to erupt when highly rated Fox News begins to push for a fee comparable to the 38 cents that Time Warner's CNN commands, says CIBC Worldwide analyst Michael Gallant." (Hat tip: IWantMedia) 4:16:21 PM

Quote of the day
Today's San Francisco Chronicle, on the news that FOX's ratings topped CNN in Sunday's debate: "Either there are a lot more Democrats watching Fox News than expected, or a lot more Republicans watching CNN than one would assume. Of course, it could also be that Republicans watched the Democratic debate for a good, hearty laugh or so they could run around their living rooms, high-fiving over the fact that "this is all they've come up with!...In either case, this much is clear: Fox News is cutting off CNN's head and handing it back." 4:01:59 PM

Another Reason to Watch Countdown Tonight
From MSNBC's Countdown w/Olbermann newsletter: "Finally, we hope you saw yesterday's #1 story about a man whose apartment -- and every last item in it -- was foiled (aluminum, that is) by a friend who was house sitting... ...Apparently it inspired someone on our staff. his morning one of our producers was shocked to find her entire workspace covered like a Sunday casserole. But that's not all. Keith's doorway was screaming with foil. And in an odd twist, the director's workspace was bathed in Saran wrap, leading us to believe that two different culprits are responsible...Suffice it to say that if some sort of Countdown Meltdown occurs tonight, you can blame it on the escalating maneuvers of tit-for-tat staff members whose pranks had nowhere to go but on-air." 3:27:02 PM

Novak's 'racist' Crossfire remark
CNN commentator Robert Novak is accused of calling American indians election thieves in a "racist, insulting remark" on a recent Crossfire program. Two years ago, the South Dakota Senate election "was stolen by stuffing ballot boxes on Indian reservations. Now, Tom Daschle may have to pay for that theft," Novak told co-host James Carville on Tuesday. Yesterday, S.D.’s state Democratic Party chairwoman demanded Novak apologize, and other politicos issued chastising statements. More details in Friday’s Rapid City Journal report. 9:18:04 AM

FOX Biz Success: "We do it in straightforward English"
Jon Friedman's CBS column this morning expands on yesterday's NYDN report about FOX's business show success, and includes some insightful comments from Neil Cavuto. "People appreciate (that) we do it in straightforward English. We try to avoid jargon and acronyms. A lot of business shows preach to the converted, and they're out to impress brokers," the FOX business anchor says. He calls Fox a "phenomenon" at one point. Here's the full article. (Hat tip: Romenesko) 9:16:01 AM

How Many Have to Die?
Rantingprofs figures it out: "...We're starting to get a feel for what the formulas are here. Soldiers dying do not necessarily rate the lead story (or even a story), unless they die in a clump. Soldiers wounded in even very large numbers do merit mention, but when the majority of the soldiers involved have not suffered, thank God, very serious wounds... it may not be more than that." 12:26:29 AM

Trials on TV: Guilty Until Proven Innocent?
An interesting thread beginning at TVHeads on trial coverage. "The media always assumes that the defendant did the crime when they do not have any real evidence," one poster writes, and cites various cases. A response: "The media wants drama, ratings and more drama. The outcome is almost irrelevant once the trial ends and all the players, or "actors" fade into obscurity." 12:26:09 AM

Crowley on the Campaign Trail
A big scoop: CNN correspondent Candy Crowley bundles up for an Iowa winter. "Crowley found time to buy a hat and a pair of gloves - "on sale" - at Younkers in downtown Des Moines after she left hers at home. She also bought some half-price Christmas bulbs," Wednesday's Des Moines Register dutifully reported. 11:51:25 PM

Amber Alert: Coverage Notes
"This was a triumph of cable news," Clint Van Zandt said on MSNBC...Newly hired MSNBC freelancer Natalie Allen scored a high-profile story on her first week, as she reported the story during primetime...Greta van Susteren interviewed family members...Martin Savidge's reporting tonight described as "excellent work under fire..." 11:12:16 PM

Quote of the day
NYT Critics Notebook lead in Friday editions: "I like the crawl, the sometimes inane but often brain-saving text that runs across the bottom of the screen on 24-hour news channels. Although it has become de rigueur to hate the crawl — even Jim Walton, the president of CNN, has said publicly that he dislikes it — CNN's research has shown that 70 percent of its viewers favor it. And why not? At times it's your only hope of getting real news." 11:11:56 PM

Wrestler, Governor, TV Host... Professor?
He didn't have much success in front of an MSNBC audience, but perhaps college students will be receptive: Jesse Ventura will join Harvard's Institute of Politics as a visiting fellow this spring. Here's the AP story... 11:10:32 PM

Well, She Never Pretended to be Modest
Greta van Susteren in her online column, stating that her show will air live from Iowa and New Hampshire this month: "Fox is doing the "full court press" -- we have many anchors and shows headed to these two destinations because we want to make sure we deliver the best coverage -- and frankly, I hate to be so bold, but, we do!" 10:30:45 PM

Deborah Norville: A Younger Larry King
Hollywood Reporter: "Skeptics wonder whether Norville could compete head-to-head in the time slot with "Larry King Live" for bookings. But MSNBC president Erik Sorenson pointed to King's older-skewing audience -- more than 60% are older than 55 -- and said Norville will try to book newsmakers and celebrities who appeal to younger audiences." 5:16:34 PM

Amber Alert: Coverage compare/contrast
Georgia; three children missing; Noon news: CNN did a one-minute bit at the top of the hour; MSNBC flashed their "Flash news" banner for 2 minutes with a live line interview; FOX's report lasted four minutes, with live chopper images. Asman on FOX pointed out the channel is aired live on XM radio, and asked "listeners" to look out for a license plate. (CNN is also broadcast on XM; MSNBC will be added later this year.) I felt CNN handled it best -- reported the important facts without lapsing into speculation. 12:12:09 PM

"Larry King's show is an absolute joke"
Larry King has few fans at the TV Spy Watercooler. Among today's comments: "No wonder MSNBC thinks they can do better with Deborah Norville." The biggest complaint? Airing long interviews with half-dead has-been 'celebrities.' This Democratic Underground poster suggests it is time for King to step aside: "His program has turned into nothing but rattling on and on about this or that high profile crime." The drumbeat's getting louder and louder... 11:51:34 AM

MSNBC.com "Committed to keeping news video free"
A great move by MSNBC.com: The announcement of more free broadband video from NBC News, on MSN Video. What's exactly new about this news, I'm not sure -- but today's press release has a great quote: "MSNBC.com is committed to keeping news video free on the Web," MSNBC.com head Scott Moore said. Let's hope they stick to that. 10:30:55 AM

Former CNN DC Chief Gets PBS Program
The NYDN reports that former CNN DC bureau chief Frank Sesno plans to launch an 8-part public affairs series on PBS. "Sesno Reports" will be distributed by American Public Television. 10:30:41 AM

FNC Dominating Business News
Fox News now "boasts the five highest rated stocks and bonds programs on the cable dial," the New York Daily News reports this morning. Cavuto's "Your World" had over a million viewers last year, and the weekend programs did well too ("Bulls and Bears" with 795,000). 10:30:14 AM

Media Requests Michael's Records; Prosecutors Gag
News organizations are asking a Santa Barbara county judge to unseal court records in the Michael Jackson case. "The media organizations requested Wednesday that a hearing on unsealing the search records be held the day of the arraignment." Attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr. is representing NBC, CBS, CNN, ABC, Fox News, and the New York Times in the case. Prosecutors, meanwhile, asked for a gag order to be issued in the case. The motion read in part: "There are two prosecutions pending in California that, for different reasons, are each the object of unrelenting comment and speculation in the tabloid press, 'tabloid television' and even the regular purveyors of news." Read the full AP story. 12:10:53 AM

Brokaw: On Fox and the Future
A fascinating Tom Brokaw interview on Columbia Journalism Review's web site -- the back-and-forth about Fox News is notable He calls it the "tabloid approach;" a "lively, right-of-center opinionated all-news channel;" a "successful niche." And on percieved liberal bias: "If people thought I had a bias, they wouldn’t watch me." Brokaw also discusses debate coverage, cable's market penetration, and the future of broadcast news. Great interview. 12:07:38 AM

Quote of the day
From Aaron Brown's Newsnight email, sent around 7pm: "I could go on here, but so much is up in the air, and there are a bunch of scripts that need editing, and no dinner decision has been made either. And you think it is all bright lights and big paychecks." // Update: "It's funny how the day can change in an instant," AB led at 10pm. "...It was a normal day in many respects, and then late late in the afternoon, the sound that signaled a major news event had occured [was heard on] our computers." 9:20:33 PM

Deborah Norville: Likeable, Attractive, Smart
Eric Sorenson, interviewed for this Associated Press story: "People recognize her, she's likable, she's attractive, she's smart, she's done interview programs on television and radio. I think she'll be successful with this." The article continues: "Norville's background on a more personality-oriented news show might also be a plus in a year that could see celebrity criminal trials involving Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant, Martha Stewart and Phil Spector, he said." 6:10:27 PM

New FoxNews.com Executive Editor
Broadcasting & Cable: "Stephen Bromberg was promoted from senior news editor to executive editor of Fox News' Web site. Bromberg will be responsible for all editorial content on the Web site, direct the day-to-day news gathering operations and focus on developing content on the site that supports Fox News Channel." 6:07:32 PM

TV Press Tour: "It's Frustrating"
Zap2it reports that "veteran CNN anchors Judy Woodruff and Wolf Blitzer expressed some frustration about the direction of their profession, while voicing confidence that CNN remains a vital part of the media landscape." Some interesting quotes about Schwarzenegger and objectivity. Blitzer is also quoted in Akron Beacon Journal. 4:53:57 PM

"Deborah Norville Tonight" Premieres Jan. 21
MSNBC has made it official: Deborah Norville will join MSNBC beginning Wednesday, January 21. Eric Sorenson says: "Deborah is the ideal host, who can offer thought-provoking interviews and really deliver the stories people are talking about." The show, titled "Deborah Norville Tonight," will be taped at 30 Rock and in Secaucus, and will feature "interviews with top newsmakers, in-depth coverage of the day's biggest stories and the issues of the day." Here's the press release. 2:29:15 PM

Free Advertising
Public relations is the art of obtaining free advertising, one flack opined to me recently. Well McDonalds has it down to a science: their launch of a small pilot program about how to make "real life choices" has found its way onto the home pages of MSNBC.com and CNN.com (an AP copy/paste). It's also on FoxNews.com. CNN went live to a Manhattan McDonalds multiple times today for a live report on the big news... 2:25:32 PM

Last Week's Cable News #'s
Cynopsis has news channel ratings for December 29 to January 4. In total day, "Fox News had 46% of the viewing, CNN 28%, MSNBC 13%; and Headline News 13%." In primetime: "Fox News had 45%, CNN 30%, MSNBC 16% and Headline News 9%." 2:04:48 PM

Dirty Bomb Detectors Barely Worth a Mention?
Analysts have suggested in the past that FOX's constant attention to the war on terror is one component of their success. Today's performance affirms that. The WashPost report of dirty bomb detectors in several major cities was discussed on Fox and Friends at 7am, reported via live shots throughout the morning, and presented as the top story on Dayside at 1pm. (MSNBC interviewed the Post reporter and showed a map of the cities before noon.) CNN mentioned it in a news update once or twice, but preferred to focus on the winter storm on the west coast, then the lottery "ticket tug of war" at 10am... 1:25:24 PM

Time For An "Element of Ideology" In US?
The Hill compares British media's "element of ideology" to America's historic objectivity, and suggests change may be in store. "[Tim Graham of the Media Research Center said that] consumers want their news — particularly on TV — to buttress their political views," the newspaper writes. Christopher Hitchens points out that British papers have always been honest about their biases. "People increasingly prefer their bias to be straight," he says. Great read. (Hat tip: Romenesko) 12:17:06 PM

Westin Comments on ABC Digital News Network
Reuters reporting: "ABC also aims to build a 24-hour news network for digital broadcast television, in cooperation with its affiliates, that would combine local, national and international news and Westin said he hoped to move forward fairly promptly." ABCNews.com turned its first annual profit for the fiscal year that ended in September. (Hat tip: CyberJournalist) 9:46:32 AM

Daily Election Polling on MSNBC
Reuters teams up with MSNBC and Zogby again this election season to provide daily tracking polls. The data will be featured on MSNBC daily, the press release says. 9:40:52 AM

FOX Doubles CNN in Debate Ratings
Twice as many viewers watched Sunday's Democratic canddiates debate on Fox News Channel than on CNN. "FNC's coverage secured 870,000 viewers, compared with CNN's "paltry" average of 410,000," the Washington Post reported. 6:49:38 AM

Guess What 2003's Top Story Was?
Slightly off-topic, but notable: Andrew Tyndall's nightly news stats are compiled for 2003, and they are well worth a close read. You may not like their politics, but IPS has all the numbers. Snip: "AIDS killed three million people around the world last year, more than two million of them in Africa. The three major U.S. television networks' evening news programmes devoted a combined total of 39 minutes to the issue...[Over the same year] the three major networks' evening news shows devoted 4,047 minutes to coverage of Iraq." Read this. 12:03:38 AM

TV Press Tour: "The F Word"
The CNN press tour quotes keep coming. Princell Hair was asked about Fox's ratings success, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, and responded: "I was wondering how long it would take for someone to use the F word. There are many things that we could do to get ratings, but we're not going to do it at the expense of our brand." It continues... 11:39:53 PM

Quote of the Day
NewsMax.com on FOX 03 ratings gains: "Critics may scoff at Fox's claim of being fair and balanced, but viewers seem to appreciate the lack of leftward bias so evident on CNN. They are voting with their channel selectors and Fox is getting the nod from more and more Americans." 10:11:26 PM

TV Press Tour: CNN Stability in '04
TVWeek: "I'm a firm believer that if it ain't broke, don't fix it," CNN general manager Princell Hair said today."There are no major on-air changes planned for CNN ... 2004 will be a year of stability at CNN." Broadcasting and Cable: "To get CNN viewers to stick around longer, Hair says CNN needs to continue to execute the "fundamentals," like storytelling, writing and journalism, on a consistent basis. He says he is working to improve on-air presentation and showcase its journalism better." 7:09:34 PM

TV Press Tour: Election Night Calls
Wolf Blitzer on election night calls: "If we're not confident a million percent we got it right we're not going to go on the air. ... We're going to wait and wait and wait," Blitzer told a meeting Tuesday of the Television Critics Association. "Only when we have every reason to believe that this is a done deal will we go on and make that exit-poll projection." Read the full AP story. (Related: VNS out, AP in) 7:09:26 PM

TV Press Tour: Conventions, Crime Trials
CNN put Wolf Blitzer, Judy Woodruff, and Princell Hair in front of the media today at the semiannual TV press tour. Notable: It has "yet to be decided if CNN would provide blanket coverage of the Democratic and Republican conventions." Hair said it has been decided that "CNN wouldn't provide "gavel to gavel" coverage of numerous celebrity trials expected in 2004," saying there too many other things going on in the world. (AP) 7:07:55 PM

CNN to MSNBC, CNBC to FOX...
Newsblues reports that former CNN anchor Natalie Allen appeared on MSNBC Monday. She is "working as a freelance reporter for NBC News." Allen, once a popular Atlanta anchor, was fired in 2001. Also from the 'blues, two new faces on FOX News soon: 'Imus in the Morning's' Janice Dean will host weather reports, and CNBC's Martha MacCallum (anchor of recently-canned 'CheckPoint') will anchor Fox News Live. (Another former business anchor at FOX...perhaps CNBC will face foxified competition sooner rather than later.) 3:54:57 PM

Matthews to Interview McNamara
Chris Matthews will interview former secretary of defense Robert McNamara on MSNBC Wednesday night. There are bound to be many questions based on "Fog of War," the compelling, must-see documentary about his life. (The NBC press release) 2:56:29 PM

Fueling the Fire, Fanning the Flames
Yesterday morning, I was wondering how much play the MoveOn.org controversy fueled by Drudge would get. Only FOX, perhaps? Nope: "Ed Gillespie talked about them on CNN's "Inside Politics" and MSNBC's "Hardball," Bill O'Reilly played them on Fox, Sean Hannity played them on Fox -- and found a guest who thinks the Nazi comparison is just fine," Howard Kurtz writes in his online WP column. 2:32:00 PM

Candidate Debates "Like Water Torture"
Copy and paste from today's Des Moines Register: "The debates play a role in shaping the long-term impression of the candidates by the voters and the media. It's a bit like water torture, said Candy Crowley, Cable News Network's senior political correspondent. "Debate after debate after debate, it starts to make an indentation, even on the people who aren't paying close attention."" 1:18:22 PM

"Reporters at War" Premieres Tonight
Premiering tonight, a four-part series called "Reporters at War" on the Discovery Times channel. The first episode airs tonight at 8, with a new program each Tuesday evening. CNN previewed it during Blitzer's noon hour. Series producer Jon Blair said there are three particularly tough moments for a war correspondent: "The last night at home before you go...as you get to the airport on the flight out there...and when the plane touches down in the war zone." 12:45:49 PM

News Judgement 101
Rantingprofs asks a question of the day: "Which story will get more attention: Domestic Diva trial reaches meaningless benchmark? Or two countries who hate one another with everything they have -- and sadly, that would include nuclear weapons -- see their leaders actually get together in an effort to cool things down?" Sadly, I think we know the answer. (CNN.com and MSNBC.com get the lead right this morning, though.) 8:34:23 AM

Trials of the century in 2004?
CNN's Andersoon Cooper calls it "an alignment of the planets the likes of which we've never witnessed." The Salt Lake Tribune looks at "the potential for a rolling series of O.J. Simpson-like national obsessions fed by media overkill." 8:20:18 AM

"Rolling News Phenomenon:" CNN Response
CNN Intl. managing director Chris Cramer responds to UK journo/poli Martin Bell's attack on television news in The Independent's Tuesday edition. Bell argued that the "rolling news phenomenon" isn't always a good thing. Cramer responds: "We live in a world impatient to be there. Viewers want to be taken to the story as it happens, live and unvarnished. Many will also watch a more considered news bulletin later in the day, some will read a newspaper the following morning, or a news magazine later in the week. That is the world we live in." Read the rest. 12:05:45 AM

Ratings Analysis; CNN Spin
Tomorrow's newspapers tonight, eh? Tuesday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution analyzes a "peak year for cable news." Summed up: FOX widened their lead and grew the most in prime time; CNN still has a larger total # of viewers; MSNBC slipped in most categories. CNN spokeswoman spin: The ratings show "a continuing trend of viewers migrating from broadcast to cable for news." Interesting Free Republic responses... 8:30:56 PM

Aaron, Seven Days A Week
Aaron Brown is going to have a fun month. From his daily NewsNight newsletter: "Ok, we are back at it, five days a week. Actually, we are back at it and much of the month is seven days a week." No more of those canned specials... 7:48:59 PM

CNN News Roundup
Variety reporting tonight that "CNN has ended its 15-minute German-lingo news bulletin," saying it "could not compete in the oversupplied German-lingo news market." Separately, an 18-year-old from Germany opens CNNFan.com, including a bunch of video clips. Also: JNN presents a summary of CNN news from the holiday season. 7:16:23 PM

Blowing Off Bin Laden?
At the top of FOX's 4pm business-cast: Neil Cavuto points out that the new bin Laden tape has received relatively little attention -- only a blurb on page 11 of the NYT, for example. The two pundits he discussed it with blamed it on a busy news day, "terror fatigue," and the day of release (a Sunday). "Bin Laden was the face and voice of evil...[but] more recently, Saddam Hussein was," Bob Lichter (Center for Media & Public Affairs) said. 4:20:18 PM

This is Cable News, not Entertainment Tonight
FOX and CNN have been fair, barely touching the story. But Trace Gallagher couldn't resist a comment. During a Mars rover report, he explained that it takes about 12 minutes for pictures from Mars to transmit to Earth -- "you know, about the length of Britney Spears' marriage." Clever. Wolf Blitzer used it as an excuse to play a clip from her "I'm A Slave" 'music video.' MSNBC.com music editor Denise Hazlick's take: "This latest escapade gives further proof that the axiom of Britney Spears is true: She is not a girl but is not yet a woman." Stop reporting the damn story like it's real news! 12:39:01 PM

On Alert: Not a Terror Watch
MSNBC began a new feature on-air today. Called "On Alert," it aims to help "find the thousands of children who go missing across the country." It featured three kids around noon. 12:28:47 PM

Quote of the Day
ABC's The Note, discussing the two weeks ahead before the Iowa caucus: "On how many of those 14 days will coverage of the Democratic nomination fight be blotted out by world events — or by purposeful White House dribbling out of State of the Union run-up details? Or by Britney, fathers who dangle their children in front of wild animals, Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant, or any manner of other elements of the passing parade?" 12:05:34 PM

What's News?
It's the A block: As CNN's headline was "America on Alert" and FOX was covering "You Decide 2004," where was MSNBC? In the middle of a live report about Britney Spear's stupidity. This TVHeads thread is dissapointed. MSNBC's Question of the day: "Britney Speared: Is she totally out of control?" (It's 82% yes right now, BTW). ...And now they are repeating a Matt Lauer interview with Steve Irwin... 11:22:04 AM

Reliable Sources & News Watch Transcripts
Here are the weekend transcripts for Reliable Sources and FOX News Watch. 11:21:58 AM

MSNBC-Produced 'Early Today' Premieres
Amy Robach anchored on NBC at 4:30. She has a stunning presence...especially since I'm barely awake. Good morning, Katie Cou--er, well, not for a few years. During crosstalk at the end of the show, Robach pointed out that "this is our premiere show of the new newscast." Among the changes: Zoned weather forecasts, "giving you more targeted info," Elliott said. Never imagined him as a weather host, but he handled it well. It wasn't simulcast on MSNBC, as some had speculated.

...Then It Turned Into 'First Look'
At 5, they turned around and did it again on MSNBC. Same First Look, different (better?) anchor. Same graphics and music. Replayed 4:30's live hit in DC. Sadly, no change in MSNBC's awful lower thirds. Both shows were anchored from the Brian Williams 'News' set -- looked great. At 5:30, MSNBC re-aired the 5am broadcast. Back to bed now... 5:38:31 AM

Lisa Ling, Loving Longform
MSNBC National Geographic Explorer host Lisa Ling profiled in Alex Ben Block's TVWeek column. She is "regularly traveling around the world reporting on people and subjects that are often more complex than what is typical for most news shows in this era of short attention spans," he writes. Ling is proud of her ratings: "We've been consistently among MSNBC's top five shows of the week." 4:57:33 AM

From CNN to College
Former CNN'er Garrick Utley is profiled in the NYDN this morning. He is the new head of a SUNY graduate school in NYC. He is described as "disenchanted with the increasingly celebrity-focused, scandal-driven TV news business." Utley's jab at his former employer: "Clearly the international scope of news coverage has withered on the vine." 4:51:50 AM

Election Embedding Pro & Cons
Howard Kurtz profiles election embeds in his WP Media Notes column Monday, describing it as "a costly endeavor that yields considerable benefits for the news organizations willing to pay the freight, but also contains its share of frustrating wheel-spinning." He writes that MSNBC embed Maria Buchanan "was there after [Clark's] first campaign manager quit and new advisers started showing up. "I was introducing staff members to one another,"" she said. Read it all. 12:05:39 AM

CNN.com's News Judgement?
Should the #2 story on CNN.com really be " "Reports: Britney Spears weds -- but will annul marriage?" Above an air crash investigaton, debate summary, and a new bin Laden tape? 8:05:59 PM

The Debate "That Could Change Everything"
CNN promos called this the debate "that could change everything." Some interesting moments. Pointing out that the candidates sometimes ignored the question, the moderator said to Moseley Braun at one point: "You can talk about anything you want in the next minute, but we do have a question for you." Democratic Underground members seemed to be pleased. "Why can't all the debates be more like this?," one post asked. My favorite debate-related forum quote came from Free Republic. "Slow news day for fox, I guess [it] is better than flight 223 taking or not taking off," one poster remarked. Yes, it is. 4:57:44 PM

Meier on Brokaw
MSNBC anchor Randy Meier recalls sitting on the Today Show set the morning Saddam Hussein was captured and watching Tom Brokaw at work in a Star Tribune story. He notes that Brokaw ate breakfast at the anchor desk, and asked himself: "Will I ever get to the point in my career where I'm comfortable enough, while talking about [something big like] the capture of Hussein at the same time I'm eating a bagel on TV?!" 4:54:15 PM

First With Bin Laden Tape
Wow, looks like MSNBC actually had someone in the newsroom this afternoon. FLASH at 4pm for the new Osama audio tape...first cabler to broadcast excerpts. After 5 minutes, back to H&L; marathon. 4:01:46 PM

Quick Question for MSNBC
MSNBC: It's 3pm. You're showing me Steve Martin on Headliners & Legends. Meanwhile, news is happening on CNN and FOX, as they simulcast a PBS feed of the Des Moines Register debate. What's your excuse? Was the ad revenue from your recycled "documentary" worth it? Embarassing. That sound you hear -- it's the ratings dipping even lower... 3:08:50 PM

04 Prediction: Fair and balanced biz
Among Variety's predictions for television in 2004: "Get ready for a fair and balanced spinoff." They reference Ailes' business cable net, and say that "such a net could make life complicated for the Peacock-owned CNBC, which is revamping its underperforming primetime line-up." 11:27:03 AM

New "Early Today" Tomorrow
MSNBC takes over the NBC "Early Today" program tomorrow morning, with Amy Robach and John Elliott anchoring the pre-dawn news show from Secaucus. The memo to NBC affils; TV Spy thread; and MSNBC lists it at 5am on its schedule, replacing Bianca Solorzano's "First Look." A Zucker move? 11:20:19 AM

Keeping the Pressure On
Rantingprofs asks if NBC's Baghdad bureau is going to work nights anytime soon: "Another night without anything more from NBC than the casualty report. No narrative means no real reporting, no insights, no analysis...Could we really not have [had] that 8,543rd in-depth piece on Studs Terkel, that character, until a slow news day?" 10:32:42 AM