Dear Subscriber to the Editors Weblog Newsletter

Dear subscriber to the Editors Weblog newsletter,

It’s been a challenging week for press freedom as newspapers were threatened with closure in Iran, Malaysia and Fiji but we’re happy to see two Danish journalists acquitted of revealing state secrets.

Newspaper ownership has been in discussion with The NY Times looking at a leveraged buyout, Trinity Mirror ‘considering its options’ of selling off its English tabloids and The Press Gazette having been resurrected by a new owner.

Redesigns were popular with WSJ unveiling their narrow new look whilst the NY Times and US Metro have been revamping their online offerings. Yahoo has had its usual share of headlines with new services and company restructures.

The purpose of the Editors Weblog is to bring together editors from around the world to share dialogue on improving newsroom management and editorial quality. Please do send us your views.

Kind regards,

Bertrand Pecquerie, John Burke and Jodie Hopperton

PS: You are free to unsubscribe if you no longer want to receive these updates (see bottom of email).

ANALYSIS ------

Cooperation Between Newspapers And Blogs: Interview With Pluck’s Eric Newman ------Newman discusses the BlogBurst, a company that syndicates blogs for newspapers, and the effects it will have on the newspaper industry. http://www.editorsweblog.org/analysis//2006/12/cooperation_between_newspapers_and_blogs.php

TOP STORIES ------

US: NY Times introduces broadsheet-like reader for online edition ------The New York Times has introduced a new electronic reader for its online edition. Once the reader is downloaded, user’s computers will constantly align themselves with the most recent Times edition. http://www.editorsweblog.org/news/2006/11/us_ny_times_introduces_broadsheetlike_re.php

US: Will New York Times Co. go private? ------Discussions about a leveraged buyout of the New York Times Co. have recently reemerged, as insurance giant Maurice R. Greenberg began acquiring shares. http://www.editorsweblog.org/print_newspapers/2006/12/will_new_york_times_co_go_private.php

US: WSJ specifies tasks of print and online reporters ------According to a memo to Wall Street Journal staff, certain changes will be implemented to make both the print and online versions of the paper more efficient. http://www.editorsweblog.org/news/2006/12/us_wsj_specifies_tasks_of_print_and_onli.php

US: WSJ new narrow edition to go live on 2 Jan 2007 ------The WSJ today unveiled their new look narrow edition that will go live in January. It will be free to readers on the first day to trial the new size. It will lose 3inches (about 1 column) making the new edition 12 inches wide. http://www.editorsweblog.org/print_newspapers/2006/12/wsj_new_narrow_edition_to_go_live_on_2_j.php

US: Yahoo expanding newspaper partnerships ------Yahoo has added Media General to its recently developed consortium of media groups. Through the deal, Media General will move the job sections of its 25 papers to Yahoo Hotjobs, causing the group to cover over 200 newspaper’s career section. http://www.editorsweblog.org/news/2006/12/us_yahoo_expanding_newspaper_partnership.php

Yahoo/Reuters team up for user-generated contributions ------Yahoo and Reuters are planning on teaming up to launch a new user-generated content web site. http://www.editorsweblog.org/news/2006/12/yahooreuters_team_up_for_usergenerated_c.php

US: Yahoo creates mobile social site ------Yahoo has quietly launched a social networking site, called Mixd, for mobile phones this week. By targeting a small group of college students, Yahoo hopes to make the site available “to consumers to see how they use the product.” http://www.editorsweblog.org/news/2006/12/us_yahoo_creates_mobile_social_site.php

UK: the end of fraudulent reporting? ------Nobody really seemed surprised by the recent revelations on the widespread fraudulent practices indulged by reporters. It’s almost as if people expected reporters to infringe certain laws, trespass on certain grounds, in order to uncover the sometimes much more important – or not at all – scoops. http://www.editorsweblog.org/print_newspapers/2006/12/uk_the_end_of_fraudulent_reporting.php

UK: The Trinity Mirror Group considers sale ------The Trinity Mirror Group is considering selling its national or regional titles based on financial advisor NM Rothschild’s quarterly findings. The board hopes to announce their review results and decision December 14. http://www.editorsweblog.org/print_newspapers/2006/12/uk_the_trinity_mirror_considers_sale.php

UK: Press Gazette Resurrected ------Having missed just one issue Press Gazette will go back on stand this Friday. Former Editor Tony Loynes will be back supported by the publisher Wilmington Group. http://www.editorsweblog.org/print_newspapers/2006/12/uk_press_gazette_resurected.php

Denmark: Journalists acquitted ------The three journalists accused of illegally publishing governmental secrets regarding Denmark’s stance on Iraq have been acquitted today by a Danish Court. http://www.editorsweblog.org/print_newspapers/2006/12/denmark_journalists_acquitted.php

Iran: Foreign websites banned plus newspaper closures are threatened pre election ------Many websites had access from Iran shut down as ordered by the senior judiciary officials. Also, 10 newspapers have been threatened with closure following promotion of candidates before the official municipal election campaign. http://www.editorsweblog.org/print_newspapers/2006/12/iran_foreign_websites_banned_plus_newspa.ph p Malaysia: media company merger could jeopardize press freedom ------Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi confirmed the announcement that The New Straits Times Press (NSTP) and Utusan Melayu Berhad, two of the country’s main (formerly rival) newspaper companies, were considering a friendly merger. This worries press freedom activists, who are concerned by the tightened grip this might give the Malaysian government over the media. http://www.editorsweblog.org/print_newspapers/2006/12/malaysia_media_company_merger_could_jeop. php

Fiji: Newspaper ceased publication after threats from military ------The Fiji Times has been closed due to censorship by the military. Also, The Daily Post in Fiji closed its office yesterday and moved out all equipment following a belief that the military were en route to do the same. http://www.editorsweblog.org/print_newspapers/2006/12/fiji_one_newspaper_ceased_publication_an.php

France: leading daily to invest in online and diversify publications ------20 Minutes, a freesheet distributing 3million across Europe, is planning on further investments in its online ventures, as well as the publication of a free weekly business title. http://www.editorsweblog.org/news/2006/12/france_leading_daily_to_invest_in_online.php