Mediagazer: The New York Times' R&D Lab has built a tool that explores the life stories take in the social space (Megan Garber/Nieman Journalism Lab)

The New York Times' R&D Lab has built a tool that explores the life stories take in the social space — Some of the most exciting work taking place in The New York Times building is being done on the 28th floor, in the paper's Research and Development Lab. The group serves essentially …

Discussion: Mashable!, Future of Journalism, FishbowlNY, eMedia Vitals and Soup

Greg Sandoval / Media Maverick:

Apple signs cloud deal with Warner Music — Apple has reached an agreement with Warner Music Group to offer the record label's tracks on iTunes' upcoming cloud-music service, music industry sources said. — In the race to the cloud, Apple is apparently stepping on the gas.

Discussion: App Advice, PC Magazine, Electronista, IntoMobile, The Next Web, MacStories, AppleInsider, TUAW, BGR, MacRumors, 9 to 5 Mac, hypebot and MediaMemo, more at Techmeme »

Judy Dempsey / New York Times:

New Hurdles for News in Belarus — WARSAW — It's called Belsat TV, and it's the first and only independent satellite television channel for Belarus, broadcasting news and current affairs as well as cultural and children's programs like “The Adventures of Uszatek the Bear.”

Lens:

At 27, Guy Martin Becomes a Veteran — In a dreadful instant on Wednesday, 27-year-old Guy Martin was propelled from his cohort of Promising Young Photojournalists into the honorable — if unsought — company of those who have been injured or killed in the line of duty.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times and Global Voices

Robert Niles / Online Journalism Review:

More on ethics, criticism and paying the bills, adding the FTC this time — By Robert Niles: Rhonda Shearer of StinkyJournalism.org called earlier this week in response to my previous post on who pays for things reviewed by critics to remind me of the Federal Trade Commission's rules on the subject.

Amy Chozick / Wall Street Journal:

The Happy-Time Network — At USA, all shows must be colorful, sunny and upbeat. As the No. 1 cable channel readies a host of new programs, a danger lurks—is the formula too formulaic? — Actors Jeffrey Donovan and Gabrielle Anwar film a scene for the upcoming season of USA's ‘Burn Notice’ in Hollywood, Fla., Tuesday.

Discussion: Company Town and MediaPost

Aljazeera:

No safe haven for reporters in Libya — As civilians fire rockets and government troops shell civilian positions, there is almost no safe place for journalists. — Benghazi, LIBYA — In Libya, you think about the difference between sand and pavement in a mortal way.

Discussion: THE GUN

Joe Pompeo / Yahoo! News:

Jim Romenesko gets back to reporting — For the past 12 years, Jim Romenesko has been the guy who rapidly rounds up and links to every little morsel of gossipy, wonky, inside-baseball journalism news for diehard media news junkies. — Over the past few months, however …

Steve Myers / Poynter:

Associated Press reaches tentative agreement with union — The new, 33-month contract would give Guild members three 1.5 percent raises and make changes to retirement benefits. Management wouldn't agree to a no-layoff pledge, according to the Guild, but new language prevents staff …

Discussion: ap.org, MIJE.org, On Media's Blog, Yahoo! News and FishbowlNY

Karen Dunlap / Poynter:

When breaking news confuses: Citizens may be as undecided as the Pulitzer board — Some years ago, deadline reporting was declared a dying craft. Reporters would gain muscle in long-form journalism and engrossing narratives, but lose the ability to quickly report a story, some feared.

Discussion: FishbowlNY

Greg Masters / American Journalism Review:

Digging Deeper — How Paige St. John put together her Pulitzer-winning investigation of the Florida insurance industry for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Posted: Fri, April 22, 2011 — Greg Masters (gmasters@ajr.umd.edu) is an AJR editorial assistant. — It was an eventful Monday …

Discussion: Talking Biz News

New York Post:

‘Housewife’ Bensimon getting ink on her hands — Kelly Killoren Bensimon, now in her fourth season on “Real Housewives of New York City,” is going to return to her roots in the publishing world with a weekly column in amNew York, the freebie newspaper. — “It will be a little bit of everything …

Discussion: FishbowlNY and New York Magazine