Mediagazer: Lebedev in Russian TV punch-up (Haroon Siddique/Guardian)

5:35 PM ET, September 18, 2011

Top News:

Paul Carr / TechCrunch:

I'm Leaving TechCrunch. Here's Why. — So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark —that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back. - Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Erick Schonfeld / TechCrunch:

Paul, I Accept Your Resignation — Paul Carr, one of our columnists who was hired for his grandstanding ways, has decided to fall on his own sword and quit very publicly on TechCrunch. I believe this is the second or third time he's quit in public in the past couple weeks. I keep losing count.

Discussion: Real Dan Lyons Web Site and ShortFormBlog, more at Techmeme »

Danny Sullivan / Daggle:

Why TechCrunch Won't Just Go Poof, Though Eventually, It Might Decline — TechCrunch has lost its first writer, Paul Carr announcing his departure following Mike Arrington heading off. Let the echo chamber echo! The death of TechCrunch! No. Harmful to TechCrunch? Maybe. Publications don't just go poof.

Steve Buttry / The Buttry Diary:

How do you ‘convert’ curmudgeon journalists to using Twitter? — Brian Moritz asks a question you face in almost every newsroom addressing the challenges of digital journalism: How do you “convert” the curmudgeons? — In a comment on my recent blog post providing social media resources for journalists …

Haroon Siddique / Guardian:

Lebedev in Russian TV punch-up — Independent and Evening Standard owner ‘neutralises’ fellow TV debate guest in reaction to the latter's ‘threatening manner’ — The Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev may pride himself on not interfering with the editorial policy of his UK newspapers …

Discussion: The Daily What, Runnin' Scared and Future of Journalism

Jeff Bercovici / Mixed Media:

AOL Reversed Its Traffic Slide in August — Since I pointed out last month that the combined audience of AOL and the Huffington Post has been shrinking fast since the two merged in March, it's only fair to note that in August the trend broke the other way, though modestly.

Andrew Anthony / Guardian:

Sebastian Junger: ‘If I find myself getting shot at, I will consider it a personal failure’ — The war journalist turned film director on fear, filming in Afghanistan and his bond with the late Tim Hetherington — Sebastian Junger is author of several bestselling books, including The Perfect Storm.

Mimi Turner / Hollywood Reporter:

Hulu Has ‘Failed’ in Europe, RTL Boss Says … LONDON - Gerhard Zeiler, the chief executive of Europe's biggest free TV group RTL, said European broadcasters won't do deals with Hulu because of its content terms. — Zeiler, who oversees more than 20 European free to air networks channels including RTL …

Discussion: MediaPost

Jim Romenesko / Poynter:

Rebecca Blumenstein named WSJ Page One Editor — Rebecca Blumenstein has been a Deputy Managing Editor at the Wall Street Journal since December 2009, and previously served as Managing Editor of WSJ.com and as China Bureau Chief. Matt Murray takes her post as International/Investing Editor and Deputy Managing Editor.

Discussion: The New York Observer

Bobbie Johnson / GigaOM:

Why the Guardian needs its American dream to come true — It's no secret that a lot of U.K. news websites want to cash in on their popularity with American audiences. In fact, the plans by several newspapers to take a shot at expanding their online presence in the States …

Discussion: Guardian, Thanks:bobbiejohnson

Yinka Adegoke / Reuters:

Hulu sale at risk even as new bids are due — (Reuters) - The auction of online video site Hulu has been slowed by recent developments which could derail it completely, according to sources familiar with the process. — Among the issues are conflicts over complicated digital rights …

Discussion: VentureBeat

Cotton Delo / AdAge:

Just How Bad Is ‘Jersey Shore’ for New Jersey's Brand? — State Is No Stranger to Bad PR, but Are Snooki & Co. Making It Worse? — When MTV's “Jersey Shore” won a $420,000 tax break from New Jersey's Economic Development Authority this week, local politicians predictably expressed their outrage — with one notable exception.

Discussion: Nation Now, Thanks:cottondelo