Mediagazer: Viacom, Nielsen Investigating ‘Inexplicable’ Nickelodeon Ratings Drop (Georg Szalai/Hollywood Reporter)

12:15 PM ET, November 10, 2011

Top News:

James Murdoch: I Wasn't Shown Key Email — James Murdoch has accused former News International staff of misleading MPs as he insisted he was not warned in 2008 about the extent of phone hacking at the News Of The World.

Discussion: Reuters, Guardian, New York Times and Globe and Mail

Joe Flint / LA Times:

James Murdoch says no evidence of 9/11 phone hacking — News Corp. Deputy Chief Operating Officer James Murdoch told Parliament that he was unaware that any victims of the Sept. 11 terrorism attacks in the United States had their voice mail accounts hacked by operatives for its now-closed British tabloid News of the World.

Discussion: Adweek, Media Decoder, Press Gazette and Company Town

The Telegraph: Tom Watson reveals new phone hacking evidence

Joel Gunter / Journalism.co.uk:

James Murdoch refuses to rule out closing the Sun — Appearing before MPs today, the News International chairman did not rule out closing the publisher's flagship tabloid if allegations of phone hacking at the title are proven — James Murdoch's comment follows the arrest of a senior reporter at the Sun …

Discussion: Guardian, The Atlantic Online, Press Gazette, TVNewser, Gawker, AdAge, Journalism.co.uk and The Independent

Laura Hazard Owen / paidContent:

Self-Published British Author Sues For Libel Over Bad Amazon Review — In his self-published book The Attempted Murder of God: Hidden Science You Really Need to Know, British entrepreneur Chris McGrath set out to write a book proving the existence of God and advancing creationist theory—a book he now claims was a parody.

Discussion: The New York Observer

Georg Szalai / Hollywood Reporter:

Viacom, Nielsen Investigating ‘Inexplicable’ Nickelodeon Ratings Drop … NEW YORK - Viacom is investigating, together with TV ratings firm Nielsen, a sudden mid-September ratings drop at kids network Nickelodeon, CEO Philippe Dauman told analysts Thursday. — On his company's quarterly earnings call …

Discussion: Company Town

Los Angeles Times:

Michael Jackson's estate demands MSNBC ax Conrad Murray documentary — Executors for the estate of Michael Jackson demanded Wednesday that MSNBC drop its plan to air a “reprehensible” documentary that promises a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the singer's relationship with Dr. Conrad Murray …

Discussion: Rolling Stone, Inside Cable News, L.A. NOW and NME

Josh Constine / TechCrunch:

Tidal Gets Your Blog Post On The Sites Of Big Brands and Publishers — Amateur bloggers want exposure, while publishers and brands want cheap content they can monetize. Tidal launches today with hopes of connecting the two. Bloggers signup, and Tidal's licensable content curation platform pulls …

Natalie Clarkson / Wannabe Hacks:

Student reporters vs. Local newspapers — As part of my degree, my class is expected to work as if we're part of a real life newsteam. Each week two people are given roles as online editors, the rest of the class work as reporters for the week, finding stories and writing them up …

Brian Stelter / Media Decoder:

Piers Morgan to Leave Talent Show — Piers Morgan, the host of a prime time interview show on CNN and a judge on a prime time talent show on NBC, said Wednesday night that he was quitting the latter of the two. — “I am going to focus on what will be a huge year at CNN,” Mr. Morgan said on his interview show, “Piers Morgan Tonight.”

Discussion: TVWeek.com, Broadcasting & Cable and TVNewser

The Independent:

Met offers NOTW journalist a lifeline: turn supergrass against paper and you'll go free — The former chief reporter of the News of the World has been approached by Scotland Yard to give potentially vital evidence in the phone hacking scandal against his former employer.

BBC: Police have 300 million News International emails

Bruce Weber / New York Times:

Hal Bruno, Director of Election Coverage at ABC, Dies at 83 — Hal Bruno, who helped shape political coverage at ABC News for nearly two decades and was a frequent analyst on its radio and television broadcasts, died on Tuesday, Election Day, in Bethesda, Md. He was 83.

Discussion: Deadline.com

Justin Fishel / Fox News:

Farewell to Andy Rooney, My Grandfather — Growing up watching my grandfather on television was a unique experience. He was by all accounts a star. He was on the most watched 10 minutes of the most watched television show throughout my childhood. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion …

Discussion: TVNewser

Richard A. Serrano / Los Angeles Times:

An FBI director with a grudge — J. Edgar Hoover had it in for Jack Nelson from the moment the L.A. Times journalist arrived in Washington. The longtime FBI director was convinced that Nelson planned to write that he was homosexual. — J. Edgar Hoover, right, led the FBI for nearly 48 years, outlasting seven presidents.

John Koblin / WWD:

The Three Musketeers of Condé Nast Ride Again — Graydon, Anna and David have their other projects, of course. Graydon Carter, editor in chief of Vanity Fair, has two restaurants, an illustrated children's book and movie producer credits. Anna Wintour, Vogue editor in chief since 1988 …

Discussion: paidContent:UK