Mediagazer: The Most-Read Newspaper Websites In Europe (Robert Andrews/paidContent)

8:55 AM ET, December 22, 2011

Top News:

Sun-Times sold to local investor group — Deal with Wrapports LLC valued at more than $20 million, expected to close by end of the year — The deal to acquire Chicago's No. 2 newspaper is done. — Sun-Times Media Chairman Jeremy Halbreich confirmed Wednesday evening that a new company led …

Lisa O'Carroll / Guardian:

Leveson inquiry receives more than 200 submissions from outside media — Inquiry says it has been sent 411 submissions of evidence in total, including 93 from those claiming to be victims of the press — The Leveson inquiry into phone hacking and media ethics has received more than 200 submissions …

BBC:

Leveson Inquiry: Summary of week six — Allegations that phone hacking was more widespread than just the News of the World (NoW) were made during the sixth week of the Leveson Inquiry. — Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into media ethics, sitting at London's Royal Courts of Justice …

Discussion: Business Insider

Guardian: Daily Express editor was ‘obsessed’ with Madeleine McCann story, inquiry hears

A.J. Daulerio / Deadspin:

A Conversation With Bill Conlin The Day Before The Inquirer Dropped Its Molestation Story — The first email arrived at 4:28 p.m. Monday. Subject line: “Hot button issue.” … That story was published on Tuesday—a lengthy investigation by the Philadelphia Inquirer into allegations that Conlin …

Discussion: CBS Philly, Bleacher Report and Future of Journalism

Gail Shister / The Philly Post:

Inky Reporter Nancy Phillips Talks About the Bill Conlin Investigation — “It wasn't that complicated. I wouldn't put this among my top accomplishments as a reporter,” she says — Inquirer investigative ace Nancy Phillips has been deluged with emails, voicemails, tweets …

Discussion: Future of Journalism, Deadspin, MetaFilter, New York Times and Speak Easy

Nancy Phillips / Philly.com:
Another woman comes forward over abuse by Bill Conlin

Discussion: Philly.com

Peter Lauria / Reuters:

Robinson exit to cost New York Times over $15 million — (Reuters) - Janet Robinson, who will step down as chief executive of the New York Times Co on December 31, will receive an exit package in excess of $15 million, according to people familiar with the situation.

Discussion: paidContent, The New York Observer and Business Insider

Jenna Russell / The Boston Globe:

Professor at BU faces charge in fatal crash — PLYMOUTH - A well-known Boston University journalism professor and former longtime ABC News correspondent will be charged with vehicular homicide in connection with an October accident that killed a 26-year-old Plymouth man.

Robert Andrews / paidContent:

The Most-Read Newspaper Websites In Europe — We often see national and international breakdowns of newspaper website popularity, but rarely by continent. — Here is comScore (NSDQ: SCOR) Media Metrix's chart of the most-read newspaper sites in Europe (June 2011), as features …

Discussion: Guardian

Stephen C. Webster / The Raw Story:

Boehner's office cuts off C-SPAN cameras as GOP takes verbal beating — A strange thing happened Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill. — As Rep. Stenny Hoyer (D-MD) attempted to call for a vote to extend a payroll tax cut to middle class and working Americans, his Republican colleagues adjourned …

Discussion: Mediaite and Washington Monthly

NPR:

WikiLeaks Military Hearing Faces Closing Arguments — FORT MEADE, Maryland (AP) — Lawyers for the Army intelligence analyst blamed for the biggest national security leak in American history rested their case Wednesday, with closing arguments ahead before Pfc. Bradley Manning learns whether he will face a court-martial.

Larry Shaughnessy / CNN: Bradley Manning defenses calls only 2 witnesses

Josh Sternberg / Digiday:

Tumblr Bets on Big-Name Publishers — Twitter used its entree with celebrities — hello @aplusk and @oprah! — to build a tech platform into a media juggernaut. Tumblr is hoping to do the same, only it's banking on old-school media properties to popularize its platform and create the kind …

Michael Calderone / The Huffington Post:

Herman Cain Got Most Press Coverage Of GOP Contenders, Pew's 2011 Media Study Shows — NEW YORK — He's no longer running for president, but Herman Cain will finish 2011 having racked up more national media coverage than any other Republican candidate, according to a report released Wednesday …

Julie Moos / Poynter:
PEJ: Economy is the most-covered story of the year

Discussion: Journalism.org, NetNewsCheck Latest, The Wrap, Pew Research Center, Capital New York and Forbes

Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:

‘The New York Observer,’ in a bid to go national, will expand its editorial department — The New York Observer is gearing up to go national. — The 25-year-old weekly newspaper is considering spinning off a nationally focused website, and will increase the size of the full-time editorial staff …

Discussion: FishbowlNY

David Brauer / MinnPost:

Is ex-reporter Christine Clayburg paying TV journalists to help clients tell their good news stories? — In October, MinnPost ran a John Reinan column headlined, “Former TV reporter Christine Clayburg tells news of corporate clients.” — “As traditional media wither and new communication channels …

Guardian:

Leveson inquiry: Piers Morgan's phone was hacked, says ex-Mirror journalist — James Hipwell, who was fired over City Slickers scandal, claims colleague hacked into the then editor's phone — James Hipwell, the former Daily Mirror journalist, has told the Leveson inquiry he witnessed …

The Huffington Post - UK: Heather Mills: ‘I Never Played Piers Morgan Voicemail Tapes’

Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:

NYPD describes training program for officers in the First Amendment rights of press at protests — The New York Police Department has “stepped up” its media training in the past month since news outlets complained of “abuses” by officers assigned to the scenes of protests, according to a department press officer.

Discussion: Future of Journalism, The New York Observer and Newsweek

Carrie Brown-Smith / Nieman Journalism Lab:

From local TV to journalism co-ops, 2012 may be a banner year for the local news ecosystem. — Editor's Note: We're wrapping up 2011 by asking some of the smartest people in journalism what the new year will bring. — Next up is journalism professor Carrie Brown-Smith …

Discussion: Street Fight

Jakob Schiller / Raw File:

CNN's iReport Produces Controversy, Llama Photos — CNN recently laid off at least 50 staff, including several photojournalists, in favor of affiliate contributions and iReport — CNN's user-generated content department which does not pay users for their submissions.