Mediagazer: Patrick Buchanan's Future at MSNBC Is Murky, Network's Chief Says (Bill Carter/Media Decoder)

7:35 AM ET, January 9, 2012

Top News:

Gordon Smart gives evidence — Full coverage as present and former Sun executives give evidence to the inquiry into phone hacking and media standards — 11.53am: The inquiry is having a short break. — 11.53am: Asked about phone hacking at the Sun, Smart says he has “no knowledge” that it ever took place.

Discussion: Jon Slattery and The Independent

Ned Simons / The Huffington Post UK:

Kelvin MacKenzie: Guardian Was Protected By ‘Broadsheet Snobbery’ Over Milly Dowler Mistake — The Huffington Post UK … Kelvin Mackenzie , UK Media , Leveson Inquiry , Milly Dowler , Phone Hacking , Uk News , UK News — The Sun newspaper could have been shut down if it had got …

Craig Silverman / Poynter:

WaPost digital ME: ‘I actually wish it were true that we have too much innovation’ — In his most recent column, Washington Post ombudsman Patrick B. Pexton wondered whether “there's just a bit too much innovation, too fast” at the paper. He cited two reader emails to suggest at least some readers feel the same way.

Discussion: currybetdotnet, Washington Post, Future of Journalism, @jimbradysp and @mathewi

John Robinson / Media, disrupted:
The importance/irrelevance of news ombudsmen

Discussion: Future of Journalism

David Carr / New York Times:

The Media Equation: At Current TV, Keith Olbermann Is Trapped Inside His Show — When I saw the story last week about Keith Olbermann and Current TV lawyering up, I couldn't help thinking, My, that was quick. — It was just six months ago that I wrote an article for The New York Times Magazine …

Discussion: Mediaite

Marisa Guthrie / Hollywood Reporter:

Keith Olbermann Agrees to Anchor Current Election Coverage (Exclusive) — “I am pleased that I'll be running the election coverage on Current, following this Tuesday's New Hampshire primary,” said Olbermann in a statement on Sunday. “However, I don't think those participating in the New Hampshire primary will share my satisfaction.”

Discussion: Mediaite and Inside Cable News

Bill Carter / Media Decoder:

Patrick Buchanan's Future at MSNBC Is Murky, Network's Chief Says — PASADENA, Calif. —The days of Patrick J. Buchanan as a commentator on the news channel MSNBC may be over. — Phil Griffin, the president of the network, said in an interview here on Saturday that Mr. Buchanan might …

Discussion: rbr.com, Inside Cable News, Deadline.com, Broadcasting & Cable, mediabistro.com, The Huffington Post, TVNewser and Mediaite

Brian Stelter / New York Times:

At ABC, CBS and NBC News, Accentuating the Differences — There was a time when each of the Big Three nightly newscasts on American television tended to open with the same story — the latest campaign speech, a new government study or perhaps a big snowstorm. That time is gone.

Mathew Ingram / GigaOM:

Can newspapers also be tech incubators? — We've written before about the need for newspapers to be “digital first” and to think like startups as they try to adapt to the evolution of the media industry. Can a traditional newspaper take an even bigger step and actually help give birth …

Discussion: eMedia Vitals

Keith Weir / Reuters:

London volunteers warned over social media use — (Reuters) - Volunteers working at the London Olympics have been warned not to give away breaking news about athletes or disclose the location of politicians and celebrities through online comments or pictures posted on social media sites.

Discussion: ReadWriteWeb

Richard Lawler / Engadget:

Netflix officially announces UK, Ireland launch — While it was already live for many, Netflix has made its launch in the United Kingdom and Ireland officially official, streaming its catalog of entertainment for 5.99 pounds / 6.99 euros a month. Residents can queue for a one month free trial …

Discussion: The Official Netflix Blog, Softpedia News and GigaOM, more at Techmeme »

Robert Andrews / paidContent:

BSkyB Buys Stake In Social TV Start-Up Zeebox — News Corp-controlled pay-TV firm BSkyB (NYSE: BSY) is buying itself a foothold in the looming social TV field by acquiring 10 percent of the startup Zeebox for a sum that is “double-digit millions” in both pounds and dollars.

Discussion: Guardian and Lost Remote, more at Techmeme »

Matt Brian / The Next Web:

Apple facing $1.88 million lawsuit in China over sales of illegal book downloads — Apple will be required to defend itself in a Beijing court after officials accepted a case filed by nine well-known Chinese writers against the company, demanding that it pays the authors 11.91 million yuan …

Discussion: TeleRead, People's Daily Online, Electronista and ZDNet