Mediagazer: E-book upstart Txtr signs majors for U.S. push (David Meyer/GigaOM)

8:45 AM ET, June 7, 2012

Top News:

Dylan Byers / Politico:

New York Times responds to John Kerry — The New York Times is responding to Sen. John Kerry's questioning of its decision to publish stories about President Obama's cyberattacks, which have become the focus of congressional anger following Sen. John McCain's call for an investigation into White House leaks.

Discussion: Gawker

Dylan Byers / Politico:

Kerry questions NYT decision to run stories — Sen. John Kerry on Wednesday questioned whether the New York Times should have published explosive stories last week about President Obama ordering cyberattacks against Iran's nuclear program. — “I personally think there is a serious question whether …

Michael Massing / CJR:
When watchdog meets lapdog

Discussion: The Huffington Post, New York Review of Books, Gawker and The Caucus

Michael Calderone / The Huffington Post:
New York Times Scoops Spur Calls For Investigation, White House Responds

Discussion: @mlcalderone and Politico

Jennifer Saba / Reuters:

Analysis: In scare for newspapers, digital ad growth stalls — (Reuters) - As more newspapers cut back on print to reduce costs and focus on their websites, a troubling trend has emerged: online advertising sales are stalling. — In the first quarter, digital advertising revenue …

Discussion: Guardian, Gannett Blog and NetNewsCheck Latest

Jeff Bercovici / Mixed Media:

Salon's CEO Switch Is Also A Strategic Pivot — Nine months ago, Salon.com's founder, David Talbot, took up the mantle of CEO, bearing with him a plan: By appealing to readers for financial support in the manner of NPR and PBS while keeping its content free to read, Salon could could diversify …

Discussion: mediabistro.com, Salon, The Wrap and The New York Observer

Chris O'Shea / FishbowlNY: Salon Names Cindy Jeffers CEO, CTO

Andrew Beaujon / Poynter:

Oliver North uses Maureen Dowd plagiarism defense — Fox News Insider took down Oliver North's Memorial Day column last month after NYU journalism professor Michael Norman complained that it contained a passage lifted verbatim from his memoir. — Some classic Fox editorial moves followed, Paul Farhi reports:

Discussion: Washington Post

Stuart Levine / Variety:

NBC digital chief Zigler exits — NBCUniversal digital president Vivi Zigler is out at NBC. Topper of the digital division since 2008, Zigler has been replaced by Showtime alum Robert Hayes, who is now the exec VP of digital media. Not only is a new exec now running the digital department …

Discussion: NetNewsCheck Latest, Broadcasting & Cable and The Wrap

Merrill Knox / TVNewser:

John Moody Returns to Fox News as Executive Editor; Michael Clemente Promoted to EVP — Fox News is making some changes on the executive level. Michael Clemente, the network's senior vice president of news editorial, has been promoted to executive vice president, and John Moody will return …

Discussion: Mediaite and Media Matters for America

Michael Oneal / Chicago Tribune:

Tribune, creditors to present plan to leave bankruptcy — It took 3 1/2 years and more than $400 million in fees to lawyers and other professionals, but it appears that Tribune Co. may finally be on the verge of winning approval for a plan to emerge from bankruptcy court.

Discussion: Bloomberg and JIMROMENESKO.COM

Harry Shearer / CJR:

The Sometimes Picayune? — Want to damage New Orleans (again)? Decimate its newspaper — Want to damage New Orleans (again)? Decimate its newspaper — Here, for your reading pleasure, are two familiar cliches: 1. New Orleans is a unique city. 2. The newspaper business is changing.

Ed Pilkington / Guardian:

Bradley Manning defence gets report on WikiLeaks damage to US interests — Judge rules that Obama administration must hand over documents assessing leak of diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks — Bradley Manning, the US soldier accused of being the source of the biggest leak of state secrets …

MSNBC:
Bradley Manning's Wikileaks hearing opens as defense seeks dismissal of 10 counts

Discussion: CNN, Agence France Presse, Techdirt and Associated Press

David Meyer / GigaOM:

E-book upstart Txtr signs majors for U.S. push — When you think of e-readers, you probably picture the hardware first: the Kindle, Nook, iPad or maybe even a Kobo. But not all digital reading takes place on one of these devices — and to try and capitalize on that, upstart txtr …

John Koblin / Deadspin:

How A Teenager With A Fake Escort Service Duped Darren Rovell And CNBC — An 18-year-old high school senior named Tim was bored one day last November when CNBC's sports biz guy, Darren Rovell, sent out the following tweet: If you are losing a paycheck/business because of the NBA, I want to tell your story.

Discussion: CNBC, The Atlantic Wire, Mediaite, New York Magazine, The Huffington Post, Inside Cable News and Poynter

Brian Stelter / Media Decoder:

HBO Says No, for Now, to Fans Who Want a Web-Only Option — HBO doesn't want your money, Web-only television viewers. — The premium cable channel on Wednesday acknowledged a fan campaign called “Take My Money, HBO!” with a Twitter message that said, in effect, thanks but no thanks.