Mediagazer: James Murdoch sells $25 million in News Corp. stock (Meg James/Los Angeles Times)

7:30 AM ET, May 15, 2013

Top News:

Damage to press freedom likely outweighs national security gain — WHEN THE Justice Department launched its investigation of alleged leaks of national security information by the Obama administration a year ago, we were skeptical. The history of such probes is mainly a tale of dead ends and unintended negative consequences.

Discussion: New York Times, Reuters, The Huffington Post, FOX News Radio and Newsday

New York Times:

Holder Defends Justice Department in Journalists' Records Seizure — WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Tuesday defended the Justice Department's sweeping seizure of telephone records of Associated Press journalists, describing the article by The A.P. that prompted …

Discussion: The Volokh Conspiracy, Politico, The Huffington Post, Media Nation, The Huffington Post and New York Magazine

Michael H. Miller / The New York Observer:

Just a Crook? Pentagon Papers Lawyer Thinks Obama Is Worse Than Nixon — James C. Goodale, the so-called “father of reporters' privilege” and the author of a new book called Fighting for the Press (CUNY Journalism Press, 255 pp., $20), was in his office at the Debevoise & Plimpton law firm …

Discussion: New Yorker, Capital New York, Hillicon Valley, Bloomberg, The Verge, BuzzFeed, Associated Press, Broadcasting & Cable, Mediaite and The Huffington Post

Diane Bartz / Reuters:

Apple tells U.S. of tough talks, not collusion, with publishers — (Reuters) - Apple Inc responded to Justice Department accusations it conspired with publishers to push up electronic book prices, saying it negotiated with a number of publishing companies separately and crafted different agreements with each.

Discussion: New York Times, Bloomberg, Washington Post, AppleInsider, App Advice, CNET and Kindle Review

David Carr / New York Times:

The Two-Way Street That Is Snooping and the News Media — Word on Monday that the Justice Department had obtained the records of more than 20 phone lines at The Associated Press sent the Fourth Estate into a frenzy. Big Government, Big Data, Big Brother, all the golems of an increasing surveillance-driven age were invoked.

Discussion: TIME, Committee to Protect …, Free Press, Slate, Wall Street Journal, Free Press Blog, The New Yorker Blog and ThinkProgress

Greg Sandoval / The Verge:

Exclusive: Google readies its Spotify competitor with Universal and Sony now on board — By signing the three largest record labels, it's likely we'll see Google roll out its new subscription music services at I /O — Odds are increasing that Google will give us a peek tomorrow during …

Julie Bosman / New York Times:

E-Book Sales a Boon to Publishers in 2012 — E-book sales, especially in the thriving romance genre, gave the book business a lift in 2012, according to a survey of publishers released Wednesday. — In a year that was monopolized by the “Fifty Shades” erotic novels and their various knockoffs …

Discussion: paidContent

Tania Branigan / Guardian:

China tries to rein in microbloggers — Authorities show determination to control burgeoning culture of social media by closing accounts of writers and intellectuals — China has launched a new drive to tame its boisterous microblogging culture by closing influential accounts belonging …

Meg James / Los Angeles Times:

James Murdoch sells $25 million in News Corp. stock — James Murdoch sold $25 million in News Corp. non-voting shares this week. Pictured: James Murdoch adjusts his tie as he arrives at the High Court to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry on April 24, 2012, in London.

Discussion: Bloomberg

Lucia Moses / Adweek:

Meredith Corp. Buys, Closes Parenting, Babytalk Acquires titles from Bonnier — Meredith Corp.'s merger talks with Time Inc. fell apart just two months ago, but now Meredith CEO Stephen Lacy can partly save face. Today, the publisher announced it would buy Bonnier's Parenting and Babytalk magazines and their related digital assets.

Discussion: Publishing Executive …, FOLIO, Orlando Sentinel, New York Post, AdAge and FishbowlNY

Jeanine Poggi / AdAge:

ABC to Test Expanding Nielsen Ratings to Mobile — ABC will begin measuring advertising in videos viewed with mobile and tablet apps during a trial run with Nielsen, the network said at its upfront presentation to ad buyers Tuesday afternoon. — It will be the first test expanding Nielsen's …

Discussion: Broadcasting & Cable

Josh Sternberg / Digiday:

Breaking News Rolls Out Mobile Ad Unit — Mobile advertising remains in flux. The jury is out on what form factor will win out. — Real-time news alert service Breaking News has an interesting experiment with units that are, in effect, sponsored content.

Thanks:@corybe