Deal with annoying publicists? Here's one for you!

It's a video about a subject near and dear to newspaper and TV reporters everywhere: news embargoes.

WSJ | Bloomingdale's said in new NYC section

Bergdorf Goodman, too, according to a new Advertising Age story that says the two retailers' plans for The Wall Street Journal's new New York City section illustrate the threat that metro expansion poses for The New York Times' hometown advertising base.

"Both traditionally spend far more in the Times than in the Journal,'' the trade publication says. "Bloomingdale's, for example, spent $17.9 million in the Times last year while devoting less than $1 million to the Journal, according to estimates from Kantar Media."

Ad Age notes that the NYT "has a solid base and probably a great many loyalists that won't be easy for the Journal to poach. But it also means the Times has something to lose, while the Journal is looking at tremendous opportunity."

[Image: Bloomie's iconic brown shopping bag]

Confirming deal, NWS invests $70 million in Rotana

The company announced yesterday that it had agreed to buy 9.1% of Middle East TV network Rotana Group; the company is owned by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal (left); he's a major investor in News Corp. as well, holding a 7% stake. The deal is valued at $70 million, the company said in a statement.

The Wall Street Journal had reported last month that talks were underway between Alwaleed and CEO Rupert Murdoch.

Is the WSJ gunning for a Pulitzer -- in sports?

Here's fresh evidence that The Wall Street Journal under owner Rupert Murdoch (left) is aiming to be a more general-interest national newspaper, elbowing past The New York Times and USA Today.

Check out its full-bore hard-news coverage of the decisions leading to the death of a luge athlete last week. The paper has just broadcast an alert to the following story, now on its website:

Years before a young luge racer from the Republic of Georgia flew to his death at the Olympics last week, officials made a series of decisions designed to make the icy track a commercial success after the Games but that left it faster, and ultimately more dangerous, than any competitive track before.

'Anonymity is no guarantee in online postings'

Excerpts from a Chicago Tribune story published today, where I was interviewed about the pitfalls of posting anonymous comments on blogs and other websites:

Write something threatening or defamatory and the mask of anonymity can be removed. It's technologically simple to track the source of a comment; the more difficult question is when it should be done. Add to the complicated stew of issues an Internet culture of free-wheeling commentary, and the results can be unpredictable.

"There are purists who think the Internet is a fundamentally different medium and that the old rules — that is, vetting letters to the editor — should not be applied to comments," says Jim Hopkins, a former reporter based in San Francisco who runs several media blogs. "I've been hit with the same criticism. If you limit these comments in any way, (critics say) you're engaging in censorship."

In a departure from past practice, I now review all comments before they get published, sometimes rejecting those that are unsuitable. How do you feel about that policy? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.

[Image: today's Tribune, Newseum]

After just nine months, MySpace CEO steps down

From a new Wall Street Journal story:

Owen Van Natta (left), the Silicon Valley veteran who was hired nine months ago to revitalize News Corp.'s MySpace, has stepped down as chief executive officer, adding to the turbulence at the struggling social-networking site.

Two MySpace executives, Mike Jones and Jason Hirschhorn, were promoted to co-presidents, effectively replacing the 40-year-old Van Natta, News Corp. said yesterday. The change is effective immediately.

The departure of its top executive highlights the ongoing struggles of MySpace, which has gone from a major expected growth engine for News Corp. to a fix-it project in its struggle against rival Facebook, where Van Natta had been an executive.

Related: The New York Times account of the shake-up

Deals | Dow Jones sells indexes unit for $608M

CME Group of Chicago agreed to buy 90% of Dow Jones Indexes in a deal announced today that allows Dow Jones & Co. to retain ownership of the brand itself, Reuters says. The brand was created in 1896 by Charles Dow (left), a company founder.

Dow Jones Indexes creates and licenses indexes that investors and others use to measure the performance of markets, including stocks, bonds and real estate, Reuters says. The business offers more than 130,000 equity indices, according to its website.

Under the deal, Dow Jones will "retain a key role in the management of the Dow Jones Industrial Average,'' parent News Corp. said in a statement.

Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.

Fox films | In Avatar, Murdoch's anti-NYT nuke

As The Wall Street Journal readies its nascent New York City news bureau to battle The New York Times, controlling shareholder Rupert Murdoch has another weapon at his disposal: Huge profits from Avatar, which is being distributed by the media mogul's Twentieth Century Fox division. In a new post today, blogger Ken Doctor smartly notes that News Corp. -- holding company for the WSJ, Fox and other media properties -- stands to earn $1.5 billion or more from sci-fi epic Avatar alone.

"That compares to the Times Co.'s total revenue of less than $2.5 billion in 2009," Doctor says, "and probably a small operating loss (the company reports its full 2009 on Feb. 10.)" He continues: "If you're Rupert Murdoch though, you just have to say, 'Take some of that blue people money and invest it in the Journal. Remember I said I wanted to kill the Times.' Maybe send them flying into the infinity of the flux vortex."

Stock | NWS rises 6%; Murdoch talks up O'Brien

News Corp. shares are up smartly today, trading recently for $15.89, up nearly 6%. The move follows NWS's second-quarter financial report yesterday, where the company beat analysts expectations.

Also yesterday, CEO Rupert Murdoch said the company is having internal discussions about the possibility of a late-night program for comedian Conan O'Brien, MarketWatch says, but that Fox Broadcasting has not been in negotiations with the former Tonight Show host (left).

Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.

Urgent: News Corp. Q2 results beat estimates

From a just-filed Wall Street Journal story on News Corp.'s second-quarter results, disclosed moments ago:

News Corp. reported a second-quarter profit in contrast to a year-earlier loss, led by continued strength at its cable-TV programming and filmed-entertainment divisions. Year-earlier results had been dragged into the red by revenue declines and impairment charges.

Excluding items in both years, News Corp.'s per-share earnings rose to 25 cents from 15 cents. Revenue rose 10% to $8.68 billion. Analysts, on average, were forecasting earnings of 20 cents a share on revenue of $8.23 billion.

The results were reported after stock markets closed. In after-hours trading, NWS shares were recently up 2.3%, to $15.39. In regular trading, they closed up 2.2%, at $15.04.

Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.