Smashingly Good Media
Comic-book author Gerard Jones argues there's catharsis in pro wrestling and bloody video games. "Creative violence," he says, is a concept granted too little play in the kids'-media debate. From Mother Jones online More about: Audience, Children, Cultural Impacts, Violence

Closing Windows On Women
A year and a half ago an Egyptian government edict on rape gave the media a rare chance to examine the country's obsession with virginity. The debate that followed, says Mariz Todros, now resembles a missed opportunity. From World Assoc. for Christian Comm. More about: Egypt, Credibility/Accuracy, Cultural Impacts, Diversity, News Coverage

The Sound Of Selling
Advertisers know the use of music in commercials is a direct line to conspicuous consumption. Alex Abramovich reports that's the reason indie-rock records are in heavy rotation — in car commercials. From Feed, Inc. More about: Advertising/Commerce, Music

Knowing When To Let Go
The end of journalism, the convergence of data, the consolidation of media ... perhaps, writes Katherine Fulton, we should embrace, rather than fear, this future of the "infosphere." From Columbia Journalism Review More about: Audience, Business, Cultural Impacts, News Coverage, Technology, Multimedia/Internet

Whose Prosperity?
Editors at News Corp.'s newspaper, The Australian, called it a paradox: majority dissatisfaction despite material prosperity. But Peter Boyle suggests that only the rich _ Murdoch's editors among them — are truly prospering. From Green Left Weekly More about: Australia, Credibility/Accuracy, News Coverage, Politics, Newspapers

Tune Out In Turkmenistan
Presidential spin is so heavy in Turkmenistan media that citizens joke they expect their chief exec to materialize when they turn on the iron. Konstantin Arzybov reports that Russian TV's the best alternative — even for non-Russian speakers. From Institute for War and Peace Reporting More about: Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Credibility/Accuracy, Freedom of Expression, News Coverage, Politics

Motley Crew
A rangy alliance of consumer activists, politicians and media companies is working to shape the AOL/Time-Warner merger, with the implicit understanding that if you can't stop a snowball rolling down a hill, perhaps you can control its path. Sean Elder reports. From Salon.com More about: Activism, Business, Policy/Law

Required Reading
A collection of journalists' election-coverage experiences might ordinarily be a diverting read. In Southern Africa, where countries are nursing the electoral process, it's a guidebook. From Africa News Service More about: Southern Africa, Education, News Coverage, Politics

From Print To Screen
Predicting the Internet's future's impossible, "unless your knowledge of human culture and communication is so vast you could see a pattern of billions of people," says investigative journalist David Weir. This veteran of Wired, Salon and KQED, among many other news operations, reflects on the complex relationship of journalism and the Net. From Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University More about: Business, Cultural Impacts, News Coverage, Technology, Multimedia/Internet

Gore Knows TV
So little political attention's paid to fixing TV that the VP could grab the platform of telecommunications reform. Dave Denison insists this "imperfect messenger" could jump-start a long-ignored conversation. From The American Prospect More about: United States, Personalities, Policy/Law, Politics, Television

Your Idea Here
In July Barnes and Noble will begin clearing its store vestibules of free newspapers. Christine Iwan asks free-paper publishers for their thoughts on the impact for the alt press. From AAN. More about Newspapers, Business

Stranger Than Sci-Fi
Broadband's popularity makes "SF" content a lucrative investment. John Zipperer warns that dot-coms serving this community of fans will have to provide news that's real, not merely PR. (scroll down) From TV Barn More about: Audience, Business, Credibility/Accuracy, Multimedia/Internet

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