U.S. Plans to Offer Official Coverage of Iraq Directly to Viewers
Date: 17 December 2003
By Christopher Marquis
Christopher Marquis
Pentagon is making briefings from Coalition Provisional Authority directly available, sometimes free, sometimes for fee, to network affiliates, bypassing network news programs; some critics see move as campaign to counter skepticism about Iraqi operation in months before election; C-Span is interested but so far no stations have agreed to pay for access to satellite feed; eventually, operation will be able to handle two-way communications, allowing local reporters to conduct interviews in Iraq (M)
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NBC Shifts Management Ahead of Merger
Date: 16 December 2003
By Bill Carter
Bill Carter
NBC, in anticipation of completion of its $43 billion merger with Vivendi Universal Entertainment, realigns its top management, elevating Jeff Zucker and Randy Falco to new positions where they are expected to share responsibility for running NBC in future; chairman Robert C Wright is expected to assume management control of NBC-Universal enterprise, creating need for day-to-day executive control at NBC; Zucker, who is president of NBC's entertainment division, will add most new duties, picking up supervisory control of NBC News as well as NBC's cable channels; title will be president, NBC entertainment, news and cable group; Falco, who has had title of president of NBC Television Network, will be elevated to group president, and will add control of NBC's holdings in Telemundo Spanish-language television network; Wrights says appointments are made to 'lay the groundwork' for expansion of company at completion of deal with Universal; restates his support for Universal chairman Ron Meyer; photos (M)
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Matsui Tours Shea, Cameras Whirring
Date: 16 December 2003
By Dave Caldwell
Dave Caldwell
New York Mets shortstop Kazuo Matsui tours Shea Stadium and meets with media; photo (M)
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Coming Soon to Arab TV's: U.S. Answer to Al Jazeera, Production Values and All
Date: 17 December 2003
By Jim Rutenberg
Jim Rutenberg
US government is launching Arab-language news and entertainment television network that will be beamed by satellite from Springfield, Va, to Middle East; Al Hurra, which means The Free One, is meant to be America's answer to outlets like Al Jazeera that White House officials accuse of fanning anti-Americanism in region; network, which may be ready to start broadcasting next month, faces skepticism, with many Middle East scholars questioning whether target audience will ever accept it, and doubting whether it will have enough impact to justify $82 million in first-year costs; photo (M)
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Bush's Approval Ratings Climb In Days After Hussein's Capture
Date: 17 December 2003
By Adam Nagourney and Janet Elder
Adam Nagourney
New York Times/CBS News Poll finds Saddam Hussein's capture has boosted Americans' view of state of nation and of Pres Bush's performance, while at least momentarily halting what had been spiral of concern about nation's economic and foreign policy; finds Americans are still worried that United States forces will be mired in Iraq for years, fear attacks on American troops will continue and say Bush has no plan for exiting Iraq; 60 percent say US is as vulnerable to terrorist attack as before capture; respondents who say war is going well jumped from 47 percent just before capture to 64 percent just after; Bush's approval rating jumped from 52 percent to 58 percent; graphs of poll data (M)
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From Bush, Promise of 'Transparent' Justice
Date: 16 December 2003
Excerpts from Pres Bush's news conference on capture of Saddam Hussein
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The Dolphins Wilt Again In the Heat of December
Date: 17 December 2003
By Charlie Nobles
Charlie Nobles
Miami Dolphins have 8-6 record and could miss playoffs again, prompting fans and media to speculate on coach Dave Wannstedt's demise; photo (M)
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World Briefing | Europe: Italy: President Vetoes Pro-Berlusconi Bill
Date: 16 December 2003
By Jason Horowitz (NYT)
Jason NYT
Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi refuses to sign media bill that he contends could allow for dominant media ownership and control; bill, if passed by Parliament for second time, would have to be signed into law; favors Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's efforts to widen personal media empire (S)
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Republicans Plan Convention Full of Sights and Symbols
Date: 17 December 2003
By Michael Slackman
Michael Slackman
Republican National Convention organizers tell media that main event and smaller events associated with Convention will take place at symbolic locations throughout New York City and will try to redefine political conventions (M)
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