Suffering News Burnout? Rest of America Is, Too
Date: 11 August 2003
By Jim Rutenberg
Jim Rutenberg
Audience for television news, both broadcast and cable, is down this summer despite plethora of major stories; overall diminished state of television news ratings has surprised some television and advertising executives; industry experts cite two-years of heavy-duty, stressful news; ratings graphs; photos (M)
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Changing of a Bush Guard From Tiger to Teddy Bear
Date: 12 August 2003
By Jim Rutenberg
Jim Rutenberg
New White House press secretary Scott McClellan is described by reporters as 'teddy bear' and 'sweetie,' in sharp contrast to their opinions of combative predecessor Ari Fleischer; yet his friendlier, more understated approach appears unlikely to significantly improve Bush administration's testy relationship with news media; for all their warm regards, reporters are not going easy on McClellan as they relentlessly try to get past what they see as administration's obfuscation on array of issues; photo (M)
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World Briefing | Asia: Taiwan: Suspect Chemical Taken From North Korean Freighter
Date: 12 August 2003
By James Brooke (NYT)
James NYT
Japan's Kyodo News reports Taiwan authorities have seized 40 tons of phosphoros pentasulfide, chemical that can be used to manufacture rocket fuel, from North Korean freighter (S)
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In Full Field, The Talk Is of One Candidate
Date: 11 August 2003
By Charlie Leduff and Alan Feuer
Charlie Leduff
Nearly 160 people have tossed their hats into three-ring circus of California politics, but Arnold Schwarzenegger is only one grabbing media and popular attention; he stays away from Sunday talk shows, leaving his campaign chairman Peter Wilson to attack Gov Gray Davis; Schwarzenegger releases his tax statements, showing gross adjusted income for 2000 and 2001 of $57 million; spokesman says he has not decided whether he would place holdings in blind trust if elected; Democratic strategists bet presence of Lt Gov Cruz Bustamante, first statewide Latino officeholder in 100 years, will draw Hispanics to polls to vote no on recall, as he is urging them to do; others worry Hispanic voters will remove unpopular Davis and install Bustamante in his place; photo (M)
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The Art of The False Impression
Date: 11 August 2003
By Bob Herbert
Bob Herbert
Bob Herbert Op-Ed column says Al Gore's recent speech on Bush administration's credibility, or lack of it, raises points that deserve closer attention; says Gore claims corrosive false impressions are part of strategic pattern of distortion that administration has used to create support for war and for entire ideologically driven agenda that favors Bush's wealthy supporters and is driving federal government toward long-term fiscal catastrophe; Herbert claims media and much of public should be pursuing possible pattern of deceit at highest levels of government (M)
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The Giants Get Back To Business
Date: 12 August 2003
By Steve Popper
Steve Popper
New York Giants ignore distractions of tight end Jeremy Shockey's inappropriate comments to media and Ron Dixon's repeated absences and concentrate on practice; photo (M)
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How to Run a Recall Election: Begin by Juggling the Alphabet
Date: 12 August 2003
By Dean E. Murphy
Dean Murphy
Candidates hoping to succeed Gov Gray Davis of California on recall ballot will have their names listed on ballot in random alphabetical order; letters are drawn from bingo-style barrel to determine order; 195 candidates have submitted necessary paperwork, with more names still trickling in; Secretary of State Kevin Shelley says random alphabetical drawing has been performed for statewide elections since 1975, following court rulings that determined standard alphabetical listing of candidates is unconstitutional because name at top of ballot typically enjoys advantage; notes that no previous letter-drawing has attracted attention of news media as this one has; photo (M)
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Ratings Hurt South Korean Leader Before Talks
Date: 11 August 2003
By James Brooke
James Brooke
Pres Roh Moo Hyun of South Korea blames press for his plummeting approval rating; his collision with nation's three largest newspapers comes at delicate time; he inherited economy that stumbled in first half of year and series of strikes that unnerved many South Koreans; now he hopes to win control of National Assembly from conservatives in elections next April; experts say that in trying to please everyone, he pleases no one and lacks direction; United States is concerned about Roh's political weakness because of upcoming talks with South Korea, Russia, China and Japan in effort to talk North Korea into giving up its nuclear weapons program; photo (M)
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AMERITRADE DISCUSSING SETTLEMENT OF CHARGES
Date: 12 August 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Ameritrade Holding Corp says NASD has made preliminary decision to discipline it for letting clients buy securities without having enough cash in their accounts (S)
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FIVE EXECUTIVES AT DELTA TO FORGO BONUSES
Date: 12 August 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Delta Air Lines says five top executives will forgo bonuses this year as company tries to persuade pilots to accept pay cuts to help stem losses (S)
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