Anthrax Figure Wins a Round on News Sources
Date: 22 October 2004
By Scott Shane
Scott Shane
Justice Dept officials agree to distribute document to federal investigators in 2001 anthrax case that would release journalists from pledges of confidentiality; lawyers for Steven J Hatfill, former Army bioterrorism expert who is suing government over leaks of information suggesting his guilt, have sought releases as step toward questioning reporters about their sources; experts on journalism and law say releases could erode government employees' confidence that they can provide information to reporters without fear of being identified and punished; say news sources who refuse to sign may fear being suspected of being source of leak; Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says less information will get to public; says it is 'ridiculous' to think that signing waivers will be viewed as voluntary; experts say such waivers could become routine (M)
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Voting and Counting
Date: 22 October 2004
By Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman Op-Ed column warns that combination of disenfranchisement of minority voters and suspect ballot counting may determine presidential election; says average national poll results show tie, but polls touted on cable television are commissioned by networks and rarely inform viewers that other polls show different results; scores Florida Gov Jeb Bush for failing to adopt recommendations of task force he appointed to fix system; says narrow Bush win may represent systematic disenfranchisment of minority voters; says media must not treat such suspect win as validation of skewed reporting that has consistently overstated Bush's popular support (M)
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Aide for Times Revealed Secrets, China Charges
Date: 22 October 2004
By Erik Eckholm
Erik Eckholm
Chinese authorities formally arrest Zhao Yan, reseacher in Beijing bureau of The New York Times, on charges of revealing state secrets to foreigners; he has not been allowed to see relatives or lawyers since being detained on Sept 17; no details of misdeeds he has been charged with have been disclosed; in Chinese criminal system, formal arrest on security charges is major step toward secret trial and virtually certain conviction, with long prison sentence possible; Susan Chira, foreign editor of The Times, denies that Zhao provided state secrets to newspaper; The Times asks Secretary of State Colin L Powell to raise case at highest levels during his visit to China later this week (M)
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Losing the Money Race, but Still Trying to Gain Notice
Date: 22 October 2004
By Glen Justice
Glen Justice
More than 1,900 candidates are running for Congress and most will lose, often because they are unable to raise sufficient money; in last election it took average of $5 million to win Senate campaign and $976,000 to win House race; but money does not stop many from trying, often using creative and inexpensive tactics to grab media attention; examples noted; photo; chart shows war chests of some Senate races (M)
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Washington Memo; In Calls to Kissinger, Reporters Show That Even They Fell Under Super-K's Spell
Date: 22 October 2004
By Scott Shane
Scott Shane
State Dept posts transcripts of 3,200 telephone calls from mid-1970's between journalists and Henry Kissinger that illustrate chumminess between them; records are released under Freedom of Information Act request by National Security Archive at George Washington University, whose spokesman Thomas Blanton calls relationships between press and Kissinger 'incestuous' (M)
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True Believers Seen Through Secular Eyes
Date: 23 October 2004
By Virginia Heffernan
Virginia Heffernan
Virginia Heffernan reviews CNN documentary The Fight Over Faith; photo (M)
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GILLETTE MOVES TO ELECT DIRECTORS ANNUALLY
Date: 23 October 2004
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Gillette Co board proposes that all directors be elected annually (S)
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COMCAST WILL PAY $225,000 IN RECORD-KEEPING CASE
Date: 23 October 2004
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Comcast Corp will pay federal government $225,000 to settle accusations that it violated rules on keeping records available for public inspection (S)
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ADELPHIA WINS COURT APPROVAL FOR AUCTION PLAN
Date: 23 October 2004
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Adelphia Communications, bankrupt cable television operator, wins court approval for asset auction to raise money for creditors; plans to sell its assets in seven regional cable groups averaging about 750,000 subscribers each (S)
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DIRECTV WILL WRITE DOWN THE VALUE OF TWO SATELLITES
Date: 23 October 2004
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
DirecTV Group, satellite television service, expects to take cash charge against earnings of $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion to write down value of two satellites (S)
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