The Washington Post reported today that Federal Communications Chairman Kevin Martin could be called to testify before Congress regarding his handling of the regulatory agency.

"Inside and outside of the paper, there's no confusion about who the paper belongs to. Not the editors who built it, not the reporters who fill it with articles, but the men who bought and paid for it."

Here is a link to my column that ran Friday. I wrote about the prospect of Rupert Murdoch buying Long Island's Newsday. I am sure there will be much more ink spilled on this topic.

It should not be that surprising that the networks and cable news stations have barely followed up on a report about the Pentagon's involvement with retired military brass acting as independent on air analysts.

Sen. Barack Obama continues to say the right things when it comes to media concentration. Broadcasting & Cable has a story about Obama urging the full Senate to act quickly on the "resolution of disapproval," which the Commerce Committee approved Thursday. The resolution would kill the new cross-ownership rule approved by the Federal Communications Commission last December.

The Senate Commerce Committee approved the "resolution of disapproval" today. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. introduced the resolution in a bid to stop the Federal Communications Commission's new cross-ownership rule from taking effect. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island and Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, have introduced a House companion.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has emerged as the likely buyer of Tribune's Newsday, which is on Long Island. I am writing about this for my Friday column and will also bang out an editorial.

Below are some links to stories about the proposed sale of Long Island's Newsday to News Corporation.

Sens. John Kerry and Byron Dorgan did a nice job of pushing FCC Chairman Kevin Martin for concrete answers. As expected, Martin did a good job knocking the edges off of the questions.

"If anybody can find anybody who is enforcing antitrust laws send me their names."

That is what Sen. Dorgan said near the end of the hearing.

Mallory from Family Ties is testifying. I loved that show. I wonder where Alex P. Keaton would be on this issue? Mallory, er...Justine Bateman, nailed it. I will track down her testimony and post it here.

Michele Combs VP of Communications for the Christian Coalition is now testifying in favor of net neutrality. She says the coalition does not want network providers "snooping" around. She pointed out that the recent dust-up with Comcast began when it blocked the downloading of the King James Bible.

Sen. Inoyue asked Martin if there was a need for Congress to get involved if the FCC has the authority to regulate the Internet. Martin did not answer. He said that some network providers like Verizon agree that the FCC does have the authority, but Comcast has said the commission does not, and has filed a petition saying as much.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said in his opening statement that the commission currently has the authority to keep the Internet open.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, is going on about how regulation would strangle the life out of the Internet. He rightly says that the future of the Internet is unpredictable. His logic stumbles when he views net neutrality as a barrier to innovation.

I will be bogging off of the Senate Commerce Committee's Future of the Internet hearing that began a couple minutes ago.

The hearing is being Web cast, and can be found here. Chairman Sen. Daniel Inoye just finished his opening remarks. Sen. Ted Stevens was late and allowed Sen. Byron Dorgan to speak first. The first panelist is Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin.

"I am extremely uncomfortable with the idea that my ability to speak my mind to whoever wants to hear is a matter of corporate grace rather than constitutional right, and I suspect other Americans will feel equally uncomfortable if the FCC abandons its responsibilities and fails to act."

Check out the Democracy Papers editorial that ran in today's Seattle Times. The edit can be found here. The piece warns about the dangers to democracy when a media baron like Silvio Berlusconi is elected for a third time as Italy's prime minister.

In my column Friday, which can be found here, I wrote that the loud chatter surrounding the death of newspapers should be toned down, or halted all together. There is no question newspapers are suffering and some newspapers might not make it. Many more than not will survive. Why do I believe this?

It appears journalists are jumping hurdles in China trying to cover the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.

According to a Washington Post report:

The Daytona Beach News-Journal has been put up for sale. The Davidson family owns a majority the independent newspaper and was forced into a sale through the courts.

Edward Cody of the Washington Post has a story that illustrates how China is coming down on citizens who voice divergent opinions from the party. Story can be found here.

Seattle Times publisher Frank Blethen (disclaimer: he is my father) was on a panel at Columbia University today talking about media concentration. Editor & Publisher has a story on the panel that can be found here.

The communist party's desire to preserve tight control over China has been brutally displayed in Tibet and by a spate of recent jailings. The tough language used by party officials in Beijing and the use of force to quell the Tibet protests has not surprised me.

Once again I link to Daily Democracy's friends at Wetmachine. Harold Feld has done a great job writing about the auction. His latest take can be found here.

The New York Times has a story looking at the financial situation of Tribune. The story, which can be found here, mentions that Sam Zell might put Newsday up for sale.

The symposium has ended, which means I am back in my hotel room and finally have a chance to write. I could have used the time between the panel I was on and the dinner and award ceremony but I got sidetracked by an incredibly stimulating conversation with a fellow panelist.

I am in Pullman for the Murrow Symposium, which is put on by the Murrow School at Washington State University. The symposium is capped by presentation of the Murrow award. This year's recipient is Don Hewitt, creator of 60 Minutes. I am on a panel about the FCC and media ownership. The panel, which begins at 1:30, also consists Marilyn Berger who worked for the New York Times and Washington Post, Steve Smith editor of the Spokesman-Review and Jon Rand from the FOX affiliate in Spokane. Here is a link to a story about the event in The Daily Evergreen. Will write about it here. Stay tuned.

Broadband service is no longer a luxury. It has become a basic part of the infrastructure of education and democracy.

The Washington Post has an excellent profile of Ben Scott, policy director for Free Press. The story, which can be found here, gives a nice glimpse into the workings of Free Press and Scott's effort to push the organization to prominence.