MSNBC Cancels the Phil Donahue Talk Show
Date: 26 February 2003
By Bill Carter
Bill Carter
MSNBC cancels Phil Donahue's nightly show, putting end to its high-profile effort to challenge CNN and Fox News Channel in area of prime-time politically oriented talk shows; plans to extend its program Countdown: Iraq with Lester Holt to two hours to fill time slot temporarily; Donahue was brought to MSNBC with much fanfare last July (M)
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For the History of Science, the First Draft Is Often Late
Date: 25 February 2003
By Dennis Overbye
Dennis Overbye
Historically slow pace of breaking news in science is exemplified by New York Times article on Watson-Crick DNA discovery dated May 16, 1953, but not found in Times database; ironically, article was likely pulled to make room for what was considered more important news and only published in early edition; today's scientific reports have benefit of scientific journals and public relations to point journalists in direction of important findings and discoveries; photo (M)
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2 Rival Houses Said to Consider Bids to Acquire AOL Book Unit
Date: 25 February 2003
By David D. Kirkpatrick
David
AOL Time Warner, seeking to sell its book publishing division, has elicited interest from Random House, unit of Bertelsmann, and HarperCollins, part of News Corp; all discussions have been preliminary and no terms have been discussed (M)
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Sandhogs, Blind Mules and the Birth of a Subway
Date: 25 February 2003
By Randy Kennedy
Randy Kennedy
Randy Kennedy Tunnel Vision column focuses on news accounts of building of New York City subways century ago; photos (M)
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Le Monde, Pride of French Press, Is Pilloried in Book
Date: 26 February 2003
By Elaine Sciolino
Elaine Sciolino
Le Monde, France's journalistic icon long considered national symbol of sobriety, propriety and moralism, is accused in investigative book by Philippe Cohen and Pierre Pean of abusing its power and selling its soul; The Dark Side of Le Monde tells tales of bias, conflicts of interest, hypocrisy and business mismanagement; accuses newspaper of twisting facts to cover up scandals, shape French politics and hide paper's financial woes; Le Monde denies allegatioons; threatens to sue for libel (M),
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Regional Squabbling Scuttles an Iraqi Opposition Meeting
Date: 25 February 2003
By Judith Miller and David Rohde
Judith Miller
Effort to showcase cooperation between Turkey and Kurdish parties in northern Iraq ends when lone Turkish soldier blocks road taking 150 foreign journalists to northern Iraq and orders their buses to return to Silopi, nearby border town; reasons are unclear and recriminations among reputed allies against Saddam Hussein are bitter (M)
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SCHERING-PLOUGH LOWERS EARNINGS FOR SETTLEMENTS
Date: 26 February 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Schering-Plough Corp, whose sales and marketing practices are being investigated, lowers its fourth-quarter and 2002 earnings, saying it has set aside additional $150 million for legal settlements (S)
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PAY FOR ADELPHIA EXECUTIVES IS DEBATED IN COURT
Date: 25 February 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Adelphia Communications asks Federal Bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber to approve pay package for two newly hired executives William Schleyer and Ronald Cooper, while investor committee led by former board member Leonard Tow asks Gerber to reject or alter contracts; $41 million in compensation includes salary, bonuses, stock and options (S)
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MIRANT POSTPONES CALL WITH ANALYSTS PENDING AN AUDIT
Date: 26 February 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Mirant Corp, power producer that overstated profit by $41 million in period of three and half years, postpones conference call with financial analysts planned for this week to complete audit of its accounting (S)
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BIG GROCERY DISTRIBUTOR WILL CUT 1,800 JOBS
Date: 26 February 2003
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Fleming Companies, grocery distributor, will cut 1,800 jobs and says Securities and Exchange Commission has formalized accounting investigation (S)
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