News Analysis: Why MakeLeno a Lame Duck?
Date: 29 September 2004
By Bill Carter
Bill Carter
NBC is setting up unusually long five-year transition period for Conan O'Brien to take over as Tonight Show host from Jay Leno because of increasing importance of its late-night franchise; late-night programs are capable of growth at time when network television audience continues to erode; photo (M)
Full Article
A Request to Partisans: Don't Shoot the Pollster
Date: 29 September 2004
By Jim Rutenberg
Jim Rutenberg
Pollsters, under fire from all sides in this intense election year, protest that they are above-the-fray numbers crunchers, and insist critics are often trying to shout down messengers delivering unwelcome news; latest attack is MoveOn.org ad charging Gallup Poll, which has shown Pres Bush leading Sen John Kerry, favors Republicans because George Gallup Jr is evangelical Christian; Andrew Kohut of Pew Research Center deplores 'shoot the messenger' approach (M)
Full Article
Announcement Seen Wednesday on Expos' Move
Date: 29 September 2004
By Richard Sandomir
Richard Sandomir
DC Sports and Entertainment Commission calls press conference and is expected to announce move of Montreal Expos to Washington (DC) (S)
Full Article
Truths Worth Telling
Date: 28 September 2004
By Daniel Ellsberg
Daniel Ellsberg
Op-Ed article by Daniel Ellsberg says leak that occurred recently with National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq prompted long-overdue debate on realities and prospects of that war; says leakers are often accused of being partisan, but measure of their patriotism should be accuracy and importance of information they reveal; says it would be great public service to reveal true picture of Bush administration's plans for Iraq before this week's debate on foreign policy between Pres Bush and Sen Kerry; drawing (M)
Full Article
Swagger vs. Substance
Date: 28 September 2004
By Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman Op-Ed column expresses fear that news media's emphasis on candidates' acting skills rather than their substance will influence public's take on upcoming debates between Pres Bush and Sen Kerry (M)
Full Article
Russians Arrest 2 Men in Killing of U.S. Editor
Date: 29 September 2004
By Steven Lee Myers
Steven Myers
Russian police announce arrest of two men in murder of American journalist Paul Klebnikov, who was shot outside Forbes magazine office in Moscow in July; contract killing suspected; suspects identified as Chechens (S)
Full Article
The Runaway Prosecutor
Date: 29 September 2004
By William Safire
William Safire
William Safire Op-Ed column scores Patrick Fitzgerald, federal prosecutor, for trying to force journalists to reveal confidential sources as part of his probe of who told Robert Novak that Valerie Plame, undercover CIA agent, recommended that her husband be assigned to check out reports of Saddam Hussein's attempts to buy uranium ore from Niger (M)
Full Article
A Fast Finisher's Reputation Now Faces the Ultimate Test
Date: 29 September 2004
By Todd S. Purdum
Todd Purdum
Fourth article in series John Kerry's Journey discusses his reputation for strong campaign finishes, as when he overcame stiff challenge from William Weld to win re-election to Senate in 1996; photos; Kerry is now in fight of his political life as he prepares for first debate with Pres Bush, and supporters are counting on his record as candidate who runs best from behind, who pulls ahead after anxiety-producing slow starts; his record also suggests Kerry believes elections are won in end-game, that he holds back on purpose and begins concentrating intently only when he believes voters are, too; he has in last month retooled campaign staff, sharpened attacks on Bush and set aside planned focus on economy for steady critique of Bush's Iraq war that has garnered more news coverage; old friends reply that focusing best in crunch is habit dating at least back to time as champion debater at Yale (M)
Full Article
Times Sues Prosecutor on Phone Records
Date: 29 September 2004
By Adam Liptak
Adam Liptak
New York Times files lawsuit to stop federal prosecutor Patrick J Fitzgerald from inspecting telephone records of two New York Times reporters, Judith Miller and Philip Shenon; suit contends records are covered by reporters' privilege, legal doctrine that allows reporters to protect their sources in some circumstances; Fitzgerald contends that one or more government officials alerted Miller and Shenon to imminent search of offices of Islamic charity, Global Relief Foundation; Fitzgerald says that disclosure was probably criminal; charity denies involvement with terrorism (M)
Full Article
Palestinian Premier Urges Both Sides in Uprising to Rethink Tactics
Date: 29 September 2004
By Greg Myre
Greg Myre
Palestinian Prime Min Ahmed Qurei marks fourth anniversary of Palestinian uprising by urging both Palestinians and Israelis to reassess strategies they have adopted during grinding conflict; CNN producer Riad Ali is released in Gaza, day after being seized by gunmen he identifies as from Al Aksa Martyrs Brigade; Israeli tanks rumble into northern Gaza in response to rocket fire; reported killings of Palestinian gunmen in other incidents noted (M)
Full Article