Media Limbo

Rem Rieder , editor of American Journalism Review, says McClatchy is the best of the available suitors, but that for the 12 papers left out, "the agony continues.

"A group of Knight Ridder alumni led by former Philadelphia Inquirer Executive Editor and Poynter Institute President James M. Naughton called on McClatchy to rethink its plan to shed the papers. Let's hope it does.

"But even if it doesn't, this endgame is certainly better than the alternatives. The worst would be seeing all of Knight Ridder's papers in the hands of private-equity outfits that care not at all about journalism's public service component. The result would have been slashing and burning on a scale that would make Tony Ridder look like Gene Roberts."

McClatchy will keep the highly respected K-R Washington bureau, which will merge with the chain's own Beltway reporters. Details here .

Editor & Publisher explores The Post buyout plan, with this comment from a union leader:

"'One concern is that the fewer of us there are, the harder it is to accomplish the core mission of reporting and writing the tough, accountability story,' said Rick Weiss, co-chair of the Post's unit of the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, which represents about 600 of the paper's 800 newsroom staffers. 'It is going to have a negative impact on the quantity and quality of journalism we can do.' "

Lots of maneuvering yesterday over that Russ Feingold resolution:

"Senate Democrats refused to allow a vote yesterday on a proposal by one of their own to censure President Bush for his warrantless terrorist-surveillance program. . . . Majority Leader Bill Frist dismissed the proposal as 'political gamesmanship' and said that if the Senate was going to consider such a serious sanction, he wanted an immediate vote on the matter, which the Democrats would not permit," says the Washington Times .

The lefty bloggers love the Feingold move. McJoan at Daily Kos :

"One of the potential benefits to the Feingold Censure Resolution, besides standing up for the Constitution, the rule of law, and our system of government (like anyone in the DC establishment [sorry for the offense to DC citizens] actually cares about that), is an unintentional one -- it will expose the hypocrites and phonies in the DC establishment.

" 'The Rule of Law! The Rule of Law!' How many time have we heard politicians, DC pundits, and partisans pontificating on the 'Rule of Law' and restoring 'Honor and Dignity to the White House'? We know from too many of their actions that they are mendacious hypocrites and sanctimonious suck-ups. And the biggest one of all? Media hero John McCain. What do you think McCain will say about Feingold's resolution?"

Jeralyn Merritt of Talk Left: "Great move by Feingold. I'm against wasting time and energy on a doomed impeachment mission. The censure motion will continue to heap bad press on Bush and his autocratical presidency. More and more Republicans will fear being aligned with him in 2006. It might even sway some voters."