A few weeks ago, I wrote about the power of journalists, yet forgot to mention the power of newspapers. Whether, you get your paper delivered or read it online, it plays an important role in business, and affects the daily lives of millions. It provides vital information on which readers form opinions. Behind the scenes of newspapers, journalists are not working alone. Sure, it depends on the size and structure of the publishing house, nevertheless, there are senior editors, editors, fact checkers, proofreaders, and many other people who work diligently and anonymously so that you can read your favorite paper. Fortunately, knowing a few CEO's of major newspapers, I can honestly write that they are very down-to-earth humble people, despite the almighty power they control. 

 

The power of the newspaper even has movie and music mogul David Geffen in talks with Sam Zell  to buy the L. A. Times. The California billionaire, who founded Dreamworks SKG studios along with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg, has said he thinks the Times should feature more local coverage and improve its national and foreign reports and opinion pages. Geffen's original $2 billion offer was rejected last November by Tribune. The Los Angeles Times is the largest of Tribune's nine daily newspapers that will change hands later this year under the deal, which calls for Zell to invest $315 million and take on 5 billion in existing company debt while converting the company to employee ownership, reports the Associated Press. Geffen is not alone in the bidding war, it seems that two other California billionaires, Eli Broad and Ronald Burkle whose offers for Tribune were also rejected, have met with their advisors and perhaps may stir things up again amid speculation.

 

On "American Idol" the rocker chick Gina Glocksen stopped crying to sing "Smile Through Your Heart is Aching," which I'm sure was really hard on her.  You really have to give her a lot of credit to sing a song like that, when you're booted off. In the next few weeks, we'll see a lot of tears, and lots of emotions. I have a feeling that Phil is going to be next. Now, America's fascination with Sanjaya hasn't made him an idol in India yet. One apparent reason is that the show is broadcast a day later there and on an English-language channel that attracts relatively few viewers in this country of 1.1 billion. Simon Cowell has even threatened to quit the show if he wins. Despite, all the jokes and criticism from the Idol judges, he continues to be a success with viewers.