links for 2007-05-24

“As part of the Knight News Challenge, the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University was given more than $600,000 to create an academic program blending computer science and journalism, designed to fill a staffing void at … news sites.”

CNET has a good summary of the various legal disputes about Google News.

Norman Baker on the FOI (Amendment) Bill: “For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be a Member of Parliament. “

Adrian Holovaty is leaving the Washington Post to found a hyperlocal news startup, EveryBlock.

“Websites should not be treated differently to conventional publishers, says the lawyer who won a libel victory for Gina Ford”

The US newspaper publishers’ latest campaign to market newspapers is “beyond lame”.

Editors at USAToday.com, LATimes.com and WashingtonPost.com explain recent redesigns.

“A quick look at the Tribunal’s decisions page supports the impression of an increased amount of decisions being made. … Despite this increase in decisions, a backlog in pending appeals has developed.”

“Look at some of the blogs that have appeared on media sites and you will find blogs that benefit neither the employer nor the writer. Editors are starting to understand this and are becoming more selective in who they choose to blog …”

Martin Belam looks at newspaper blogs’ popularity based on Bloglines subscription figures for 107 newspaper blogs from seven newspapers.

Menzies Campbell: “Of all public figures, MPs have the least right to be exempt from public scrutiny. We are elected to represent our constituents’ interests and to maintain high standards in public life.”