Study Finds a Waning Appetite for News
Date: 15 March 2004
By Jacques Steinberg
Jacques Steinberg
Project for Excellence in Journalism, which is associated with Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, reports that immediate prospects for newspapers and broadcast television news are bleak; says circulation of English-language newspapers in US has declined by 11 percent since 1990; says combined audience of three major cable news channels -- Fox News, CNN and MSNBC -- has been flat since late 2001; questions whether so-called new media can succeed on scale large enough to plug losses being incurred by old; says Spanish-language newspapers, alternative weeklies and news Web sites are bucking negative trend; photo (M)
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U.S. Videos, for TV News, Come Under Scrutiny
Date: 15 March 2004
By Robert Pear
Robert Pear
Federal investigators scrutinize segments prepared for local television news programs in which Bush administration paid people to pose as journalists praising benefits of new Medicare law and its prescription drug benefit; segments were created by Home Front Communications production company for Health and Human Services Department; government also provided scripts for news anchors to use to introduce segments; General Accounting Office lawyers discovered materials while looking into use of federal money to pay for fliers and advertisements publicizing Medicare law; administration defends propriety and legality of materials, but some Democrats disagree; photos of TV segments featuring Pres Bush and Health and Human Services Sec Tommy G Thompson (M)
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Good News for Kerry
Date: 15 March 2004
By Carl Hulse
Carl Hulse
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld revealed that President Bush had given instructions that Mr. Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell were not to play a role in the presidential race.
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Good News for Kerry
Date: 15 March 2004
By Carl Hulse
Carl Hulse
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld revealed that President Bush had given instructions that Mr. Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell were not to play a role in the presidential race.
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NEWS SUMMARY
Date: 14 March 2004
INTERNATIONAL 3-18 Video Claims Al Queda Link In Spain; 5 Arrests Made Interior Minister Angel Acebes of Spain said that a videotape has been discovered claiming that al Qaeda carried out the terrorist train attacks, but that its authenticity could not be confirmed. He said earlier that five people had been arrested in connection with the bombings that killed 200 people. 1 Update on North Korean Arms A classified intelligence assessment presented to the White House last week details the extent to which Pakistan provided North Korea with the equipment and technology it needed to produce nuclear weapons. 1
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NEWS SUMMARY
Date: 15 March 2004
INTERNATIONAL A3-13 Spanish Voters' Anger Spurs Opposition Victory Spain's opposition Socialists swept to an upset victory in general elections, ousting the center-right party of Prime Minister José Maria Aznar in a groundswell of voter anger and grief over the handling of terrorist attacks in Madrid. Many voters suspected Al Qaeda plotted the attacks to punish Mr. Aznar for supporting the war in Iraq. A1
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The Worst of News Brings Two Together
Date: 14 March 2004
By Mary Reinholz
Mary Reinholz
Interviews with parents on
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Blow to Bush: Ally Rejected
Date: 15 March 2004
By David E. Sanger
David Sanger
News analysis: ouster of Prime Min Jose Maria Aznar's center-right party in Spain in wake of terrorist bombing that may be linked to Al Qaeda is electoral rebuke of one of Pres Bush's most steadfast allies in Iraq war; puts Bush administration in position of fighting perception that acts of terror can sway allies into rethinking wisdom of standing too closely with United States (M)
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Sure to Win, Putin Takes No Chances With Election
Date: 14 March 2004
By Steven Lee Myers
Steven Myers
Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin is favored to win re-election, but he has taken advantage of his control of media, local governments and state businesses to ensure adequate voter turn-out and stifle challengers; Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe questioned fairness of December parliamentary elections and has already criticized shortcomings of presidential race; new group Free Choice 2008 is calling for boycott of elections; liberal candidate Irina M Khakamada urges voters to show that plurality of Russians oppose Putin's consolidation of power; photos (M)
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As Expected, Putin Easily Wins a Second Term in Russia
Date: 15 March 2004
By Seth Mydans
Seth Mydans
Vladimir V Putin wins second term as president of Russia in election that was never in doubt and that consolidates his centralized control of power; took command of Pariament in December election, and has marginalized his opponents by limiting press access and harassing their campaigns; appointed new cabinet for second term prior to election; wins with more than 70 percent of vote, with 90 percent of ballots counted; some observers say election signals end of Russia's experiment with democracy, with political opposition effectively limited and Putin likely to select his successor in 2008 when he reaches two-term limit; Sec of State Colin L Powell and national security adviser Condoleeza Rice criticize elections; Putin says he welcomes constructive criticism but believes that remarks are 'dictated by internal political situation' in United States (M)
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