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By George Winslow -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/30/2012 6:00:35 PM An extensive new analysis of the Trayvon Martin shooting shows that the coverage of the case on social media has "varied greatly" from the way it has been approached by blogs and the more mainstream cable TV and talk radio sectors, according to the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ).

The PEJ study found that "on Twitter, the conversation has focused on sympathy for the slain teenager and expressions of outrage at the killing" while blogs emphasized "the role of race in the highly charged case" and the cable news and talk radio "focused on two politically oriented issues-gun control laws and the Florida Stand Your Ground statute" in coverage studied between March 17-28th.

The full report can be found here.

The PEJ analysis found that the largest category of coverage on Twitter -- accounting for 21% of the conversation -- focused on outrage at George Zimmerman, who shot the teen, and calls for justice. In contrast, gun control and the Florida legislation accounted for the largest share (17%) of the coverage on talk radio and race was the top topic among blogs, accounting for 15% of the coverage.

"In social media support for Trayvon and outrage at the killing far outweighed any sense that Zimmerman might have been justified in his actions," the PEJ survey concluded. "On cable and talk radio, suspicion of Trayvon Martin was virtually equal to doubts about George Zimmerman."

The study also noted that the shooting was the first story in 2012 to surpass coverage of the presidential election in mainstream media, with the Trayvon Martin shooting accounting for 19% of the newshole between March 19 and 27, followed by the presidential election (14%), the health care debate (11%), Afghanistan (7%) and the economy (6%).

Among the cable news nets, MSNBC devoted the most time to the story, where it accounted for 49% of the coverage during the time slots studied by PEJ, followed by CNN (40%) and Fox News (15%).

MSNBC also devoted the most attention to the gun control issue. In contrast, "questions about Trayvon Martin and the defense of Zimmerman garnered the most attention" on Fox News, the study noted.

The study also documents how coverage spiked after the release of the 911 tapes and provides a detailed breakdown of how different media covered different aspects of the case between blogs, twitter and the cable TV/talk radio sector.

Not surprisingly it found significant differences between liberal and conservative hosts on talk radio and cable news.

See the article here:
PEJ: Coverage of Trayvon Martin Case Varies "Greatly"

Did Sirius XM Radio Inc. make a Faustian bargain when it decided to accept $530 million from Liberty Media Corp.to stave off bankruptcy in early 2009?

The New York-based satellite radio companyfiled a petition late Friday afternoon with theFederal Communications Commission, urging that the agency deny a request by Liberty Media Corp. that soughtto transfer several of SiriusXM's operating licenses to Liberty's control. Liberty owns 40% of SiriusXM and occupies fiveof its 13board seats.

Liberty's request, filedMarch 20,include SiriusXM'searth station licensesanditsterrestrial repeaterlicense. The FCC requires SiriusXM to have all three licenses to operate.

But SiriusXM fought back, arguing in a 24-page petition that Liberty failed to get proper signatures from the companys board for its transfer request.

This is the equivalent of trying to cash an unsigned check and explaining the lack of a signature by saying nothing more than the account holder refused to sign it, SiriusXM's attorneys wrote.

Liberty Media's intent, and the intent ofChairman John Malone, is unclear.The company did not state a reason for seeking control of those licenses and messages to Liberty Media's spokeswoman were not immediately returned.

At issue is whether Liberty's 40% stake in SiriusXM allows Malone to assume ownership of the satellite radio company, which last year earned a $427-million profit on more than $3 billion in revenue.

What's clear is that SiriusXM's last-minute arrangement with Libertyaverted financial disaster, allowing the New York satellite radio company to make a $172-million payment on its high-interest loans justdays before it was due in February 2009. The transaction also gave Liberty Media fiveof 13 seats on the company's board.

The deal also barred Liberty Media from trying to take over SiriusXM by acquiring 39.9% or more of SiriusXM's stock. That provision expired March 6.

Go here to read the rest:
SiriusXM fights Liberty Media takeover move

In arecent FCC filing from Liberty Media, the company revealed it is seeking "de facto control" of SiriusXM, despite not owning the majority of stock in the satcaster. Seeking Alpha reports that in the FCC application, which was filed on March 20, Liberty Media asks for consent of the transfer of control of SiriusXM's assets and of the company itself from its shareholders.

Siriusreplied ina letter to the FCC dated March 22, saying, "Sirius XM disagrees that the expiration of certain provisions in the 2009 investment agreement changes control of Sirius XM and intends to file a formal response seeking dismissal or denial of the applications."

Seeking Alpha interprets Liberty's application to be a potential "hostile takeover" of the satcaster, adding that Liberty may be interpreting a potential loophole in a 2009 agreement with SiriusXM to mean that when its agreement expired on March 6, it allowed for the transfer of the satcaster to Liberty. However, Seeking Alpha notes that the FCC would need to approve such a transfer, which "could take years to resolve." The move could also be interpreted as a play to affect the stock price for Sirius and allow Liberty to buy up more shares of the satcaster.

Liberty Media has owned approximately 40 percent of SiriusXM since infusing the company with cash in a 2009 agreement.

Originally posted here:
Liberty Media Filing Seeks Control Of SiriusXM

Console game giants Microsoft and Sony may be ushering in a new era of media control with their Xbox 720 and PlayStation Orbis systems as both have been tipped this month to be placing unheard-of controls on so-called used games. These tips would have the next-generation console gaming systems both cutting down on game rental and sales services like GameStop and would essentially put online re-sales of games at a standstill. How this will affect sales of the consoles themselves is yet to be seen.

Both Microsoft and Sony appear to be considering having control over used game hardware for the future in several ways. If youve got a PlayStation Orbis, for example, and you pick up any old PlayStation game thatd been sold to someone other than yourself and played on a console that wasnt the one youre using now, restrictions will come into play. In this case youll have a restricted amount of gameplay available to you with the full experience available for an additional price through the PlayStation Network.

For the Xbox 720, tips from several sources have been noting the complete cut-off of used gameplay altogether. Each game will be tied to the first console it is played on, then thats it! Downloadable games and one-user-disks will be the only legal means for gamers to play games on their Xbox 720 consoles if rumors prove to be true.

Is this agreeable to you, the average or hardcore gamer?

See the article here:
PlayStation Orbis and Xbox 720 both restrict “used” games

CALGARY, March 30, 2012 /CNW/ - The Heart and Stroke Foundation, in partnership with the CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, to present the prestigious Research Chair in Hypertension Prevention and Control Initiative to University of Calgary's Dr. Norm Campbell

Through the Research Chair, Dr. Campbell will create strategies and partnerships that will significantly increase Canadians' awareness about high blood pressure, decrease its incidence through prevention strategies, and improve the overall management of the disease.

"This work will have a significant impact on improving the health of Canadians," says Bobbe Wood, president of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. "Hypertension - high blood pressure - is the leading risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease. Dr. Campbell's outstanding leadership in this field is an important part of our goal to reduce deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25 per cent by 2020."

Please note: media are invited to attend the tour of research labs that will follow the award presentation.

Holly Roy Heart and Stroke Foundation T: 780-470-5300 M: 780-991-2323 hroy@hsf.ab.ca

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Media Advisory - University of Calgary professor to lead Canada's quest to tackle the world's leading cause of ...