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WWL website selected by Library of Congress
for Web Preservation Project

Entercom Communications announced New Orleans' WWL-AM website has been selected for inclusion in The United States Library of Congress Web Preservation Project. The Library of Congress has chosen to honor WWL-AM's website, www.wwl.com, for its contributions to the New Orleans community both during and after Hurricane Katrina.

In a story dedicated to WWL-AM, the LA Times called the New Orleans station "a lifeline sent by airwave." In a similar article, The Wall Street Journal commended WWL and noted "WWL's ability to continue broadcasting was vital for stranded listeners."

Be sure to read our extensive interview with Entercom Market Manager Phil Hoover and Belo's WWL-TV GM Bud Brown in November's RBR/TVBR Solutions Magazine.

America to lose control of the Internet?

After troubled negotiations in Geneva, the US may be forced to relinquish control of the internet to a coalition of governments. The UK Guardian reports the issue of who should control the net proved extremely divisive, and for 11 days the world's governments traded blows. For the vast majority of people who use the internet, the only real concern is getting on it. But with the internet now essential to countries' basic infrastructure - Brazil relies on it for 90% of its tax collection - the question of who has control has become critical.

And the unwelcome answer for many is that it is the US government. In the early days, an enlightened Department of Commerce (DoC) pushed and funded expansion of the internet. And when it became global, it created a private company, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) to run it.

But the DoC retained overall control, and in June stated it would retain indefinite control of the internet's foundation - its "root servers", which act as the basic directory for the whole internet.

A number of countries represented in Geneva, including Brazil, China, Cuba, Iran and several African states, insisted the US give up control, but it refused. The meeting was going nowhere and so the EU proposed two stark changes: a new forum that would decide public policy, and a "cooperation model" comprising governments that would be in overall charge.

Much to the distress of the US, the idea proved popular. Its representative hit back, stating that it "can't in any way allow any changes" that went against the "historic role" of the US in controlling the top level of the internet.

But the refusal to budge only strengthened opposition, and now the world's governments are expected to agree a deal to award themselves ultimate control. It will be officially raised at a UN summit of world leaders next month and, faced with international consensus, there is little the US government can do but acquiesce.

But will this move mean, as the US ambassador David Gross argued that "even on technical details, the industry will have to follow government-set policies, UN-set policies"?

AOL to buy Weblogs

America Online agreed to buy Weblogs Inc., the publisher of Internet blogs focused on niche topics ranging from gadgets to cars. AOL is paying 25 million for Weblogs, according to the Wall Street Journal. The all-cash deal is expected to close next week.

Weblogs, Santa Monica, Calif., operates a network of 85 advertising-supported blogs put together by 100 freelance contributors. Its best known property is Engadget, a blog focused on consumer technology and gadgets. It also publishes a site for car buffs called Autoblog and Luxist, a luxury-lifestyle blog.

The company, co-founded in September 2003 by new media entrepreneur Jason Calacanis, stitched together a network of individual blogs in order to attract a large audience and stable of advertisers. The Weblogs network attracts more than 30 million monthly page views, AOL said. Weblogs, which has about 10 full-time employees, will be a standalone subsidiary and operate will full editorial independence.

AutoTrader.com and Univision.com expand partnership

AutoTrader.com and Univision Online, the interactive division of Univision Communications, announced the expansion of their partnership to bring Hispanics a comprehensive Spanish- language new vehicle resource.

Under their latest agreement, AutoTrader.com will be the exclusive new and pre-owned vehicle resource on Univision.com. AutoTrader.com's tools will continue to receive prominent placement on Univision.com, including direct links to the 2.8 million vehicle listings available on AutoTrader.com.

Stevie Wonder to perform at Tom Joyner's Sky Show

Tom Joyner, the nationally syndicated radio and TV personality will be hosting his show live from Miami Beach with the sounds of the legendary Grammy Award winning Stevie Wonder, India.Arie and Kem. A trio of nationally recognized comedians will join the music: Lil JJ, Small Fire and Chocolate. The show will be aired live over local affiliate WHQT-FM.




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