In an attempt to show Seth Mnookin that he is too a serious journalist, Jon Friedman takes on the most important issue facing media today: Katie Couric. Specifically, her recent listening tour. As it turns out, it wasn't exactly the serious news event that we all thought. No, says Jon, it was actually an opportunity "for CBS and Couric to get a ton of fluffy publicity while controlling the flow of information and the tone of the coverage." See, while you or I perceived Katie visiting kids in cancer wards or telling the people of Seattle about the cleanliness of her colon as a public rethinking of the newsanchor's role in modern journalism, Jon dug deep into the story and teased out the truth: It was all about Katie.

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• Victor Navasky's secret to indie-mag success: Get Paul Newman to give you money. [FBNY]
• Jon Friedman likes Fortune. That's nice. [MW]
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• Us Weekly covers the Rolling Stone 1,000th-issue party, shockingly. [WWD (second item)]

• Jann Wenner finally gets his reality TV show, and Mort Zuckerman won't let the de-Radaring interfere with his ski vacation. [WWD]
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• The good, bad, and ugly of medialand in 2005. [MW]
• After 148 years in Boston, The Atlantic boards the Metroliner and sets off for Washington. [Boston Phoenix]