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Discusses the loss of American readers by supermarket tabloids. The effect of the Ken Starr report on the investigation into President Bill Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky on the newspapers; Average weekly circulation at the Enquirer; Circulation decline of the Star and Globe; The effect of television on the tabloids; How the tabloids are old fashioned in spurning explicit language; The tabloids redefining themselves with brand extension; Comments of tabloid executives. INSET: Circulation Slump.

Presents a behind-the-scenes story of how Dick Ebersol, president of NBC Sports, lost out on a decision as to which of the four television networks would wind up with rights to air the National Football League (NFL) for the next eight years as of January 1998. NFL television game plan, including Fox Sports, CBS Sports, Monday Night Football and ESPN.

Discusses the relationship between Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen of DreamWorks at the release of their motion picture `The Peacemaker.' Spielberg's vision; The style of each; Other movies to be released by DreamWorks, including `MouseHunt' and `Amistad.'

Reflects on Michael Ovitz's resignation in December 1996 as president of the Walt Disney Company. How power has changed hands at Disney since Michael Eisner took over in 1984; Ovitz's arrival at Disney following Jeffrey Katzenberg's departure from Disney; Michael Ovitz as a deal-maker; Apparent mistakes that Ovitz made while with Disney. INSET: Ovitz: A lifetime of deals..

Reports on the warning which China issued to Walt Disney Company regarding the company's backing of the motion picture `Kundun,' about the deposed Tibetan Dalai Lama. Why Walt Disney and other film studios are trying to expand into China; Why Disney has more at stake than any other studio seeking to establish themselves in China's marketplace; How Disney has responded to the warning; The history of director Martin Scorsese's attempts to get the film made.

Features Tina Brown, former editor of `The New Yorker' magazine. Her magazine and multimedia venture at Miramax Films; The effect of the magazine's financial losses on its relationship with Conde Nast; Brown's background and career highlights; Mention of possible areas of contention involving her move to Miramax. INSET: The search for buzz and bucks.

Reports on how the television news show `Dateline' has begun airing stories about automobile safety in 1999. Reasons why they stopped for awhile; Efforts of automobile companies such as General Motors to counteract the stories with positive public relation campaigns.

Mentions Tina Brown's `Talk' magazine, which will publish the first issues for September 1999. The deal with Hearst Corp. to take over half of her partner, Miramax Films; How much it will cost to launch the periodical; Description of the magazine as a blend of gossip, popular culture, and serious journalism.

Focuses on `Maxim,' a magazine aimed at men. Circulation; The magazine's background and introduction to the United States; Comparison to other men's magazines; Its capitalization on men's interest in women's bodies.

Focuses on Scott Sassa's October 1998 promotion to the position of president of NBC Entertainment. NBC's struggles with United States television ratings; Sassa's experience in the business and social skill; His intention's for NBC programming and his approach to operating the television network. INSET: The Peacock Flock: Sassa's New Brood, by Rick Marin.

Focuses on Conde Nast hiring Bonnie Fuller as editor of `Glamour' magazine. Fuller's previous position as editor of rival Hearst Corp.'s `Cosmopolitan' magazine; Fuller replacing Ruth Whitney; Fuller's response to Whitney's concern for `Glamour' magazine's reputation for serious journalism; Fuller's management style; Fuller's obsession with entertainment value and a home-decorating column. INSET: A game of musical chairs in the corner office.

Looks at the role of the press in the sex scandal involving President Bill Clinton and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Public excoriation of the press coverage of the scandal; Questions about speed, substance and standards in a competitive environment that makes the world of Woodward and Bernstein and the Watergate crisis look quaint; Unsubstantiated reports that turned out to be false; The media's flagellation of itself. INSET: Scandal & tragedy on the tube.

Remembers the work of Brandon Tartikoff, who headed up the NBC network in the 1980s and 1990s. How Tartikoff reinvented television to keep viewers interested; Some of the television programs created under his supervision; Tartikoff's competitive nature; His death from Hodgkin's disease in August 1997.

Considers the efforts of Mark Willes to revive the Los Angeles Times. Willles' position as publisher, as of September 1997, in addition to being chairman of the parent company; Increases in profit and circulation; Willes' stated enthusiasm for the newspaper; Departure of editor Shelby Coffey; Incorporation of business people into the news loop.

Looks at magazines that capture the spirit of the age, called Zeitgeist. The 50's had `Life'; The 60's `Esquire'; The 70's `Rolling Stone'; Suggestions for some 90's Zeitgeists.

Profiles Michael Bloomberg, founder and president of the multibillion dollar Bloomberg L.P. which is an information provider. Career history of Bloomberg; Bloomberg news as being more data than depth.

Discusses selling music on the Internet. Companies involved, such as CDnow; The amount of music sold on the Internet; Estimates for online music sales; The popularity of the idea of selling music online; The importance of online selection; The reaction of the music industry; Bands that achieve economic independence through the Internet, such as The Tragically Hip.

Discusses the importance of the possible Triple Crown win of Silver Charm to the sport of horse racing. The lack of interest among Americans; Trainer Bob Baffert's preparation at Belmont Park; The difficulty in attracting young audiences.

Focuses on the ABC television network. The ratings records that the network set in April and May 1997, including haveing the lowest-rated week in major-network history; When Disney bought the network; The expectation that Disney Chairman Michael Eisner will take a more aggressive part in the network; Whether Geraldine Laybourne will replace Jamie Tarses as head of ABC's entertainment division; The poor start for ABC's in the crucial 1997 May sweeps.

Informs that Steven Brill quit his Court TV network and American Lawyer magazine group. The profitability of the ventures; His history with both; Why he left.

Comments on advertisers who will and will not air their advertisements during the 1997 Super Bowl. The size and demographics of the audience which amasses for the televised Super Bowl; How the advertisements have become part of the show; Why Master Lock has decided not to advertise during the football game.

Focuses on the importance of radio in the Westinghouse/Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) acquisition of Infinity Broadcasting. How the acquisition will make CBS mores of a radio company than a television company; Comments from Westinghouse chairman Michael Jordan; The role of Mel Karmazin in the sale; Why radio is considered the poor cousin of the media; The estimated weekly audiences of radio's most successful personalties.

Examines the efforts of the major television networks to secure the rights to broadcast National Football League (NFL) games into the twenty-first century. Fox's securing of National Football Conference (NFC) rights in 1993, usurping the place of CBS; The importance of sports programming to the three traditional networks; The ratings damage done to CBS as a result of losing football; The size of the expected 1997 deals.

Examines controversy surrounding the `San Jose Mercury News' newspaper because of a series which tried to prove that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)-backed Nicaraguan contras caused the United States' crack epidemic. The stories by reporter Gary Webb; Criticism by other newspapers, including `The Washington Post' and the `New York Times,' because the series claimed the contras as the only trigger; Response from `Mercury News' Executive Editor Jerry Ceppos.

Discusses the `Cincinnati Enquirer' newspaper scandal surrounding a story about the Chiquita Brand International company. The alleged theft of voice mail messages; Chiquita suit of lead reporter, Mike Gallagher; Criminal investigation of Gallagher; The newspaper's apology.

Reports that writer Stephen Glass was fired from `The New Republic' magazine in May 1998. His magazine stories containing false information; How Glass conned fact checkers, the people whose duties include making sure writers are accurate; Glass' appeal to magazine editors with his promotable stories.

Focuses on television news magazine programs in the United States. The reason shows thrive; The financial advantage of the programs; How stripping, television jargon for scheduling a show five times a week, has gone prime time; Competition between programs, such as `Dateline' and `20/20.'

Looks at the competition between ESPN, television sports network, and `Sports Illustrated' magazine. The number of people viewing the ESPN television program, `SportsCenter'; The launch of `ESPN Magazine.'

Focuses on weight reduction diets popular in the United States as of summer 1999. Differences among plans detailed in diet books on best seller lists; Popularity and health aspects of the low-carbohydrate diet promoted by Dr. Robert C. Atkins.

Discusses media coverage of violent crimes and disasters in the United States. Public view of media coverage's impact on copycat crimes and perception of danger; Media efforts at restraint; Outlook for rigid guidelines; Disparity between public opinions and numbers of television viewers; Comparison of different media's approaches; Reasons.

Presents brief obituaries for Mel Torme and Ruth Whitney, who died in June 1999. Torme's status as an improvisational singer; Whitney's experience as an editor at `Glamour' magazine.

Reports that in May 1999, a Michigan jury found `The Jenny Jones Show' responsible for taking part in the murder of Scott Amedure. How Amedure revealed romantic feelings toward his friend Jonathan Schmitz on national television; Schmitz's reaction, including murdering Amedure; Plans of Jenny Jones to appeal; Role that talk shows play in society.

Reports `New York Times' columnist Maureen Dowd's April 1999 receipt of a Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of the scandal involving United States President Bill Clinton and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Her attitude toward Clinton; Criticism of her receipt of the award; Biographical details.

Reports on the development of the television news magazine program `60 Minutes II,' which is based on the CBS Inc. show `60 Minutes.' Correspondents including news anchor Dan Rather; Brief description of the opening show's lead piece, `Secret City'; Competition between the two shows and other network news magazine programs. INSET: How Will Two Do?.

Interviews Gloria Steinem about the magazine `Ms.' Questions on the feminist movement; The financial status of the magazine; Advertising in the magazine; `Ms.' being humorless; Median age of readers; More.

Describes the acquisition of `The Daily Racing Form' by Steven Crist. Estimated price of the daily publication, which has information on dog and horse racing; The value of the past-performance charts used to predict winners; Previous attempts to buy the Form.

Focuses on journalist Mike Barnicle and the controversial article in his `I Was Just Thinking...' column in the `Boston Globe' newspaper. The newspaper asking him to resign; The issue of lifting jokes from comedian George Carlin's book `Brain Droppings'; Subscribers cancelling subscriptions; Barnicle defenders claims that he is a victim of racial politics; Barnicle's denial that he violated trust.

Discusses the filing for divorce by Anna Murdoch against her husband Rupert Murdoch. The effect of the divorce on Rupert's company News Corp.; How the divorce will have the largest settlement of all time; The Murdoch's and their children's management of News Corp. operations; Comments from James Murdoch; Speculation of why Anna filed for divorce.

Focuses on an announcement from ABC News that Sam Donaldson will again be covering the White House. Discussion of Donaldson's White House coverage in the Reagan administration; The low ratings of ABC's `World News Tonight'; Plans for Cokie Roberts to report from Capitol Hill.

Reports that Random House president Harry Evans has left the company to become editorial director of Mortimer Zuckerman's media empire. Inclusion of `U.S. News & World Report' and the `New York Daily News'; Speculation about changes he might make.

Focuses on BookScan, a data gathering service from SoundScan company, which collects data for the record industry concerning what is selling and where. BookScan lacking a commitment from publishing houses, such as Barnes & Noble; BookScan's comprehensive sales data as an aid in the management of inventory and marketing.

Announces changes which will be made by the `New York Times' to its format. Newspaper to undergo biggest makeover in a generation; Details of changes; Introduction of color photographs; Move called a dumbing-down; `Times' special for its pre-eminence among newspapers; `Times' not concerned about eventual obsolescence of newsprint; Growth of `Times' national edition.

Describes the international success of Mr. Bean, the English comic character. Accessibility of wordless and physical comedy; Comparisons to other comedians; Rowan Atkinson, who plays Mr. Bean; American release of the movie `Bean' in the fall of 1997.

Examines how a scrappy band of very excited scientists helped the 1997 Mars Pathfinder space probe captivate a nation. How the scientists became accidental celebrities; Their wide-eyed sense of wonder; Warm-and-fuzzy way they talked about the science.

Examines the controversy surrounding a political cartoon by Steve Benson, published by `The Arizona Republic,' remarking on the death penalty issued to Timothy McVeigh. Other media treatments of the death penalty, including the proposal from `60 Minutes' anchor Mike Wallace that the execution of McVeigh be televised.

Presents Walter Mossberg, a columnist for the `Wall Street Journal.' Mossberg arguably as the most powerful arbiter of consumer tastes in the computer world in 1997; Computer industry representatives who pay attention to what Mossberg says as they attempt to reach the mass market; Mossberg's comments about his column; His feelings about the techno-elite; Slowing of growth in the computer industry; What a consumer wants in a computer.

Reports on a meeting between Dexter King, son of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and James Earl Ray, the man convicted of killing his father. The media attention focused on the event; Details of the meeting; Dexter King's views on Ray's possible innocence.

Reports on events in 1996 which indicate that one must read what is on the Internet with care. The Internet, not a news service, but a means of communication; Examples of information taken from the Internet which lack evidence; Pierre Salinger's remarks about the cause of TWA Flight 800 and the rumors which the Internet had been carrying for months; The reaction of technophiles to criticism of the Internet; Learning to discern fact from fiction.

Looks at the rating of the television program `Good Morning America' (GMA). The show's efforts to compete with the `Today' program; The replacement of Jane Pauley by Deborah Norville at GMA; Background on American Broadcasting Co. (ABC) moving GMA from the entertainment division to news. INSET: Daytime drama: The morning-show ratings race.

Focuses on the June 1998 debut of journalist Steven Brill's magazine `Brill's Content.' His intention of holding United States editors and reporters accountable for their stories and actions; Uneasiness among Washington, D.C., press corps about his story in the debut issue concerning manipulation of reporters by unnamed sources; Press response to Brill; His vulnerability.