Salon columnist Sydney Blumenthal has written an afterward to an about-to-be-released reissue of Walter Lippman's Liberty and the News, first published in 1920.

It seems the problems of almost 90 years ago have much in common with American journalism's travails today.

Former ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff had a chunk blown out of his skull while on assigment in Iraq in January 2006. He has recovered enough to return to an on-camera reporting job with ABC News, and is trying to raise money for Iraq veterans who have suffered brain injuries.

On Tuesday, The Guardian -- the progressive British news organization -- launched GuardianAmerica.com.

From The Guardian news release:

Alan Rusbridger, Editor of the Guardian, said: "There is clearly a demand in the US for the Guardian perspective on global news and comment. Under the editorship of the talented political commentator and journalist Michael Tomasky, Guardian America will enable us to meet that need, providing a discerning US audience with quality multimedia journalism, and the very best comment and analysis." ...

Guardian America has an editorial team of eight based in Washington and will also be supported by the extensive resources of the Guardian across the globe. The Guardian is taking a unique in house approach to its multimedia journalism; complementing video news feeds with audio and video footage created by its own in-house team.

Emily Bell, Guardian News and Media's Director of Digital Content, said: "At a time when many media organisations are cutting back, we are making a significant investment in our journalism, creating a new type of multimedia content which showcases the best Guardian journalism and story-telling in all its forms. We hope to make the most of this offering during the American primaries and beyond."

If you pop into the New York Times's new building, you'll see banks of small screens, 560 in all, flashing 156 years' worth of words and phrases from the venerable newspaper.

From the blurb to a commentary by author Naomi Klein in the Guardian: Finance journalists have attacked my book, but I remain devoted to their papers. After all, they supplied the facts I used.

From the BBC:

Air pollution in Beijing will not significantly improve before next year's Olympic Games, a United Nations report suggests.

In some cases, pollution is said to be more than three times the safe limits set by the World Health Organization.

The report seems to contradict claims from Beijing Olympic officials that air quality will not be a problem.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said events may be postponed if pollution was too bad.

From the BBC:

Saipov believed he was safe in Kyrgyzstan

A prominent journalist and an editor of an Uzbek-language newspaper has been shot dead in the Kyrgyz city of Osh near the border with Uzbekistan.

Police have confirmed that 26-year-old Alisher Saipov died in a gun attack.

Police say that they are questioning witnesses and that for now, they have no other details.

Saipov edited was the region's only Uzbek language publication which challenged the government, and reported for the Voice of America.

He was shot dead as he walked out of his office in the centre of Osh.