U Michigan Investigating Public Broadcasting Stations

The University of Michigan is investigating the school’s public radio and TV stations after the recent departure of two key staffers. “U of Michigan administration and campus police say they have launched investigations of Michigan Public Media, the umbrella organization for Michigan Radio, Michigan Television, the Flint-based public TV channel broadcasting as WFUM-TV, and the Michigan Channel, a cable affiliate.”

Publisher: Stop Google’s Larceny

Publisher Nigel Newton says that Google’s print digitising project must be stopped. “In Dickens’s spirit, I believe we need to take action against Google. Its quest to monetise for its own benefit the literature of the world must be stopped. So I call upon internet users worldwide to boycott the Google search engine until it ceases to scan books in America without prior permission, and desists from its mission to place ambient advertising on the great literary works. Switch your search engine from Google to MSN or Yahoo today, until you hear Google has withdrawn from the type of activities that have been described in another context as acts of ‘kleptomania’.”

US Opens Investigation Into Download Price Fixing

Are recording companies conspiring to inflate the price of music downloads? The US Department of Justice has opened an investigation. “The department of justice inquiry centres on the activities of the four largest record labels: EMI, Sony BMG, Universal and Warner Music. Subpoenas are believed to have been issued to all parties, with federal officials understood to be focusing on whether the companies have been colluding to keep the price of downloads artificially high.”

Corcoran Cuts Staff, Reimagines New Future

Washington’s Corcoran Gallery has cut staff, including its chief curator. The move comes one month before Paul Greenhalgh takes over as director. “Greenhalgh announced the cuts at a meeting Thursday for staff and faculty of the gallery and its College of Art and Design. He characterized the moves as part of an effort to help redirect the 137-year-old institution.”