New Computer May Delay Reports on Voting Results
Date: 05 November 2002
By David D. Kirkpatrick
David
Journalists and political analysts are preparing to report results of exceptionally close races with extra dose of uncertainty; last-minute glitches in new computer system are threatening to gum up polling service that helps news organizations tabulate not only projections of election results but demographics and motivations behind them; Voter News Service, consortium of news orgns that customarily surveys votes leaving polls, says it may not know until results are in how effective its new system has been at tallying data it has collected (M)
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This Time, Networks Hope To Get the Elections Right
Date: 04 November 2002
By Jim Rutenberg
Jim Rutenberg
Broadcast and cable news networks, facing intense scrutiny after mistakenly calling 2000 presidential election, seek to avoid similar mishap in their coverage of coming national elections; plan to expose their behind-the-scenes operations to audience in order to shore up their credibility; refurbishment of network's jointly run election-tallying system -- Voter News Service -- is behind schedule and may not be ready by Election Day (M)
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London Police Arrest 9 Suspected of Plot to Kidnap Pop Star
Date: 04 November 2002
By Warren Hoge
Warren Hoge
London police arrest nine people in supposed plot to kidnap Victoria Adams, former Spice Girls singer and wife of soccer star David Beckham; photo; raids are carried out on information from News of the World reporters who are said to have infiltrated group; kidnappers allegedly planned to demand $7.8-million and hoped to capture couple's two young children as well (M)
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Paparazzi Cash In on a Magazine Dogfight
Date: 04 November 2002
By David Carr
David Carr
Battle is under way among celebrity magazines--People, Us Weekly and the new In Touch Weekly--and paparazzi are big beneficiaries; magazines will pay up to $200,000 for photo of, say, Sarah Jessica Parker exiting hospital with new baby, a shot that would have run in supermarket tabloids only five years ago; pictures produce both newsstand sales and bragging rights; photos (M)
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Czech Senate A Safe Haven For Principal In Media War
Date: 04 November 2002
By Peter S. Green
Peter Green
Czech media baron Vladimir Zelezny wins one of 27 vacant Senate seats, gaining immunity from lawsuits and possible criminal charges related to his abrupt rupture with American billionaire Ronald S Lauder; Zelezny's Nova television has huge audience that gives him power to shape political agenda; Lauder, who invested in company, charges Zelezny with siphoning off money for other ventures (M)
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MEREDITH TO BUY SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS FROM PRIMEDIA
Date: 05 November 2002
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Meredith Corp agrees to buy American Baby and related publications from Primedia for $115 million (S)
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BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INVESTS IN LLOYD'S AVIATION INSURER
Date: 05 November 2002
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway agrees to invest additional $155 million in Lloyd's of London aviation insurance division, Trenwick Group; Buffet invested $212 million in Trenwick one month ago (S)
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ARMSTRONG WILL FORM BILLION-DOLLAR ASBESTOS TRUST
Date: 05 November 2002
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Armstrong World Industries will create billion-dollar trust to resolve asbestos claims (S)
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M.B. FINANCIAL TO PURCHASE SOUTH HOLLAND BANCORP
Date: 05 November 2002
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
MB Financial Bank's holding corporation agrees to buy closely held South Holland Bancorp for about $93.1 million (S)
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SHPS, A HEALTH CARE COMPANY, PLANS TO ACQUIRE EBENX
Date: 05 November 2002
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
SHPS, closely held provider of human resources and health services, agrees to buy EBenX, employee health benefits management firm, for about $98 million cash, or $4.85 a share (S)
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