Bruce Willis was interviewed by Megyn Keelly on America’s Newsroom this morning about his new movie “Live Free or Die Hard” and talked about playing the character John McClean…

It’s probably a role that’s closest to my own personality then some of the other films that I’ve done. I did the first one when I was 32 and I had just started acting in film and TV and I was still kind of flailing wildly so so much of this character is my sense of humor and my disrespect for authority, which is troubling. But I am seeking counseling now for that

I forgot to check Journalisms yesterday and I should have. Otherwise I wouldn’t have missed Jeff Koinage’s statement to Journalisms regarding the emails and the Nigerian government charge…(via TVNewser)

Koinange, a CNN correspondent since 2001 and an expectant father, also echoed a June 5 statement from CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson that his departure from CNN “had nothing to do with his reporting from the Nigeria Delta.” The Nigerian government had charged that CNN paid for news after Nigerian rebels took Koinange to Filipino hostages and broadcast their story in February. CNN denied the Nigerian government’s allegation.

Also on Tuesday, the First Post, a British online magazine, ran an interview with Koinange by Mark Paterson in which Koinange said, “I’ve let my wife down . . . I’ve let the people who care about what I do down.” Paterson wrote that the interview was conducted last week.

NBC’s release on Nicola Soares joining NBC News as VP of Marketing of Educational Initiatives…

NBC News has named Nicola Soares to the newly-created position of Vice President Marketing, Educational Initiatives. Soares, a former teacher and educational publishing product development executive, will report to NBC News’ Chief Financial Officer, Adam Jones. The appointment is effective immediately.

“We are making significant investments in the educational community; finding new ways to make our materials – both historic and current – available to students to help them meet their learning needs,” said Jones. “It was time that we had a subject matter expert on our management team to oversee this area, and Nicola has the ideal background, educational expertise and vision to guide us to a leadership position in this important market.”
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Following up on this Jon Friedman story, FNC announced that Ray Hennessey was joining FBC as the Managing Editor and Driector for its website.

Ray Hennessey has been named Managing Editor and Director for the FOX Business Channel website, announced Kevin Magee, Executive Vice President, FOX News. Reporting directly to Magee, Hennessey will oversee all editorial content and design function of the website.

In making the announcement, Magee said, “Ray has a renowned background in this industry, with a proven track record of journalistic integrity and keen news judgment. We are thrilled he’ll be joining us in this new venture.”
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I’m trying to avoid this story but people are emailing me asking why I’m avoiding it. So here it is and props to FishbowlNY for breaking it…

Big Head D.C. knocks Chris Matthews for being creeped out by Google Earth…

He apparently finds the technology “creepy” and does not want NBC to partner with Google on any initiatives, according to MSNBC sources.

MSNBC announced that Hardball Plaza with Chris Matthews will debut tonight with Ann Coulter…

Ann Coulter, political commentator and author of “Godless: The Church of Liberalism,” returns to MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews” tonight, Tuesday, June 26th as “Hardball” hits the great outdoors in “Hardball Plaza.” In what has become a traditional rite of summer, Chris Matthews will host “Hardball” in the open air of the plaza at 400 North Capitol in Washington, DC, with a live audience. Coulter and Matthews will field questions from the audience and answer those submitted to www.hardball.msnbc.com.

On Thursday, June 28, also from “Hardball Plaza,” Matthews will moderate a fiery debate on religion, politics and the war in Iraq between Christopher Hitchens, journalist and author of “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything,” and activist Al Sharpton. Their most recent pairing made headlines in May, when they dueled at the New York Public Library. Now, they are back for “round two” when Hitchens and Sharpton play “Hardball” on the Plaza.

The Jessie Davis news caused big ratings spikes for both CNN and FNC. FNC won the Saturday Daytime Demo. CNN won the Saturday Primetime Demo.

Cable News Ratings June 23, 2007

P2+ Total Day
FNC – 859,000 viewers
CNN – 542,000 viewers
MSNBC – 380,000 viewers
CNBC – 230,000 viewers
HLN – 244,000 viewers

P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 1,546,000 viewers
CNN – 1,217,000 viewers
MSNBC – 379,000 viewers
CNBC – 254,000 viewers
HLN – 259,000 viewers

25-54 Total Day
FNC – 262,000 viewers
CNN – 183,000 viewers
MSNBC –170,000 viewers
CNBC – 83,000 viewers
HLN – 97,000 viewers

25-54 Prime Time
FNC – 353,000 viewers
CNN – 379,000 viewers
MSNBC – 178,000 viewers
CNBC – 74,000 viewers
HLN – 101,000 viewers

Cable News Ratings for June 24, 2007
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GretaWire teases about an interview she’s doing today, but won’t say who….

We got word late Monday afternoon that we could have an interview that we have been pursuing, so we are going now. (No, it isn’t Paris Hilton … although, I confess, I would like to interview her.) If all goes as well, we board our flight soon (early — 7:30 a.m.) and catch a return flight late afternoon (5:45 p.m.) and land about 8 p.m. in D.C. Then, it is the rush to get to the bureau for the live show at 10 p.m. Where are we going? You will have to wait to learn this!

TVNewser reports that Glenn Beck will be subbing for Paula Zahn next week…

Accuracy in Media’s Roger Aronoff finds Tim Russert’s mastery of facts to be wanting…

While most of the reporters at NBC and MSNBC seem giddy at the prospect of a Hillary Clinton presidency, Russert’s problems have more to do with carelessness and accuracy than bias. People have a high regard for what Tim Russert has to say about politics and government. That’s why he needs to make a greater effort to get his facts right.

To find out what specifically Aronoff is talking about, read the article…

UPDATE: Kaus is doing it too… (via FishbowlDC)

Tim Russert mis-summarized the provisions of the immigration bill at the beginning of his show on Sunday–and not on a trivial issue.

TMZ, which has defended Paris Hilton in the past (above and beyond the call of duty if you ask me), blasts FNC’s Jonathan Hunt for asking a few questions that sensible people across America not connected to the celebrity circuit, unlike TMZ, are probably asking themselves…

Hunt suggested that the Hiltons “might want to question” the way they raised their daughter. He also raised an unnecessary eyebrow about what Paris had planned for her first night of freedom, asking, “Is this a party which is going to see a lot of alcohol served? Is this Paris Hilton embarking down the same path that led her to jail in the first place?”

The better question might be, “Is this a cable news reporter talking out of his a**?”

From an emailer…

FNC was live at 3 am with Suzanne Sena anchoring from the news room and Jonathan Hunt reporting on scene. MSNBC also went live at 3 am EDT with Dan Kloeffler anchoring and they are still live. CNN was airing CNNi coverage from 3 am to 3:05 am when CNNi stopped covering the story.

Johnny Dollar has the audio from John Gibson’s radio show where Gibson comments on encountering a knife wielding Brian Williams, which I found interesting, and a (yawn) “perceived leftward tilt at NBC News”, which I found not very interesting. Or convincing…