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Studios to stop production deals
Plans to suspend scores of long-term contracts with television production companies, as early as today, "underscores just how hostile their relationship has become with the writers who supply them with a steady stream of TV programs." TV shows are also being put on ice all over town. LAT
Writers not happy with Variety's coverage
Biased toward the producers on the strike, say WGA members. But Tim Gray, an editor at Variety, says "Our coverage has been comprehensive and very fair. We’re covering every perspective here and we think we’re objective." NYO
Book-to-movie deals in jeopardy
Publishing industry is watching the strike warily, as force majeure letters go out threatening cancellations. LAT
Taxis in L.A. might as well be gypsies
About half the taxis that Joel Grover took cheated on the fare by having the meter run faster, add more than the allowed 20 cents per click, or just disregard the flat-rate to LAX. In some cases the fares more than doubled. Cabs registered in West Hollywood were the worst. NBC4
That's dedication
Los Angeles County's child welfare workers spent thousands of dollars in gift cards and entertainment tickets earmarked for foster children to buy themselves meals and attend musical events, according to an audit released Tuesday. Instead of taking children to see Wicked, the staffers went themselves. LAT
New look at LATimes.com
Design tweaks, new colors and a a new listing for blogs in the left-hand navigation rail. They've also added easy navigation to columnists on the Local News page, but oddly, Sandy Banks is omitted. No mention of the changes yet from the editor, who hasn't posted to her blog since Sept. 25. LAT.com
Gehry sued in Boston
MIT filed a negligence lawsuit against architect Frank Gehry, alleging that flaws in his design of the $300 million Stata Center in Cambridge, resulted in leaks, cracked masonry and mold. Boston Globe
USC still embraces O.J. Simpson
Political consultant and blogger Scott Schmidt argues that it's time for USC to stop honoring Simpson in its athletic hall of fame. LAT
New gig for citizen journalism advocate
Dan Gillmor, author and former San Jose Mercury News columnist, starts Jan. 1 as founding director of the Knight Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State. Release
News Corp vetoes John Carroll
The former L.A. Times editor had been put forth for a seat on the board. Nix, said Rupert Murdoch's side. WSJ