Leaders in journalism, philanthropy and business gathered in St. Paul, Minn., to tackle complex questions facing the worlds of commercial and public media. And the FCC has floated an interesting prospect: Should we use local TV airwaves for wireless broadband?

A new report proposes a set of recommendations that endorse public policy as part of the solution to securing the future of news. And the Op-Ed Project is expanding public debate by training women to contribute their ideas to the public discourse in many ways.

Free Press debunks old myths about Net Neutrality. And the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy released a groundbreaking report on the future of media.

Privacy watchdogs want Congress and the FTC to create a system that would keep online marketing tactics transparent, accountable and respectful of user privacy. And following an investigation by the newspaper Stars and Stripes, the Pentagon was forced to terminate a journalist profiling program that rated reporters based on their likelihood of giving the military friendly coverage.

As Google expands its book search service, consumer privacy protections are shrinking. Privacy watchdogs want the search giant to takes steps to ensure our privacy. And Dan Rather called on President Barack Obama to form a White House commission on journalism and public media.

The closing of the Bay State Banner, Boston's only black-owned community newspaper, is another example of the systemic crisis facing journalism. And Verizon is back in the Massachusetts legislature with a new video franchise bill that could harm community media.

The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on “The Future of Journalism.” And a new study from the Future of Music Coalition examines playlist data from across the country to determine if FCC efforts to diversify music on the radio have made an impact.

National Public Radio plans to cut 7 percent of its work force and cancel two shows that helped fill the gaps in diverse programming. And 2008 reminds us why grassroots activism is so important.

A new study on media coverage of the presidential campaign shows that the media is biased – for whoever is perceived to be winning the “horse race.” And what are the scariest things about the media? Happy Halloween.

Journalists covering the Republican National Convention were held at gunpoint during pre-emptive “security” raids, swept up in mass arrests with protesters, detained for several hours to several days, had their equipment confiscated, and were roughed up by police. Now journalists and citizens of St. Paul are demanding all charges be dropped.