The reaction to the latest twists and turns in News Corp.'s phone hacking scandal — which yesterday compelled Rupert Murdoch to withdraw his BSkyB bid, and today led him (and son James) to decline to testify? (Update: they've agreed to testify.)

Naturally, it runs the gamut from mocking (such as the eBay UK listing above), the cultural (musician Billy Bragg expressed his feelings about Murdoch's tabloids in song), to social media outrage (one prominent tweeter: former deputy Labour leader John Prescott). 

The story is also making waves in Murdoch's adopted homeland of America. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is calling for a US inquiry, while Hugo Dixon, Editor of Reuters Breaking Views, told the BBC that "politicians in America are starting to beat the drum."

Update: this afternoon comes word that the FBI is investigating News Corp. following allegations that 9/11 victims were targeted.Continue reading...

While Rupert Murdoch is understandably embroiled in matters involving another News Corp. property on the other side of the pond, Fox News has been intensifying its own battle in the United States, finally deciding it's had enough of the self-appointed media watchdog, Media Matters for America.

The network — which has always gone its own way, of course — lately launched a bold on-air editorial campaign against Media Matters, the not-for-profit liberal-watchdog organization that has sworn Fox’s demise as its raison d’etre (although it's also having a field day with Murdoch's News of the World scandal).

Former conservative-turned-progressive journalist David Brock heads Media Matters and has sworn to take down Fox as part of the organization's mission to attack "conservative misinformation" in the media.Continue reading...

Apple passes 15 billion app downloads. 

EBay buys Zong mobile-payments firm.

CNN and Financial Times rank among most popular media brands with affluent Europeans.

Fox News takes on Media Matters.

Geico hatches yet another campaign based on saving money.

Google says its Google+ platform isn’t quite ready for brands, but chairman Eric Schmidt insists it’s getting there.

Groupon faces eroding customer loyalty.Continue reading...

While nowhere near as shocking as News Corp.'s surprise closure of News of the World, across the Atlantic CNN delivered its own shocker this week. Eliot Spitzer is out as CNN replaces his nine-month old In the Arena roundtable program that followed the demise of Parker Spitzer, and faithful Anderson Cooper regains his flagship positioning with Anderson Cooper 360 moving to 8 p.m. ET starting August 8th.

Spitzer's ouster isn't the only news. Additional changes to the CNN schedule include the shifting, in late September, for The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer from 5-7 p.m. to a late afternoon 4-6 p.m. slot; John King’s show will move to 6 p.m.; while Erin Burnett, recently hired from CNBC, will assume the 7 p.m. slot as the lead-in to Cooper.

The only prime-time show unaffected is Piers Morgan Tonight, the 9 p.m. interview show introduced six months ago to replace Larry King.Continue reading...

Android growth slows in the US as iPhone picks up, according to Nielsen.

Disney raises eyebrows with fireworks exemption.

Glenn Beck signs off from Fox News, which announces summer replacements.

Kate Middleton puts fashion-watchers on notice with North American tour.

NBA lockout proceeds as sides fail to reach agreement.

Porsche returns to Le Mans.

Stephen Colbert receives Federal Election Commision approval to form a super PAC. 

Twitter comes under FTC scrutiny.

Victoria Beckham launches mid-range clothing line.

WikiLeaks spoofs MasterCard in mock "priceless" commercial.

Without apologies that may have been due one of his favorite Tea Party Republicans, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh has dug up the whole Paul Revere thing again.

Only this time, instead of backstopping Palin’s arcane understanding of Revolutionary War history, the conservative-talk-show giant is launching his own iced-tea line — with a Reverian twist.Continue reading...

As UK mobile payment startups join forces in $87 million merger, Google is expected to announce mobile wallet with Macy's, Subway and American Eagle Outfitters as charter retail partners.

Fiat chairman and James Murdoch vie for control of F1 racing brand.

Google harnesses ocean water to cool Finnish data center.

L'Oreal and other luxury brand execs project strong 2011, more M&A.

Orbitz targeted for advertising on Fox News.

Rick Santorum is expected to throw his hat in the GOP race for the White House.Continue reading...

As Glenn Beck gets ready to exit Fox News earlier this year, his next gig may raise some eyebrows.

His production company, Mercury Radio Arts, just launched Markdown.com as a direct competitor to Groupon, LivingSocial and scores more in the social deals and group buying space. Beck's announcement came via a Twitter update: “Proud to announce the launch of Markdown.com. Valuable deals with partners who have values. Today: CHOCOLATE!” 

The key differentiation according to Beck: “Markdown is a place where I will be able to connect you directly with the products and retailers that I love…But, best of all, Markdown is a place where my personal slogan and values will be brought to life.” And in case you were wondering: this is not a stunt from those wags at The Onion or Funny or Die, by the way.Continue reading...