John F. Kerry's campaign unveiled yesterday a new ad accusing President Bush of using the same smear tactics that he used against Sen. John McCain in 2000, as partisan surrogates swamped the news shows to argue about an issue that has dominated the campaign for more than a week.

The already dysfunctional marriage between NBC Universal and Paxson Communications grew more strained last week, as NBC Universal filed suit against Paxson, a partner it no longer seems interested in dancing with.

Even before last week's announcement of a Federal Trade Commission settlement with three list firms, the Direct Marketing Association had begun working with the industry on new guidelines for list professionals, owners and users to try to allay consumer concerns and prevent further legislation regulating list practices.

For as long as I can remember, the majority of the distrust, even disgust, toward those of us in the media has come from conservatives. But now, while we're still unpopular with the right, the most intense anger toward the mainstream media seems to be coming from the liberal side.

A Chicago Tribune editor who served with Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry during the Vietnam War as the commander of a Navy swift boat on a 1969 mission is challenging the attacks on Kerry's account of the event.

In case you missed it, Senator Edwards gave a speech last weekend in Minnesota regarding the cost of prescription drugs. He was quoted as saying that drug companies "are spending more money on advertising than they're spending on research and development."

The Video Music Awards show on MTV is often called the Super Bowl for youth, in a nod to its ability to draw millions of teenagers and 20-somethings each year. Of course, that nickname has taken on added meaning in the months since MTV produced the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show for CBS, which featured rather more of Janet Jackson than had been expected.

Most of the July numbers are in and the big picture isn't pretty as ad revenues continue on a downward trend. A report issued by Goldman Sachs estimates that newspaper ad revenues for the month grew about 5% (June was up 5.4% and May was up 5.8%).

This week's controversy over allegations made by anti-John Kerry Vietnam veterans in their TV ad and in their book provides an illustration of the way division of labor works today in American politics.

Gold medals might last forever, but ad deals don't. With four gold medals, two bronze and two events to go, Michael Phelps, the U.S. Olympic swimmer, has reportedly earned millions of dollars in endorsements. His Speedo sponsorship - complete with a $1 million incentive to topple Mark Spitz's record seven golds in 1972 - set the media abuzz.