Media Roundup: Shattered

The stories that propagated overnight that covered the Conrad Black trial focused, primarily, on two issues that erupted yesterday: the one-day delay and, of course, Mrs. Black's outburst.

1. The New York Times wrapup managed to work both in, although the second got only spot coverage. It was careful enough to note that both the SEC settlement and the Sun-Times Media Group settlement could have prejudiced the jury. Csr. Greenspan was quoted, with regard to the elevator explosion, as saying that "it was particularly stressful for Ms. Amiel to be in a courtroom where the media representatives included the authors of two books whom her husband had sued for defamation over depictions of the Black’s relationship." It also mentioned that Patrick J. Fitzgerald was in the audience (perhaps to supervise the prosecutorial team.)

2. The Financial Times, as posted by MSN Money, notes that former Governor and former chair of the Hollinger audit committee, Richard Thompson, will testify for the defense.

3. The Illinois Daily Herald has a piece on Conrad Black himself, describing how his appearance has changed now that the trial is underway.

4. The ever-loquacious Donald Trump offered retrospective advice for Mr. Black, stating that Black went wrong by doing business through a public company. (He didn't talk about the trial, though.) Also in the Globe and Mail report: the precise Hollinger connection between Mr. Trump and Mr. Black. Mr. Trump bought a 50% stake in the Sun-Times site, and plans to build a skyscraper on it.

5. Peter Worthington's latest column discloses that the reason for the one-day delay in the trial was a suspected case of identity theft - the identity of one of the jurors. He also showed typical Canadian abashedness with respect to the controversy in Chicago surrounding his Friday column.

6. A daily update on the trial from Maclean's magazine, Net edition. It contains current trial information, "Latest Developments," on the top of the webpage.

7. A mid-column item from Maisonneuve, the columnlet titled "From The Mouth Of A Lady,"which notes that "he had allowed his two kids to play hookie from school and come watch Daddy at work."

8. The Australian has a sober recap of yesterday's courtroom action, as well as Mrs. Black's explosion. The focus is upon Mr. Black's demeanor, though.

9. More humourful is the Daily Herald's Burt Constable, who looks at the trial with tongue in cheek. Memorable line: "In court case headlines, Black is a distant second to 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus.'"

And finally: "Crikey" is back. Subscription required, but a free trial is available.