Media Roundup: Documentation and E-Mails

A selection of articles covering yesterday's action at the Conrad Black trial:

1. A report from the Chicago Tribune's Rudolph Bush, which opens up with this contrast: "Investment banker Gordon Paris was paid thousands of dollars a day to take control of Hollinger International Inc. after Conrad Black was ousted from the company on suspicion of bilking it of millions. But, despite his handsome salary, bonus package and stock benefits, Paris didn't have access to a corporate jet, throw himself a birthday party, hire an opera singer, or purchase clothes on the company dime, according to his testimony Thursday in Black's corruption trial."

2. This report is from news.com.au.

3. A brief AP Wire note from the Belleville News-Democrat, with two witnesses scheduled to testify Monday, and a longer item that includes this quote from Conrad Black, "I will take on the task of hosing down shareholders who need it as a matter of some priority," from an E-mail to Richard Burt and Marie-Josée Kravis.

4. A wrapup of the first week's events by Romina Maurino. Contains a previous snippet from that same E-mail quoted from just above: "this practice of certain of the institutions holding hands with elements of the competing press and representing us as nest featherers suffering from financial strain should be rebutted." Posted by 680 News, which also has a briefer report here.

5. A report on the Canadian view of the trial, from the Wall Street Journal Online. Includes a brief bio of Mr. Black, laced in with an explanation of why he's a continual object of attention amongst us Canadians. There's a quote from a George Ryan about Conrad Black - "he's a megalomaniac" - which serves as an opening bookend; the typical Canadian attitude towards elites is the ending one.

6. A one-paragraph note from the Lexington, Kentucky Herald-Leader.

7. Peter Worthington's latest report, which notes that the number of British reporters is dwindling. He paints Eddie Greenspan in a favourable light.

8. Csr. Greenspan gets less favourable press from the Toronto Star, which contains a specific flub of the kind that Steve Skurka mentioned on the latest episode of The Verdict: ""This was Conrad Black's board," said Greenspan.... "This was not Conrad Black's board," said a firm Paris in quick rejoinder. 'This was Hollinger International's board.'" The Star also has a wrapup of yesterday's trial events, as well as a round-up of pro-vindication Canadian journalists (Peter Worthington, Mark Steyn and Christie Blatchford.) The author, Antonia Zerbesias, also has a couple of unkind things to say about The Verdict, as well as more unkind words for those three.

9. From the Montreal Gazette, a report that contains more text from that E-mail to Mrs. Kravis and Mr. Burt.

10. The Chicago Sun-Times has both a report and a column, from Michael Sneed, which contains a compliment for Mr. Black on his writing skills! (Old news in Canada.)

11. An item from the Morning Herald, in Sydney, Australia, centres on the E-mails from Conrad Black that were introduced as evidence yesterday; it has copious quotes from them.

12. The write-up from the Globe and Mail contains a new picture of a smiling Alana Black.

13. Re-cap of the first week of the trial from The First Post. Notes that Edward Genson referred to Mr. Black as "Conrad."

14. The National Post's write-up not only identifies the recipients of the E-mail it quotes from, but also explains the reduction of the dollar amount allegedly stolen from Hollinger Int'l to $60 million by "[t]he U.S. Attorney," who took out $23.8 million attributed to David Radler. As a result of Mr. Radler's plea bargain with the SEC, that attributed amount is no longer relevant to the trial.

15. An Associated Press write-up, which begins with a re-cap of the Barbara Black outburst.


And finally, a brief mention of the trial from none other than...Al-Jazeera.