In your innovative Thursday media column: The Nation vs. the New York Times, Newsweek's quiet on its merger plans, your good media idea could make you millions, NPR's Juan Williams investigation is underway, and a remembrance.

After the absurd spectacle of one of TV's most partisan shouting heads being suspended for making political donations, it's clear that the time has come for journalism's ethical guidelines to be updated, in the spirit of common sense. Let's try!

The Daily Beast- Newsweek merger talks collapsed last month, followed by mild trash talk on both sides. Well: now the merger discussions are reportedly back on. Again! Newsweek is destined to flounder forever! Just hire someone, anyone! Christ. [NYP]

As you've undoubtedly heard by now, a "mystery missile" was launched off of California's coast on Sunday night. Or was it just an airplane? At any rate, tonight, Jon Stewart handily mocked the media for their exaggerated reactions. Video inside.

On November 11 for the past two years, Al Gore's Current TV has laid off a bunch of staffers. In 2008, 32 people were axed; 80 more were dismissed in 2009. With 11/11 upon us tomorrow, employees are getting nervous.

In your bloviating Wednesday media column: Lou Dobbs gets a new show, Tribune Co prepares for bonus season, Business Insider backtracks on a listicle, and Slate is—or is it?

Cooks Source, the tiny magazine that set the internet aflame by stealing a writer's work and then haughtily brushing off her protests, has finally—belatedly!—issued an apology. Of sorts.

It's been months since Hugh Hefner launched a buyout bid for the Playboy empire, only to be outbid by the owners of Penthouse. Hefner's in precarious position: he controls the company. But his bid sucks. And he needs cash, bad.

In honor of Keith Olbermann's return to the air, enjoy this clip of Keith's first-ever network appearance—back when Keith's mustache was dark, the 49ers were good at football, and Pat Sajak ruled the airwaves. God, how we've fallen.

Joel Klein, who's been the head of the New York City school system since 2002, is stepping down—to take a job at News Corp. One insane job to another! His replacement: Hearst chairman Cathie Black.

In your laughable Tuesday media column: Sarah Palin feuds comically with the WSJ, nobody watched the George Bush interview, Salon is (still) broke, and Gerald Levin returns to the media, for some reason.

Joan Walsh is stepping down as Salon's editor to write a book. Kerry Lauerman's replacing her.

In your icy Monday media column: Fox News anonymice reveal obvious scandals, turmoil at Essence, Bernie Sanders is moved to insanity by Keith Olbermann, Peter Chernin's big plans, and Euna Lee says she considered suicide in prison.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs threatened to call off negotiations with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today after three U.S. reporters were barred from covering the meeting. "Angry words" were shared, but Indian officials finally relented. Image via AP.

Saturday morning, young Moscow journalist Oleg Kashin was attacked and savagely beaten by two men. Everyone believes it was retaliation for his work—which, distressingly, wasn't even all that radical. Today, video of the beating emerged.

Hugo Lindgren, the new editor of the New York Times Magazine, spent a decade working under New York magazine editor Adam Moss before getting his big break. It makes sense, then, that Lindgren's great ambition is to crush Adam Moss.

Libyan authorities have for two days detained 10 journalists from Oea newspaper, which is owned by dictator Muammar Gaddafi's reformist son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, for criticizing the Libyan government and urging a "final assault" on corruption in politics there. [Reuters]

MSNBC suspended Keith Olbermann because he donated to candidates' campaigns. Uh, so did Joe Scarborough. Alabama campaign finance records show he made a $5,000 donation to an Alabama state legislative candidate. Scarborough claims it was his wife's donation.

College-ranking expert U.S. News and World Report will cease publishing an actual print magazine with December's issue.

A 30-second ad on Conan O'Brien's new TBS talk show will cost $30K-$40K, the same price that NBC charges for a comparable ad on Jay Leno's show. That's fair, since TBS is the Jay Leno of cable networks. [NYT]