The revolt against Sammy at The Sunday Times: Now would be a great time for an enterprising entrepreneur to start a new publication in Perth. Not just because the Western Australian economy is booming, but because of the instant supply of seasoned writers and production journos available. A recent straw poll at The Sunday Times, News Limited’s western-most Australian outpost, indicated 99% of the staff would head for the door if they had somewhere to go.

Veteran general reporter and rugby aficionado Nick Taylor was escorted from the premises when he announced he was joining The West Australian; website head honcho Alan Newton spat the dummy after an run-in with an ad rep but withdrew his resignation when he realised he had no destination; real estate editor Raquel de Brito is working out her notice before joining The West; several website journos have gone and two snappers have finished up; business reporter Cortland Bennett is now a happy chap at AAP and another five journos have joined the queue at the door.

Doom and gloom pervades the establishment as editor, extra hard task master and all-round ignoramus Sam Weir — known as Sammy Short-Pants for his lack of experience and unwillingness to accept advice — drags the paper down the slippery slope. Little things make all the difference. Things such as referring to Parliament as Parly on the front page instead of the universally accepted Parlt abbreviation. Things such as bastardising a front-page caption of AC/DC’s Angus Young “parading the stage” at Subiaco Oval. Things such as sucking up to Perth Zoo with a picture of a baby parrot, making news out of it when probably 100 others were born in Perth recently.

Happy troops work well, unhappy troops deliver less than 100%, but that’s a lesson Sammy has yet to learn, one that was instanced recently when he tried to bully a staff member who was on sick leave into producing copy from her sick bed, even trying to send a laptop to her home so she wouldn’t have to sit at a table. Rumour has it that Sammy is approaching the three-year, time-to-move-on date, and that the management has booked a local phone box for his farewell drinks. — Perth media insider

US silent as Google pulls the plug on China

“The Obama administration matched the Chinese government today in its determination to prevent the Google row from damaging bilateral ties.” — The Guardian

Google’s ad strategy passes legal test

“Europe’s highest court ruled Google Inc did not infringe trademark law by selling keywords to trigger ads after Louis Vuitton and others said the practice undermined their brands.” — Reuters

iPad users will dial up newspapers, magazines

“More than a third of those eyeing Apple’s forthcoming iPad will read books, newspapers and magazines on the touchscreen device, a new study has found.” — AppleInsider

NY Times editors tell their stories online

“It’s not just straight, breaking news, it’s talking about the way The New York Times is looking at the story — our analysis, our particular take on the story.” — New York Times

The race to take the Russian’s money

“Independent News & Media is in a race against time in a bid to secure a deal to sell The Independent titles to Alexander Lebedev ahead of announcing financial results for 2009 tomorrow.” — The Guardian

Catholic priests in 3D

“Avatars and Mad Hatters are already performing before American audiences in 3-D, and Shrek is coming soon. Now, a national Catholic television network is throwing priests into the mix.” — Huffington Post