Google Overtakes Yahoo as No. 1 Web Site
Google, long dominant in the Internet search market, is surpassing rival Yahoo for the first time as the most popular Web destination in the United States, according to research firm comScore. Google's U.S. audience is up to 141.1 million; Yahoo's comes in at 140.6 million.

   Twitter: A New Powerhouse in Social Media
Twitter, the fledgling microblogging service, is evolving into a social media powerhouse to rival giants like Facebook. The San Francisco-based Twitter, which appears to be aiming for a new round of funding, is starting an "experimental" advertising program on its site in Japan.

   Icahn Eyes Former Viacom Exec for Yahoo
Carl Icahn is said to be moving ahead with plans to run a dissident board slate at Yahoo in a bid to force the Internet company to be sold to Microsoft. The billionaire investor is reportedly lining up at least 12 potential board candidates, including former Viacom head Frank Biondi.

   Murdoch Sees Mideast Peace Through Tech
Promoting technology throughout the Middle East could help advance peace, claims News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch, speaking at a panel on new media and the Internet in Jerusalem. "We'll continue to do what we can to help Israel maintain its competitive edge," he adds.

   Social Network Ad Biz Improving, Brin Says
Advertising on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace is getting better, but is still not perfect, says Google co-founder Sergey Brin. "People are expecting overnight to wake up to a miracle. But these things take time. It's hard to predict where social networking will come out."

   Comcast to Buy Plaxo for Social Networking
Comcast will acquire social-networking company Plaxo to power upcoming community features on its TV, broadband data and phone services. The Mountain View, Calif., startup will help Comcast build social-networking capabilities accessible by the U.S. cable giant's subscribers.

   Diller's Ask.com to Acquire Dictionary.com
Ask.com, owned by Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp, is acquiring Lexico, the owner of Dictionary.com, as well as Thesaurus.com and Reference.com. Ask.com, the No. 4 search engine, and Dictionary.com will attempt to cycle traffic between each other.

   CBS to Buy CNET Networks for $1.8 Billion
CBS is signing an agreement to acquire CNET Networks in a deal valued at $1.8 billion. The acquisition will make CBS one of the 10 most popular Internet companies in the United States, with a combined 54 million unique users per month and about 200 million users worldwide.

   'Lonelygirl15' Producer in Pact with CBS
CBS is entering a deal with EQAL, the production firm behind the Web sensation "Lonelygirl15," to supplement existing network programs with online extensions and possibly create new multiplatform programs. The deal aims to "create communities" out of CBS programming.

   Time Warner Cable Challenges Network TV
The annual "upfront" week is reserved for the broadcast networks to sell their ad time. But this year Time Warner's Turner cable channels are positioning their upfront ad sales in the middle of the action. Ratings for TNT's "The Closer" often beat out the broadcast networks.

   Turner System to Match Programs With Ads
Turner Broadcasting is introducing an advertising system, "TVinContext," designed to match commercial messages with program content. For example, a movie running on Turner featuring a wedding scene could air an ad for wedding rings during the next commercial break.

   Broadcasters May Struggle in Upfront Sales
A decline in upfront adverting sales is probable, "given ratings declines, the disruption in the development cycle due to the writers' strike and economic woes," says Merrill Lynch analyst Jessica Reif Cohen. Broadcast networks could see spending drop 14% from 2007 to $7.73 billion.

   Fashion Magazines Vie for Slot on 'Runway'
As the Bravo hit "Project Runway" prepares to move to Lifetime, five magazines -- Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, and In Style -- are said to be courting producers in a bid to replace Elle as a partner. Hearst, a co-owner of Lifetime, owns three of the titles.

   Rodale Builds Muscle with Men's Health
Rodale this year is seeing an increase in print advertising revenues of 8.8%, although ad pages are down slightly by 0.6%. The January/February issue of Men's Health sold a record 750,560 copies on the newsstand, coinciding with a cover price increase to $4.99 from $4.50.

   Thomson Reuters Gears Up for Job Cuts
Thomson Reuters, the news and information giant created when the Canadian group bought its rival last year, confirms in an internal email to staff that it will soon make significant job cuts. The precise scale of the cuts will be revealed "over the next several days."

   Journal Register Eyes $25 Million Infusion
Journal Register, which owns 22 daily newspapers in several states, may have found a savior to help it stave off default. Ancora Capital is willing to invest at least $25 million to shore up the struggling publisher in return for a significant ownership stake.

   Washington Post Top Journos Take Buyouts
Some of the Washington Post's biggest names are accepting employee buyout offers. David Broder, the so-called dean of the D.C. press corps, is leaving the staff, as is prominent sportswriter Tony Kornheiser. Executive editor Len Downie may take the buyout as well.

   Chicago Tribune Loses 30-Year Veteran Editor
The Chicago Tribune's managing editor for news, George de Lama, is resigning after 30 years at Tribune's flagship paper. He will be succeeded by Hanke Gratteau, who was named deputy managing editor in March. De Lama says: "I am excited at the prospect of exploring possibilities."

   FT: We're 'Not Worried' About Murdoch's WSJ
The Financial Times claims not to be overly concerned about a Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal. "We aren't particularly worried," says Ben Hughes, FT global commercial director. After cutting costs during the last recession, the FT is seen as a "better" paper.

   Knight Winners See News Future on Mobiles
The Knight Foundation is announcing the winners of its second annual Knight News Challenge, awarding $5.5 million to fund ideas that will help transform news through digital technology. One clear thread among the 16 projects selected: A focus on mobile phones.

   Bush Holds First-Ever Web Video Interview
President Bush is the first U.S. president to conduct a video interview for an online audience. In the interview with Politico.com political correspondent Mike Allen, Bush warns that a fast withdrawal of troops from Iraq could "eventually lead to another attack on the United States."