John Wayne, an iconic American actor who appeared in more than 175 films and starred in countless Westerns, died on this day in 1979 after battling cancer for more than a decade, at 72. Read/watch more about Wayne and his history:

American Masters:
John Ford and John Wayne — a friendship and professional collaboration that spanned 50 [...]

The New York Times reported yesterday that the The Los Angeles Times has made plans to transfer control of its monthly magazine from its newsroom to its business operations and replace their magazine’s entire editorial staff. And, this past month, the Chicago Tribune joined other major newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial [...]

Reporter Rick Karr presents a special report on the news that the government will be infiltrating popular online role-playing communities such as Second Life and World of Warcraft.

Before Big Brown’s heartbreaking last-place finish in the Belmont Stakes last weekend, Charlie Rose visited the contender’s barn and spoke to his trainer, owner, and jockey about the horse’s chance to become the first thoroughbred to capture the Triple Crown since 1978.

In this week’s Bill Moyers Journal, Kathleen Hall Jamieson and Ron Walters discussed how race has affected the presidential election process and the media’s coverage thereof. Weigh in on the poll, read comments and discuss.

Truck drivers in Spain and Portugal blocked roads Monday to protest soaring global fuel prices, which also caused the national average price of gasoline in the United States to rise above $4 per gallon over the weekend. See the full report on NewsHour.

The horseshoe crab, a crustacean that resembles an armored vehicle patrolling the beach, is one of the most useful creatures in the sea — a trait that could doom it to extinction.

As China’s two-day National College Entrance Exam — known as gaokao – begins, a swirl of activity is planned to ensure the best possible conditions for students to take the test that will determine their professional tracks within Chinese society. Do you think students should be expelled for cheating on their exams? What do you [...]

Ellis Gallagher is a native New Yorker who creates chalk etchings of shadows of everyday, urban street objects.

It’s really damn hard to make a documentary about something important that is also a compelling narrative and beautifully told. Two recent docs about Darfur and consumer culture tried — and failed. Read more…