links for 2008-05-08

• Setback for Murdoch over MySpace resultsRupert Murdoch's social-networking website MySpace suffered a setback when News Corporation warned it will fail to hit its revenue target this year as advertisers struggle to judge the commercial value of making on-line friends. Source: Guardian
• Fourteen years after founding Yahoo this man has eight weeks to save itJerry Yang faces being 'flayed alive' by Wall St for rejecting Microsoft's $47bn. Source: Guardian
• Editors more optimistic on newspapers' futureIn one of the largest surveys of the worldwide news industry, 85% of editors said they were optimistic about their newspaper's future. At the same time, a rising number predict that print and online news will both be free in the future. Source: Guardian
• MySpace launches gaming channel in the UKThe channel, which was previously in beta, is now being promoted across the social network's homepage. Source: New Media Age
• How to get your site into Google NewsA Google insider explains how the search engine decides which sites to include and feature in the popular online news portal. Source: Online Journalism Review
• Gates says Microsoft will go it aloneBill Gates said Wednesday that Microsoft was not pursuing other deals following the withdrawal of its $47.5 billion takeover bid for Yahoo. Source: International Herald Tribune
• Washingtonpost.com wants identities of readers who post commentsJim Brady, executive editor of The Washington Post's online division, said at the Digital Hollywood conference that he would like to see a technology that could identify people who violate site standards and kick them off for good. Source: CNET
• Rumours of Jerry Yang's dethroning are greatly exaggeratedAccording to many sources, Jerry Yang's head still sits squarely on his neck. Source: AllThingsD
• Microsoft made as eyes at Facebook as Yahoo deal wanedUnder pressure to craft a strategy for competing online that doesn't involve Yahoo, Microsoft informally approached Facebook about a sale. Source: Wall Street Journal
• Microsoft expands its research work in ChinaMicrosoft said it will invest $280 million in a Beijing research and development center, and will double the number of full-time research and development staff in China to 3,000 in three to five years. Source: Wall Street Journal
• Grand Theft Auto sells 6m in first weekThe Grand Theft Auto IV video game has stolen all entertainment records for an opening week, with global retail sales of about 6m copies, or $500m, according to Take-Two, its publisher. Source: FT.com
• Piracy-laden site shut down in courtHollywood has scored a major victory over a Website that trafficked in pirated movies and TV shows, winning a $110m judgment in federal court. Source: Variety