Today's media stories from the papers

Top stories on MediaGuardian.co.uk Jeremy Hunt gives News Corp green light to launch £8bn bid for BSkyB Opponents brand Britain's biggest media merger a 'complete whitewash' that will give Rupert Murdoch too much control Sky News journalists fear spin-off will reduce channel's influence Britain's first 24-hour news channel has long had an independent editorial culture, but is bracing itself for an uneasy future Phone-hacking inquiry spreads to Sunday Times, Prescott tells Lords John Prescott uses parliamentary privilege in the House of Lords to allege that other Rupert Murdoch titles are being investigated This week's featured media jobs UBM Information Ltd - Sponsorship Sales Manager Cambridge/permanent/full time Polity Press - Editorial Assistant Cambridge/permanent/full time Press Officer - Guardian News & Media London/permanent/full time For more jobs, career advice and workplace news visit guardianjobs.co.uk Today's headlines The Guardian Victory for Murdoch was assured after Cable's loose talk. P1, 2 Jeremy Hunt gives News Corp green light to launch bid for BSkyB. P4 Sky News journalists fear spin-off agreement for TV channel will reduce its influence. P4 Phone-hacking inquiry spreads to Sunday Times, John Prescott tells Lords. P5 Simon Hoggart: In pursuit of Hunt. P5 BBC to roll out global iPlayer iPad app. P10 Trinity Mirror shares fall after costs warning. P29 BSkyB investors will make Murdoch pay high price. P29 Leader: The law and loopholees of media plurality. P36 Alexander Chancellor: David Cameron decides Murdoch's support is key to electoral success. G2, P5 The Independent Government accused as Murdoch's BSkyB bid is cleared. P1, 4, 5, 6, 7 Three more Murdoch papers dragged into phone-hacking scandal. P1, 6 Julian Assange appeals extradition to Sweden. P21 Foreign media told to avoid protests in China. P28 Leader: Murdoch gets political payback. Viewspaper, P2 Murdoch is 'the shadow of a monstrous power'. Viewspaper, P3 Twitter co-founder Biz Stone dismisses deal rumours. P36 Imagination has Apple to thank as shares shine. P38 Daily Telegraph Jacqui Smith calls on David Cameron to confess to watching porn. P11 iPad price cut to £100 ahead of new launch. P12 BSkyB shareholders call banks for help. Business, P1 Only the brave investor will now bet against Murdoch getting his way. Business, P2 Shares in Trinity Mirror drop 22%. Business, P3 Murdoch runs rings round the regulators. Business, P5 Hedge funds could clip BSkyB buy-up. Business, P5 The Times News Corp's BSkyB takeover coverage. P1, 6, 7 The Sun and Daily Mail guilty of contempt of court. P20 Twitter founder says flotation not 'even being discussed'. P51 Ofcom seeks to end rollover broadband contracts. P56 Financial Times BSkyB shareholders to squeeze 'full price' from Murdoch. P1, News Corp's BSkyB takeover coverage. P2, P18 Leader: Why Hunt could not stop Murdoch. P12 The iPad 2 is worth the wait. P14 Apple's Chinese manufacturer Foxconn moves jobs inland. P17 Trinity Mirror shares tumble on dividend stance. P19 Who benefits from soaring valuations of private tech companies? P22 Wall Street Journal Europe News Corp's BSkyB takeover coverage. P17, 18 Hurdle for iPad suppliers. P21 New games for kids link tech and reality. P21 Daily Mail News Corp's BSkyB takeover coverage. P6 Daily Express Hickey: New No 10 press man Craig Oliver plays hard to get. P15 News Corp's BSkyB takeover coverage. P65 Aviva's TV ads offset cost hike. P68 The Sun News Corp's BSkyB takeover coverage. P2 Lily Allen 'in talks to replace Simon Cowell on X Factor'. P3 Daily Mirror Mirror gets eight nominations for British Press Awards. P7 News Corp's BSkyB takeover coverage. P7, 8 Leader: Hunt's dirty deal with Murdoch. P8 Interview: Piers Morgan. P16, 17 Cowell accused of undermining American Idol on Twitter. P20 Daily Star Big Fat Gypsy Wedding stars have 'been to hell and back' because of show. P1, 4, 5 Simon Cowell jokes about Charlie Sheen judging on US X Factor. P3 And finally ... Downing Street's new press chief Craig Oliver is playing hard to get with Westminster hacks, reports the Daily Express Hickey column. Asked politely this week for his mobile number by a senior lobby journalist, Oliver apparently replied: "You can reach me through the switchboard." Ouch. It's only Oliver's first week in charge, but are Westminster writers clamouring for the ghost of Coulson past? Daily Express, P15 Also on MediaGuardian.co.uk today WPP reports 28% rise in profits Advertising and marketing services company WPP says recovery in 2010 was more 'violent' than expected Richard Desmond sets up talent agency Channel 5 and Express Newspapers owner joins forces with PR firm to help create and manage stars for his multimedia empire Media Talk podcast: Hunt approves News Corp plan for Sky News News Corp spins off Sky News to get the green light for the BSkyB takeover. Plus, ITV is back in the black; the age of product placement begins; and a decade of Desert Island Discs goes online Seven journalists arrested in Turkey Press freedom watchdog urges release of those detained by police inquiring into plot to overthrow Turkish government David Cameron warned: control your 'unacceptable' spin doctors Freedom of information request by PR Week shows Gus O'Donnell wrote to PM over briefings attacking public servant Papers guilty of contempt for publishing website picture Judges rule against The Sun and Daily Mail over online picture of murder trial defendant Express titles slapped on the wrist for breaching advertising code Advertising Standards Authority rules that Daily and Sunday Express broke code over front page promotions