Media Brief

I'm the BBC's media correspondent and this is my brief selection of what's going on.

The Guardian reports that Mark Thompson apologised to the BBC Trust for not informing them he was signing a letter criticising Rupert Murdoch over the proposed buyout of BSkyB. It says the Trust is releasing the minutes of a meeting at which it was discussed.

Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the NUJ, and Lucy Adams, BBC director of people, were interviewed on Radio 4's Today this morning following last week's 48-hour strike.

Boris Johnston says in the Telegraph the NUJ strike at the BBC passed him by:

"I consume vast quantities of news - but almost entirely without the assistance of the BBC."

The Daily Mail says two of the BBC's most high-profile presenters, Evan Davis and Sarah Montague, enraged colleagues on Saturday by defying the strike that has brought chaos to its news schedules.

Today presenter Justin Webb tells James Robinson in the Guardian he will get tougher in his interviews and "upset more people".

Ann Widdecombe remains in Strictly Come Dancing, despite getting the lowest marks from the judges. The Daily Telegraph says many of the show's fans think the joke is wearing thin.

The Daily Mirror's front page splash says Jack Duckworth will bow out of Coronation Street tonight in the "most moving Corrie" in the soap's 50 years.

Max Hastings says in the Daily Mail Downton Abbey, which ended last night, has achieved a grip on emotions stronger than any social drama since Upstairs, Downstairs almost 40 years ago. It returns next year.

Mark Lawson says in the Guardian that Downton Abbey has been "a triumph in the precarious word of TV drama".

The Queen is set to have an official presence on Facebook when a British Monarchy page launches on the internet-based social networking site, the BBC reports.

The BBC's newspaper review rounds up the papers' advice for Prime Minister David Cameron as he prepares to visit China. BBC newspapers review

Links in full

• Dan Sabbagh | Guardian BBC boss apologises after signing protest letter against BSkyB buyout
• Jeremy Dear | BBC Today| Christmas BBC strikes 'on the cards'
• Lucy Adams | BBC Today | BBC seeks 'balance' over pension dispute BBC seeks 'balance' over pension dispute
• Boris Johnson | Telegraph | So journalists at the BBC went on strike? That's news to me
• Daily Mail | Furious row as Evan Davis crosses the picket line to keep news show on air
• James Robinson | Guardian | Today programme's Justin Webb pledges to get tougher with guests
• Daily Telegraph | Strictly backlash against Ann Widdecombe
• Daily Mirror | Jack Duckworth bows out of Coronation Street as ghost of Vera returns
• Max Hastings | Daily Mail | In an age of patronising, tacky television, Downton Abbey was a true British gem
• Mark Lawson | Guardian | Downton Abbey triumphs as toff television takes orff, again
• BBC |Queen to launch British Monarchy page on Facebook
• BBC | Newspaper review

• Read my updates on Twitter

• Read my archive of media stories on Delicious

• Read Thursday's Media Brief