Media Brief

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

The Guardian reports Sir Gus O'Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary, said Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt was able to rule fairly on News Corporation's proposed takeover of BSkyB, following a complaint made by the Labour party. Britain's most senior civil servant said he had taken "advice from lawyers" over Mr Hunt's suitability - and had gone through the minister's previous remarks about the News Corp bid.

The Daily Mail says that while in opposition Mr Hunt has made a series of BSkyB friendly statements and has also had meetings with senior executives from the media giant.

In my analysis of the media ownership row I point out that once again the future of a Murdoch takeover is in the hands of a Government minister.

It's nearly thirty years since Rupert Murdoch bought The Times. Through freedom of information requests, the BBC has gained an insight into how the deal was done. On Radio 4's The Media Show, Graham Stewart, author of a history of The Times, and Ben Fenton, Media Correspondent for the Financial Times, discuss the deal and the parallels with Murdoch's current bid for BSkyB.

The Pope is to deliver Radio 4's Thought for the Day message during the Today programme on Christmas Eve. The Telegraph says it will be the first time that Pope Benedict XVI has presented material specifically written for a radio or TV audience, and that a serving Pontiff has delivered Thought for the Day.

Brand Republic reports that the Sun is set to publish a Christmas Day edition this year for the first time in its 41-year history. The exclusive iPad edition will cover news, sport and entertainment, and carry a message from John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York.

On its front page, the Mirror says TV chiefs have been urged to axe comedian Frankie Boyle for using racist language on his Channel 4 show. The channel's head of comedy refuted any suggestion they were condoning racist language: "This cutting edge comedy is clearly intended to ridicule and satirise the use of these words - Frankie Boyle was not endorsing them."

The BBC's newspaper review says the fall-out from Vince Cable's comments to undercover reporters that he had declared war on Rupert Murdoch continues to interest the papers.

Links in full

• Guardian | Sir Gus O'Donnell insists Jeremy Hunt is fit to decide on BSkyB takeover
• Daily Mail | Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt allowed to rule on Murdoch's Sky bid despite claims of bias by Labour
• BBC | Murdoch and media ownership in UK
• BBC | Media Show
• Telegraph | Pope to deliver Thought for the Day on Christmas Eve
• Brand Republic | Sun to publish first Christmas Day edition in 41 years
• Mirror | Channel 4 urged to sack comedian Frankie Boyle in race jibe row
• BBC | Newspaper review

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• Read my archive of media stories on Delicious

• Read Wednesday's Media Brief