— Talk of Kate and Gerry McCann suing Richard Desmond's Daily Express and other newspapers is, for the moment, wide of the mark. Although nobody is prepared to comment, apparently talk of a demand of £1 million in compensation for alleged defamation is inaccurate. Indeed, no sums of money have been demanded or offered by either side. The couple want an apology, amid concerns about a series of what they say have been misleading headlines on as many as 40 stories in the tabloid, so money may not enter into it - but a writ is not ruled out. Interestingly, however, they clearly believe that the Press Complaints Commission was not able to help. Instead, the advice used by the McCanns comes from the Carter-Ruck law firm - and if they succeed against Mr Desmond's titles, other newspapers could be targeted. If money does change hands, it will be destined for the Find Madeleine fund.

— Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, the owners of The Daily Telegraph, are listed at No 358 on the Forbes list of billionaires released this month, with a fortune estimated at $3.1 billion (£1.5 billion), rather more than previous estimates. The figure makes them the wealthiest of the British-born newspaper owners, ahead of Mr Desmond, No 605, with $2 billion, and Viscount Rothermere, No 1,014, with $1.1 billion. Interestingly, however, no coverage of the Forbes list appeared in the Telegraph last week - although that surely must be unrelated to a desire to avoid publicising estimates of the reclusive proprietors' fortune. Forbes values Rupert Murdoch, the chief executive of News Corporation, parent company of The Times, at $8.3 billion, putting him at No 109 on the list.

— David Joseph's promotion to run Universal Music UK, announced this week, could create opportunities for others to seize upon. Nick Gatfield, who runs Universal's Island Records label, home to Amy Winehouse and Keane, was passed over and is not thought to be close to Lucian Grainge, Universal's supremo for all matters outside the United States. Mr Gatfield would an obvious target for Guy Hands, who needs new executive talent at EMI that has credibility with artists. Mr Hands has tried once before. Mr Gatfield's contract with Island runs out this year, but will the EMI chairman move Roger Ames aside to bring him in? Some say that he should.

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