Following is a roundup of 10 interesting PR- and media-related stories found online last week:

Journalists and the Obsession With Being First: The news industry's growing obsession with being the first to break news is hurting journalism, according to The New Republic's Amy Sullivan. Nevertheless, even she can't see the news cycle slowing down. Here's a look at what other journalists think. For example, Ben Smith, editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed, doesn't hold anything against scoops and being first to report something, but has admiration for those who are first and right. "That isn't easy, as other outlets showed. This doesn't mean great explanatory reporting -- or for that matter, great poetry -- don't matter. That's a false choice. But often the great explanatory reporting comes from people whose deep connection to their beat also gives them a steady stream of scoops." (Adweek)

Summertime To-Dos for PR Professionals: Summer is the perfect time for PR pros to stop and clean up a bit. Here are five things you can accomplish in a week: 1) update and clean up contact information; 2) renew your memberships; 3) review and update media lists; 4) put together a yearlong PR plan; and 5) dust off your crisis plan. (PRBreakfastClub)

Crowdfunding for Journalistic Projects: Crowdfunding journalistic projects is nothing new, but it's getting more attention recently. Individual journalists aren't the only ones going to these sources of funding -- newspapers are also joining in, too. Spot.us, Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, Emphas.is and Funded by Me are among the sites where journalistic projects can be crowdfunded. Pay-per-view models, such as Kindle Singles, are also a form of crowdfunding. (PBS MediaShift)

Three Lessons From Fox News and CNN's Reporting Mistakes: When the Supreme Court announced its health care decision, communication and teamwork helped the likes of AP, Bloomberg and SCOTUSblog get it right. Things at Fox News and CNN, however, didn't go so well. Here are three lessons for newsrooms to take away from their guffaws: 1) use multiple sources, 2) avoid the echo chamber and 3) prepare for failure. (Poynter)

Six Mobile Apps for Business Journalists: Business journalists using only mobile websites to keep up with news are missing out on apps, which offer a superior way to have access to immediate information on the Web. "Smartphone apps provide a user-friendly, screen-adjusted, and rarely changing 'home page' that gets rid of clutter and narrows the focus to exactly what you need." Here are six apps business journalists should check out: 1) SEC Filings Finder, 2) S&P Ratings CreditMatters, 3) powerOne Finance Calculator, 4) LinkedIn, 5) CNBC Real Time and 6) Quickoffice Pro. (Reynolds Center for Business Journalism)

What's Next for News: Farm It, Milk It, Feed It: The newspaper business used to be simple: "Build the largest possible audience, sell the most possible ads, charge the highest possible rates, print the fattest possible papers and pump out the biggest possible profits." But with the rise in competition and drop in advertising, it's clear that things need to change. Recent actions from Warren Buffett, the Newhouse family and Rupert Murdoch show three approaches for a new way forward: farm it (stay the course and hope to optimize the existing franchise for as long as possible), milk it (accept the inevitable fall of the traditional model and do what you can to haul the most profits as long as possible) and feed it (leverage the strengths of the business and invest in digital products). (Reflections of a Newsosaur)

The Origins of the 'Sanctity of the Byline': Journatic's byline practices have the "church of journalism" in an uproar. Some of the indignation was protectionist in nature, while others saw this as yet another sign of the newspaper crisis. However, most of the coverage has focused on the poor ethics of using fake bylines. So where does the "sanctity of the byline" come from? Why do respected newspapers allow notable figures to claim bylines for their ghostwritten op-ed pieces? Here's a brief history of what the byline has meant in the past and where we stand today. (Reuters)

Six Steps for Getting Better Press Coverage via Twitter: Twitter is a channel that gives journalists a way to connect with sources and gather content. For those looking to get better press coverage via Twitter, consider these six tips: 1) create a targeted list of reporters; 2) position yourself as a qualified source; 3) engage with reporters and their content; 4) offer quotes and soundbites, not just links to external information; 5) cultivate relationships; and 6) fight against negativity. (Radian6)

The 10 Biggest Mistakes PR Companies Make: PR firms relay a lot of information and even send products for evaluation, but dealing with those that go too far can be a nightmare. Among the 10 worst mistakes PR companies make are not knowing who you're dealing with, not understanding social media metrics, using tired words, not fulfilling a promise and not linking to information in a press release. (GeekBeat.TV)

Four Things You Shouldn't Say to a Journalist/PR Pro: The mistakes journalists and PR professionals make when communicating with each other cut both ways. For example, here's something PR pros should never say to a journalist: "Can I see the story before it runs?" Here's something journalists should never say to a PR pro: "I would prefer it if you were not present during the interview." (PR News Blog)

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