QUICK TAKES

Safer suspicious

Morley Safer of CBS News isn't so sure about the blogosphere and citizen journalism. The "60 Minutes" correspondent was honored by Quinnipiac University on Wednesday. During his acceptance speech, he warned that the business problems of newspapers threaten all journalism and the public's right to know. Safer, 77, says the Internet is crammed with the ravings and manipulations of every nut with a keyboard. The news veteran works part time and says he has no intention of giving up.

McCourt has melanoma

According to his publicist, "Angela's Ashes" author Frank McCourt has cancer. Scribner spokesman Brian Belfiglio says the 78-year-old is being treated for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Malachy McCourt, the Pulitzer-Prize winning author's brother, says the cancer is in remission and any reports that Frank McCourt is gravely ill are "exaggerated." The New York-born author's other books include "Tis" and "Teacher Man."

Missing ceremony

According to officials, Aretha Franklin will miss Brown University's commencement because of a family emergency. The Queen of Soul was to receive an honorary doctor of music degree, but the university said a representative for the singer called to say she would be unable to travel to graduation on Sunday. Brown University President Ruth Simmons says the school hopes to honor Franklin on a different occasion.

Reaching out

John Legend had a benefit dinner for his nonprofit organization Show Me charity on Tuesday and gave an intimate performance. Legend says everyone can make a difference to end world poverty. "Our organization by itself can't do it, but we believe we can be part of the solution and we don't want to wait around for everybody else to do it," he said in an interview. Among those attending were Wyclef Jean, NAACP president and CEO Benjamin Jealous, former New York Giants player Tiki Barber, economist Jeffrey Sachs and others. The event raised about $300,000 through an auction.

Compiled from wire reports by Melissa Sullivan