Petitions have been a common form of protest throughout modern history, often bringing attention to a cause through little more than handwritten letters and word of mouth. But like a lot of other things, petitions are going viral. And one website in particular has contributed to the phenomenon.

James Murdoch sent an apology letter to the parliamentary select committee investigating him. Also in the headlines is Tuesday's arrest of Rebekah Brooks and her husband in connection with Operation Weeting, the Scotland Yard investigation of illegal press activities.

Iowa's so-called "Ag-Gag" law targets undercover animal rights activists who secretly take videos. Farmers say they need the legal protection to block those trying to take down agriculture, but critics ask what the industry may be hiding.

Campaigning in Mississippi on Friday, Mitt Romney took a pre-emptive swipe at a new 17-minute video about President Obama to be released next week by Obama's re-election campaign.

"People still want independent, rigorous reporting and The New Republic has been a place where that happens," he tells Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep. He sees a way to connect long-form journalism to the digital age, thanks to tablets.

When a public figure such as Rush Limbaugh makes a mistake, the public wants an apology. Of course, there's more than one way to finesse that message. Play NPR's Matching Game to see how some famous folks issued a mea culpa after they stumbled.