LA mogul seeks lively newspaper

David Geffen made a mint in music and film. Now he may become a press baron, says edward helmore

As Hollywood billionaires go, few have set themselves up as astutely as David Geffen, the music mogul, philanthropist and dealmaker who last week convinced a London-based Mexican financier to fork out $140m - a world record price - for a stunning Jackson Pollock drip painting in his collection.

It's not surprising that the 63-year-old was behind the sale. Geffen, who has been quite quiet lately, was simply re-establishing his credentials as a ruthless seducer. This is the man, after all, who brokered the high-priced sale of MCA studios to Matsushita and then, when the Japanese tired of losing money,