MEDIA WATCH

A banner Page One headline in the British tabloid paper the Sun screamed “Sorry, Elton,” after the newspaper’s management agreed to pay Elton John $1.85 million for publishing untrue stories about him. “This is the best Christmas present I could wish for,” Elton said after the settlement was reached Sunday night. John had filed suit after the Sun ran stories based on information from a young man about John’s admitted bisexuality and another accusing him of mistreating his dogs. “Life is too short to bear grudges, and I don’t bear the Sun any malice,” John said. A spokesman for the Sun was just as cheery. “We are delighted that the Sun and Elton have become friends again,” he said.