Rupert Murdoch Accused Of Using Wall Street Journal To 'Play Politics'

[Purveyor]

When Rupert Murdoch bought the Wall Street Journal two years ago, Manhattan's media observers predicted it wouldn't be long before battle lines were drawn between the two US newspaper titans.

And today the antagonism that has been simmering between the Journal and its liberal rival, the New York Times, boiled over, with editors of the esteemed organs trading a series of barbed comments.

Displaying a combative style more often associated with Fleet Street than the North American market, the Journal's editor-in-chief, Robert Thomson launched a vigorous defence of his title in response to a New York Times column that alleged the Journal was "tilting rightwards". Murdoch, it added, was now using the Journal to "play politics".

In a statement, Thomson said: "The news column by a Mr David Carr is yet more evidence that the New York Times is uncomfortable about the rise of an increasingly successful rival while its own circulation and credibility are in retreat."

He went on to accuse the Times of basing the article on quotes from ex-employees and using "a succession of anonymous quotes and unsubstantiated assertions".

Thomson then took aim at the New York Times executive editor, Bill Keller, criticising him for disparaging the Journal's reporters: "The attack follows the extraordinary actions of Mr Bill Keller …who last year wrote personally and at length to a prize committee casting aspersions on Journal journalists and journalism. Whether it be in the quest for prizes or in the disparagement of competitors, principle is but a bystander at the New York Times."

MORE...

GUARDIAN UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/14/rupert-murdoch-wall-street-journal

[xultar]

1. I'm shocked i tell ya.

[NashVegas]

2. NYT Is Not a Liberal Paper

Although some of its editorial staff may consider themselves to be. Meantime the WSJ's reporting tended to back the liberal POV more often than the conservative. Unlike the editorial page, the news reports had to be useful to people making business decisions. If Rupert changes the reporting and people who make decisions start losing money, the WSJ will take a huge hit.

[lxlxlxl]

9. reality has a well known liberal bias

i think its already started, but this country won't take a parallel subscription to the FT in order to compare. its tragic, but hey, what the hell isn't in this country anymore?

[FrenchieCat]

3. Doh!

[bridgit]

4. It isn't even really politics, that old crap-head is all about the shit-talk...

But as soon as I heard of the deal I saw the WSJ going down the drain - everything Murdoch touches turns to shit

[Ken Burch]

5. Gee....what was their first clue?

n/e.

[tularetom]

6. I'll start reading the WSJ

When Murdoch starts including Page 3 girls in the rag.

[YOY]

7. What? That's Impossible!!! Murdoch? He's totally not that kind of guy!

:sarcasm:

[lxlxlxl]

8. the inclusion of a rush limbaugh quote in a kennedy obituary is shocking

i remember the op-eds by limbaugh and john yoo last year and knew it was over, but i never had any doubts.

[jorae28]

10. Murdoch also is connected to FOXNEWS.

To register a complaint with the FCC ABOUT FOXNEWS...

http://www.fcc.gov/contacts.html

File A Complaint
Choose a Complaint Type

1.Broadcast (TV and Radio), Cable, and Satellite Issues

2. Unauthorized, unfair, biased, illegal broadcasts

File A Complaint - Choose a Filing Method - Based on the information you provided, you need to file FCC Form 2000E -

We highly recommend using our on line form.

This will ensure that all required information is received.

**************************
On the FCC site, it has a page to look at called....QUARTERLY INQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS....

2009 First Quarter....

2009 First Quarter Complaints. During this quarter, complaints in the reported
categories increased over 246%, from 70,836 in the 4th quarter of 2008 to 245,241 in the 1st
quarter of 2009.

Most of the increase occurred between the Radio and Television Broadcasting
category where complaints increased from 29,108 in the 4th quarter of 2008 to 188,558 in the 1st
quarter of 2009,

[lpbk2713]

11. Now who would have guessed.

WSJ lost its credibility the moment the word got out that
the deal for Murdoch to buy it was in the works.

[UTUSN]

12. K&R #3 for, CAN'T be!1 My eyes, my EYES!1 n/t

[boobooday]

13. NO!

Inconthievable!

:eyes:

[janedum]

14. Old news. It was OBVIOUS from day one. I discontinued my subscription as soon as he took over.

[EFerrari]

15. Who could have ever imagined.

:)

[JVS]

16. All that paper does is play politics