This Can’t Last
“The day will come that Murdoch decides that the newspaper and its parent company no longer fit in the colossus’ ever-shifting plan to straddle all the world’s media. After extracting a bit of the Journal’s prestige value for his forthcoming cable business news channel, I predict he’ll grow tired of the criticisms and sell it off.”
Jack Shafer, Slatehttp://www.slate.com
Haven’t They Read Op-Ed?
“Though many journalists impose their views regularly in biased political coverage, and last year the New York Times publisher made clear his left-wing world view, on Tuesday night the broadcast networks framed Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of The Wall Street Journal around what agenda the 'controversial’ Murdoch will 'impose.’ That matches the 'fear’ expressed in online journalism forums and media magazines about Murdoch’s 'conservative’ agenda.”
Brent Baker, NewsBustershttp://newsbusters.org/
He’ll Show Brand Love
“Despite some efforts made by the family which controls Dow Jones stock to preserve the Journal’s independence, the fact is, Murdoch’s respect for the newspaper’s brand is the only thing which may keep him from messing with the journalism too overtly.”
Eric Deggans, The Feedhttp://blogs.tampabay.com/
Unintended Consequences
“The silver lining of this takeover is that when Murdoch destroys the credibility of the Journal — as he must if it is to fit in with his business plan — he will be removing the primary pillar of the editorial page’s influence as well. In this regard. his ownership is a kind of poisoned chalice.”
Eric Alterman, The Nationhttp://www.thenation.com
Damned If He Does
Trying to top CNBC, a unit of General Electric Co., is Murdoch’s hope, but hardly his lone challenge. He has the task, too, of showing his critics that he can continue the Journal’s tradition of producing first-rate work … The spotlight will be on. If there is even a whiff of Murdoch’s presence in the newsroom, pundits and others will savage him for messing with the Journal’s independence.
Jon Friedman, MarketWatchhttp://www.marketwatch.com
