Jack

Why isn't the Times of London the relevant comparison, not the tabs? The New York Times Co. runs a lot of mediocre papers, but it protects is chief asset. Conde Nast has some very lame magazines, but also the New Yorker. Why can't we assume that Murdoch will be smart enough to protect his glory asset--the WSJ, as he as been smart enough to (mostly) protect the Times of London

David,

Good questions, easily answered.

None of the New York Times Co. newspapers you call "mediocre" are awful, pandering, and mendacious in the way the non-"quality" papers in Murdoch's portfolio are. I invite you compare the content of the New York Times Co.'s "regional group" of newspapers to that contained in the many titles in News Corrp.'s roster and then get back to me. You'll concede that there is no comparison. Murdoch's instinct is to entertain and manipulate for political-business advantage, The New York Times Co.'s instinct is produce the kind of journalism we both admire.

Consider this historical example: The New York Post that Murdoch purchased in 1976 was not the world's greatest newspaper, but most readers would agree that it was credible. Murdoch has consistenly used the paper to press his political-business views and reduced the paper to an entertaining joke. Agreed?

As I've written, the fatal compromise in the Murdoch-era Wall Street Journal won't be news stories in which the newspaper goes into the tank for Murdoch's interests but in the tough stories the newspaper doesn't do. I don't think Murdoch's Times of London and Sunday Times are wretched but I don't think they have distinguish themselves in coverage of China and other areas in which Murdoch has personal, political, and business interests.

We've been lucky to have a Wall Street Journal owned by the politically disinterested Bancroft family. I can't think of a paper in the world that reports the news in a straighter fashion. It's not yet gone and I'm already missing it.

--Jack

David: you have a point but the fact is the Times of London is a shadow of its former self. It was far, far better before Murdoch got his hands on it. And the changes he made were not just brutal but quick. Perhaps you are too young to remember the old Times but (sadly) I am not.