COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Monday, August 13, 2007

Rupert Murdoch Challenges The New York Times


There is no second national paper in the United States that stands besides the NY Times. There are some strong regionals but none have the reach and depth of the Times. The Wall Street Journal is an international US paper that can diversify into areas that would compete with the Times. Murdoch has the money and the synergy with his other media. He will use the internet and he will make money doing it. It is long overdue to have a paper that will balance the left listing of the Times. Watch for some big changes in both papers.


News Corp.'s deal puts pressure on New York Times

By Jon Friedman, MarketWatch
Last Update: 12:01 AM ET Aug 13, 2007

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- News Corp.'s agreement to acquire Dow Jones & Co., which publishes The Wall Street Journal, is putting the New York Times on the defensive.
The Times already has a set of financial and journalistic challenges. I wouldn't be surprised if many of its future decisions will be judged as a response to the Dow Jones deal.

Jon Friedman says that the New York Times recognizes the challenge being posed by a News Corp.-owned Wall Street Journal.
News Corp.'s (NWS :22.01, -0.40, -1.8% ) deep pockets will let the Journal compete more intensely than ever with the Times, especially overseas. The conglomerate is expected to invest significantly in Dow Jones' Internet operations and worldwide news-gathering efforts. (Dow Jones owns MarketWatch, the publisher of this column.)
This means the Times now has to deal with a determined global competitor with deep pockets. News Corp. Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch has spoken about his interest in increasing the Journal's clout outside the United States. The Times has regarded international coverage as its "franchise."

The Journal's skill in this area was recognized when it won a Pulitzer Prize only a few months ago, for its coverage of China. Fortifying this effort would put additional pressure on the Times.

As Dow Jones (DJ :58.52, +0.04, +0.1% ) did in January, the New York Times Co. (NYT :
22.31, -0.40, -1.8% ) has decided to publish a slightly smaller version of its newspaper we hold in our hands. While it's reasonable to believe that both parties reached this cost-cutting decision on their own, it's inevitable that some are bound to say that the Times followed the Journal's lead.

Fair or not, that's the sort of carping the Times will have to face from here on out.


Earlier this year, Murdoch discussed his acquisition of My Space with Charlie Rose. You may find some of his comments very interesting. I am sure the NYT has viewed this show in detail.



9 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Pride of Lions chase water Buffalo Calf into pond, grab it, pull it out to kill it, but crocodile comes up and grabs it, by this time the herd of Buffalo marshall their forces and come back and chase off the cats!

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  3. Well doug, That is somewhat more interesting than my Rupert Murdoch video with Charlie Rose. I suppose the question is this, " is Murdoch the buffalo, the croc or the lion?"

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  4. If there is not a rural type windmill in the upper right, then I'm seeing things.

    I quess you'd have to call that whole episode some kind of draw. But that poor baby buff, crocs to the back of me, lions to the front.

    Good video for folks that think nature is just a walk in the park.

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  5. Since I don't have much use for either of them, I quess 'let em' kill each other'--a view expressed around here on other occasions--is ok with me. But what will I do without the Society Page?

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  6. A Chicago wind turbine, bob, no doubt about it.

    The Times and the Journal, bob, or the lions and the crocs?

    He is all three, duece.
    Depending on the perspective.

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  7. So,

    What we're left with is jackals hyaenas Hippos and giraffes. Imagine the Society Page then.

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  8. Don't forget the elephants and jackasses.

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