And so, my first post!
I will admit, I haven't been good with blogs in the past. But this is professional, not personal. Though the topic of my first post is professional for many and personal for most.
Rupert Murdoch has won his bid to purchase Dow Jones Co., adding yet another powerhouse to his mammoth stash of newspaper and broadcast media across the United States.
Most of us involved in the media have an opinion of Murdoch and his News Corporation. The media baron owns over 100 newspapers, satellite stations, MySpace, Twentieth Century Fox, and, oh yeah, Fox News. And now, he's got The Wall Street Journal, among others.
For some (biased) background on Murdoch and his ownership, check out the movie Outfoxed-- it's jam packed with interviews and opinions of reporters, editors, and former employees.
That's where the personal comes in. For reporters at the Journal and other Dow Jones media, it's not as simple as a leadership switch. Murdoch is known for imposing biased standards on his media, essentially forcing writers and editors to tow his ideological (Republican) line.
For reporters who are used to to being *gasp* impartial, this is hard to stomach. This morning, those at the top of the Wall Street Journal sent out memos and emails to staffers reassuring them that nothing will change at the esteemed paper.
Yeah, right.
Given, the Wall Street Journal is one of America's most trusted and important news sources. Murdoch and News Corporation won't be able to just walk in and change the tone, but it will happen eventually. It's easy for media barons to control the smaller papers and local television news channels, but Dow Jone and The WSJ provide Murdoch with an opportunity unparalleled. National print coverage, national print voice.
Media ownership is a problem everywhere (some of the biggest players being Canada's own Asper family and CanWest), but Murdoch is the SuperSized version of what ownership means. Everything is to the extreme, making him the perfect candidate for "Big Bad Wolf" accusations.
And he is pretty bad. Fox News on its own is infamous for their dismal ethics, propaganda, and "journalism". As another one bites the dust and succombs to unilateral media ownership, is it even worth it to protest anymore? Are we even surprised?
If I worked at the Wall Street Journal (something I once considered an indicator of "making it"), I'd be scared right now. Hell, I am scared right now. No company emails would change my mind. In fact, I'd probably expect a lot more memos to come my way. But in the end, all reporters have to put food on the table, and the majority will probably move along with the company and sweep their opinions under the carpet. Unbiased, even if their bosses aren't.
