Times Editor Spoofs Murdoch Bid for WSJ
There's funny "ha-ha" - and then there's funny "ouch." The latter would best describe the reaction of Wall Street Journal reporters and editors to a tabloidized version of the paper's fabled front page lampooning a potential Rupert Murdoch ownership.
As you can see, the mock WSJ front page looks like a hybrid of the traditional Journal, with its signature pin dot drawings and bullet point synopses of the news, and a typical Murdoch tabloid strewn with sleazy celebrity gossip headlines, a sensational crime story and flashy lottery ads.
And who, you ask, is responsible for sending the mocked-up painful reminder to folks at the Journal - who have been having something of a collective anxiety attack over the possibility of a Murdoch purchase? An editor at The New York Times, the Journal's main competitor.
Larry Ingrassia, the business editor at The Times, says one of the art directors in his department created the mocked-up WSJ front page "as a lark." Ingrassia thought it such a riot that he ordered up an electronic version and promptly pinged his friends at the Journal, where, incidentally, he worked for years before his paper let The Times steal him away.
"It was done as humor," Ingrassia told us, still giggling. "There was nothing nefarious."
And he said he didn't get the sense that anyone at the Journal was offended. Their reaction, he thought, was "what a hoot."
Well, maybe not a full-on hoot. But even if the spoof did have them grasping for the Valium, journalists at the Journal had a few chuckles. (Just a few.)
"Most saw it as a good-natured (and wickedly brilliant) joke," says one senior Journal staffer.
Another senior official for Dow Jones and Co., which owns the Wall Street Journal, said, "We're pleased to know that people at The Times actually have a sense of humor."
The mock front page has has been circulating around newsrooms of the Journal and Dow Jones for about a month now, ever since Murdoch's surprise $5 billion bid for the news organization was disclosed. A spokesman for the company said Dow Jones had "no comment" on the spoofed up front page.
As for Murdoch, he claimed in an interview this week with the Wall Street Journal that he wouldn't change a thing about the WSJ's front page. "The front page is not boring. Absolutely not," Murdoch said, (undoubtedly crossing his fingers!).
By Mary Ann Akers |
June 7, 2007; 2:30 PM ET
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Posted by: Steve | June 7, 2007 4:45 PM
Is ANYONE actually rooting for Murdoch beside Murdoch?
Posted by: Mosarf Brynmawr | June 8, 2007 9:14 AM
Yes, let's allow a select few men, or families, to control the news process - BRILLIANT!!!!
Posted by: zendrell | June 8, 2007 11:39 AM
Murdoch will improve the WSJ to such a magnificent pinnacle that the arrogant, "really, really spayshul" Times people will pull in their necks just in time to witness the sale of the NYT to the Penny Saver weekly.
Posted by: margaret | June 8, 2007 1:01 PM
"anyone else rooting for Murdoch?" How about the spoiled brats in the Bancroft family who care more about instant gratification than their families flagship, and who are pushing really hard for selling out to Murdoch?
Posted by: Seamus | June 8, 2007 3:05 PM
My imagery = my commentary
http://www.light-to-dark.com/murdochs_enslaved_red_states.html
http://www.light-to-dark.com/unanticipated_2.html
A friend of the current White House is no friend of America.
Posted by: Stephen Pitt | June 8, 2007 4:42 PM
Funny how the comediens at the NYTimes excluded the Murdoch-owned Times of London from their mock-up.
Posted by: Big Matty | June 8, 2007 5:19 PM
Murdoch has lied to every board that he took over. He will trash the Dow and the WSJ so that his financial newspaper called Murdoch will flourish.
If the family sells to Murdoch, that is the end of real financial news. He will turn it into Fox Noise (news). God help us!
Posted by: roxanne taylor | June 8, 2007 6:50 PM
It ain't funny! This is EXACTLY what Murdoch does when he takes over somebody's paper: runs the news hard to the right, and "tabloids" the hard news to the serious issues aren't taken seriously. The Bancrofts better think twice -- this is dancing with the devil.
Posted by: ArchiesBoy | June 8, 2007 6:57 PM
It ain't funny! This is EXACTLY what Murdoch does when he takes over somebody's paper: runs the news hard to the right, and then gives the hard news the tabloid treatment so the serious issues aren't taken seriously. The Bancrofts better think twice -- this is dancing with the devil.
Posted by: ArchiesBoy | June 8, 2007 6:58 PM
What is the problem with Murdoch, really? The New York Times is ruled by a prominent, zealous family with left-wing sympathies. The WSJ will be/is ruled by a prominent family with right-wing sympathies. Balance is preferable to dominance.
Posted by: longhairrepublicansurfer | June 8, 2007 7:34 PM
Murdoch will murder The New York Times with a combination of hard news and stories about the Paris Hiltons and Brad Pitts of the west. But the Brad Pitts and Paris Hiltons will almost certainly vote democrat. So, the lesson? Murdoch features all the idiocy of the privileged left to the delight of the voting right. Who cares if they watch - in this age who doesn't?
Posted by: Murdoch Madness | June 8, 2007 7:41 PM
As long as the reading public prefers candy to steak, Murdock and his ilk will survive and prosper. The Times may be leftish, but it's damn good writing and (mostly) good journalism. Murdock has made his money (lots) pandering to what people advise their kids not to waste their time on.
Posted by: Dick Brandlon | June 8, 2007 9:14 PM
celebrate mediocrity. sell quality to greed and who gives a damn about anything anymore. I am sure they will sell it to this thug without soul.
Posted by: aicon | June 8, 2007 10:13 PM
celebrate mediocrity. sell quality to greed and who gives a damn about anything anymore. I am sure they will sell it to this thug without soul.
Posted by: aicon | June 8, 2007 10:13 PM
And one other thing:
http://www.light-to-dark.com/ruperts_black_house.html
Did Murdoch need a U.S. citizenship to incorporate? Just a thought.
Posted by: Stephen Pitt | June 9, 2007 12:51 AM
Although the news section of the WSJ is outstanding, I was so disgusted with the WSJ's editorial apology for US based torture in Iraq that I canceled my subscription.
I don't see how Murdock can debase the editorial staff any further. If he debases the news section, as he probably will, the paper will decline and, hopefully, die.
Posted by: Hugh Loebner | June 9, 2007 6:26 AM
I haven't trusted Murdoch since he got all kissy about helping McGyver rescue his kid sister. I'm sad to see that he got older and turned from a reputable life as an arch-villain to a sad little man buying newspapers.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 9, 2007 9:16 AM
"What is the problem with Murdoch, really? The New York Times is ruled by a prominent, zealous family with left-wing sympathies. The WSJ will be/is ruled by a prominent family with right-wing sympathies. Balance is preferable to dominance."
Posted by: longhairrepublicansurfer
It's not about NYT being (as you think) "left wing" and WSJ being "right wing". It's about Murdoch controlling yet another piece of the media. There is no balance when dominated by the few.
Posted by: Shakey | June 9, 2007 4:04 PM
Talk about PUSH - PULL news media, if murdie gets this, the nation will be reading about celebs for breakfast, lunch & dinner. how's that go... "no news is bad news"
Posted by: duckingbigbrother | June 9, 2007 5:41 PM
there's always a kernel of truth in satire.
Posted by: phil shapiro | June 10, 2007 1:39 PM
Murdoch has a plan. And you can bet that plan revolves around manipulating the news just enough to maximize profits and to extend his power. If you are feed up with people like Murdoch don't watch or support any of his news holdings. Look what John Edwards started by boycotting the Fox sponsored Democratic debate. That includes Fox Sports, right?
Posted by: John D. Rockefeller | June 12, 2007 1:57 PM
As if the WaPo hasn`t dumbed down and tarted up [to coin a phrase] ITS front page . . .
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The comments to this entry are closed.
"We're pleased to know that people at The Times actually have a sense of humor."
How about: "We're pleased to know that people at The Times actually care about our plight."