'Journal' May Have 'Over-Corrected'
Murdoch's acquisition has irritated some investors — the Journal is now valued at half of its purchase price — but circulation is up and the company says the paper has returned to profitability, although News Corp. does not break down the figures.
Back in 2007, New York Times columnist Joe Nocera was among those who actively endorsed the takeover, saying the media mogul's deep pockets would protect the paper.
But now, in light of the scandal, Nocera has written a mea culpa.
"The Journal was turned into a propaganda vehicle for its owner's conservative views. That's half the definition of Fox-ification," he wrote. "The other half is that Murdoch's media outlets must shill for his business interests. With the News of the World scandal, the Journal has now shown itself willing to do that, too."
Several former Journal staffers interviewed by NPR pointed to news articles that referred to the "assault on business" by the Obama White House. But other current staffers, who spoke on condition they were not named, say such thumbprints are far fewer now than at first.
Ellison says the new editors from the U.K. brought The Times of London's conservative take on the American media.
"But they were correcting for what they perceived as a liberal bias," Ellison says. "I think that's something of a dangerous mission, and I think there were times when they over-corrected for that, no question."
http://www.npr.org/2011/07/22/138588497/how-has-wall-street-journal-fared-under-murdoch