How about Sean Hannity as editor of the New York Times op-ed page? Maybe O'Reilly and Cavuto in place of Dowd and Krugman as Times columnists? It might not be as far-fetched as it sounds. At least, not if Michael Wolff is right. The Vanity Fair media maven, appearing on CNBC this afternoon, not only said that Rupert Murdoch wants the Gray Lady, but predicted he would get her. [H/t Gat.]
View video here [via CNBC].
MICHAEL WOLFF: I think that everybody is looking at [the NYT] and waiting for it to kind of go over a brink, to run out of cash, which they're in the process of doing. Or to find itself in a situation where actually, and this is really the key thing, they go looking for a buyer.
A bit later, Wolff, author of a book on Murdoch, mentioned his name as a likely buyer . . .
WOLFF: I think Rupert Murdoch would love the New York Times. I mean that is finally the capper of his career. I think that's what he wants. I believe that's what he will get. But all that's true about the newspaper business, but you have to add to it price. At some price the New York Times becomes actually a very enviable buy. And we're getting to that price.
OK, to be serious for a moment, even if Murdoch were to acquire the Times, he would surely staff it with newspaper professionals, as he has done at the Wall Street Journal, not with FNC personalities. Still, the image of O'Reilly hitting the intercom, yelling "hey Krugman! Bring me another cup of coffee. And make sure it's hot this time!" is not without a certain appeal.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Live long enough . . .
December 11, 2008 - 16:50 ET by Gat New Yorkhe would surely staff it with newspaper professionals, as he has done at the Wall Street Journal
That is all I would hope for The New York Times to be the apex of professional news reporting organ and not Pravda.
→ Makes sense
December 11, 2008 - 16:53 ET by Cool ArrowThe NYT is already mortgaging its real assets. Probably so the big rat can bail.
NYT will go for a song. And Murdoch isn't afraid to publish quality.
Oh...
December 11, 2008 - 16:56 ET by moderncommentaries83I'm in grad school, and like most academia, 95% of my classmates and instructors are liberal. There is one student in my class who darn near had a stroke over Murdoch buying the WSJ and staffing it with...gasp!...conservatives. Never mind that they actually might, like, report the news...they're those eeeeevillll Republicans and how dare they own a business! Surely this will come up at tonight's class. SHE. WILL. LOSE. HER. MIND.
Many times I was told conservatives can't be journalists because we're closed-minded. Obviously, people throwing forth such arguments haven't read the editorial sections (or any section) of most liberally-biased newspapers.
If the Times can't manage itself, someone who can run a newspaper should. If that's Murdoch, so be it. I'm betting less left-wing reporting will help the Times, but then again, I'm one of those awful conservatives...
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
Modern
December 11, 2008 - 17:06 ET by littlemissmuffinYou deserve a medal for valor! Imagine being submerged into the liberal academia and being able to fend off their hypnotic views.
We conservatives are proud and happy to have you with us!!!
Also, best wishes on your grad studies. Tough, but very worthwhile.
"If we conservatives moved to those seven non-existent States, the government couldn’t find us and tax us to death!"
you're a minority! you better get special rights!
December 12, 2008 - 20:01 ET by UndercoverConservativeA conservative in journalism is a heck of a lot more rare than homosexuality these days, so you should be an even more protected minority!
too bad it don't work that way lol. But, at least you can work for Murdoch without violating your principles, and might even find yourself on a shorter list when he reorganizes!
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
"You spend your money anyway you want and respect other's rights to do the same"
Hey mc83... Keep up the
December 12, 2008 - 20:19 ET by bigtimerHey mc83...
Keep up the good fight...we need more of your stature in our world...obviously!
You give me hope for the future of this nation.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
how would the dnc get its
December 11, 2008 - 16:59 ET by smoto66how would the dnc get its talking points out? whos going to tell the libtarts who to vote for oh the humanity!
dnc talking points...
December 11, 2008 - 18:11 ET by ScrapironLosing that ability wouldn't hurt them as much as the congressional democrats losing the ability to leak National Security secrets to be published on the front page so they're friends, the terrorists, will get the information fast.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
I predict mass suicides
December 11, 2008 - 17:03 ET by Gary P JacksonI predict mass suicides should this happen.
→ Gary
December 11, 2008 - 17:05 ET by Cool ArrowWhat's the downside?
CA... LOL! "America
December 11, 2008 - 18:13 ET by bigtimerCA...
LOL!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Good point!
December 11, 2008 - 20:07 ET by MichelleCThere isn't one!
Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July. Democrats believe every day is April 15th ~ Ronald Reagan
NY Times Stock
December 11, 2008 - 17:03 ET by GothampcIsn't the NY Times stock divided up in an odd sort of way? I thought I had heard that the family owns one class of stock and therefore has control and won't let go. Does anyone remember what the situation is and how will Murdoch handle the transaction?
It is split into classes of
December 11, 2008 - 18:08 ET by Right2thePointIt is split into classes of stock with the family having senior voting rights.
It will take a buyout of some of the family members that have likely a requirement to give first right of refusal to the other family members.
The more likely situation is that the paper will be taken private by the family and liberal supporters when the price gets low enough to support a 2 cents on a dollar buy out.
The libs simply will not give up that major mouth piece.
They would merge with Pravda first ,even if it meant they would have to move to the right in that event.
Worse scenareo...
December 11, 2008 - 19:19 ET by mizflame98George Soros decides to buy the NY Times.
Perfect Demotivator for the Obama Administration
http://www.despair.com/government.html
→ Even better
December 11, 2008 - 19:23 ET by Cool ArrowBut Organ Grinder Soros would just turn it into a cheaper version of GRIT. Then Murdoch could buy what's left after the implosion if he was still interested.
GRIT
December 12, 2008 - 01:25 ET by casel21Wow. I haven't seen or thought about GRIT in decades. I guess they're still in business but they apparently don't publish anything online other than subscription form.
I heard Soros being interviewed once. He is one of the stupidest persons in public life I've ever heard. It's amazing how people equate wealth with intelligence.
OMG! ROFLMAO...this
December 11, 2008 - 17:06 ET by bigtimerOMG!
ROFLMAO...this scenario is too delicious!
Thank you Mark for some grins this afternoon....this is just too much fun.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I hope he rebrands it as The
December 11, 2008 - 17:18 ET by SickofLibsI hope he rebrands it as The New New York Times.
The Colonial Times
December 11, 2008 - 23:46 ET by CobraManI'd prefer the Colonial Times.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
No way!
December 11, 2008 - 17:23 ET by Wilbur747This can't happen!
How are Osama, Omar, Achmed and his 'freedom fighters' going to get their intel on our military operations?
I guess they'll just have to read the LA Times.
EMail...
December 11, 2008 - 18:15 ET by ScrapironThe democrats in congress will have to send the National Security Secrets by EMail and cut out the middle man (the NYSlimes). I've been ready for a massive amount of lynching's for a while, maybe banruptcy of the NYSlimes will satisfy that urge for a while.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
First to complain will be bin Laden and Putin
December 11, 2008 - 17:31 ET by Cape ConservativeYou can bet the nation's top level secrets will no longer be published if Mr. Murdoch takes over. Thank you, sir!
Sorry, guys...guess it will be back to the raincoats - or, darn it, I think you've got this internet thingy pretty well figured out and can hack into just about anywhere your little hearts desire.
A PROUD member of the Oogedy Boogedy branch of the GOP!
This would be hilarious!!!!
December 11, 2008 - 18:03 ET by c5thenI bet in a couple of years after Murdock hypothetically takes over the NYT, New York City and it's surrounds will become 'red'. This could have HUGE consequences for future elections.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
Alan Keyes / Sarah Palin - 2012
Anyone know what Murdoch's
December 11, 2008 - 18:19 ET by Richard RomanoAnyone know what Murdoch's net worth is?
NYT stock closed at 7.38
December 11, 2008 - 18:24 ET by pocomocoNYT stock closed at 7.38 today. Murdoch is waiting for it to go below a dollar, which should be sometime in 2009.
What a breath of fresh air it will be after decades of sounding like Pravda and Izvestia.
Castro and Chavez must be crying in their Tequila right now.
It'll never happen - the
December 11, 2008 - 18:34 ET by Chris NormanIt'll never happen - the liberals will have the NYT declared a "national liberal treasure" or monument or park and force it's liberalism to be preserved or something...
Well, Rupert Murdoch is much
December 11, 2008 - 18:35 ET by andophiroxiaWell, Rupert Murdoch is much more aware of his audience and at least has a healthy respect for them in that regard. He's even lectured as posted earlier that newspapers and magazines have "dug themselves a hole" in regards to their opinionated and condescending crap.
He should know he does Fox News. It's more fair and organized than MSNBC or any of the other news media outlets out there. I think he's probably dedicated to more of an idea to inform rather to sensationalize---or at least he knows that treating your customers was retards does not sit well with them--hence, circulation drop.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~ Winston Churchill
Murdoch buying the NY
December 11, 2008 - 18:39 ET by midnight cowboyMurdoch buying the NY Times!!!???
Oh please, please, please. That would be awesome. The libs would have their hands tied trying to impose a fairness doctrine on news print.
There are some prime pickins out there for some conservative media operatives. With the alphabet networks tanking they could be bought for a song.
The CBS Evening News with Laura Ingram.
I like the sound of it.
Funny Pages...
December 11, 2008 - 18:58 ET by owr084Maybe then Murdoch could add some real comic pages to the paper. You know, the type with pictures and not the editorial pages.
Right now, the only funny pages in the ny times are the editorial pages, which given the bias of every reporter, means every page in the paper...
Bill O'Reilly as...
December 11, 2008 - 19:07 ET by mizflame98...J. Jonah Jamenson. Yeah, I can see it.
Perfect Demotivator for the Obama Administration
http://www.despair.com/government.html
For that matter . . . .
December 11, 2008 - 19:46 ET by DoktorFranken. . . . they can replace Dowd with a wine-soaked whore. Who would notice?
this will never happen! when
December 11, 2008 - 20:25 ET by smoto66this will never happen! when and if they start to go belly up pelosie and reid will hold a meeting and declare if the imes goes bankrupt the whole county will explode and grant them a 700billon bailout.
New York Times
December 11, 2008 - 21:12 ET by ConLosRepublicanosNoI hope he gets the gray lady; maybe we can get actual news and not ideologues pushing their convictions as fact.
..or at least half and
December 11, 2008 - 21:29 ET by bigtimer..or at least half and half..you know...kinda like the Fairness Doctrine the left want to imply, unless it includes them of course....
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
This would be a dream come true
December 11, 2008 - 21:26 ET by RovinAs a kid delivering around a 100 San Francisco Chronicles every morning in Sacramento, I rarely had the time for look at the content. Later in life I realized that even in the sixties I was distributing some of the most liberal propaganda on the west coast. If it wasn't for the class of Herb Caen and the sports pages, the paper was mostly bird cage material. The Sacramento Union was our only "rebuttle" to the rest of the left.
Having the New York Times return to the "good ol' days" when the Grey Lady had some semblance of respectability would not only drive the liberals crazy, the spigot of solipsism could be turned off.
Rovin
Look for an addition to the Fairness Doctrine
December 11, 2008 - 23:50 ET by CobraManIf Murdoch does accuire the NYT, you can bet that there will be even more calls for the Fairness Doctrine, with an amendment for "conservative newspapers" added as an additional bonus.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
Prospect
December 12, 2008 - 10:26 ET by AeroSpearI'm excited about this prospect because he'll bring the paper back to a balanced view. He knows that is what the people want and need, just like he is now taking Fox News more to the right; because his audience wants it.
I don't think he would make that paper right leaning, he would just balance it out.
The only paper I will read is
December 12, 2008 - 17:34 ET by thebutlerdiditWSJ. I would love Murdoch to take over the Slimes. I think we should give it a real fun name like VRWC Daily. Then just tell the libs it stands for something innoculous. I would love to see Ann Coulter take over Dowd's spot, and Michelle Malkin can do Gail Collins spot. At least then we could see the author pics w/o throwing up. I think we should all innundate Murdoch with messages that we will support this venture 100%.
this is the perfect time
December 12, 2008 - 19:58 ET by UndercoverConservativefor this to truly work, Murdoch needs to purge management and "reporters" and the culture of corruption at NYT.
So he does what other companies are doing now-"lay off" a thousand or ten of the problem people. Claim it's due to "the economy". Line up for bailout cash.
Then put in some actual unbiased people. Or failing that, biased *towards* America and her culture instead.
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
"You spend your money anyway you want and respect other's rights to do the same"