MEDIA’S ATTACK ON MURDOCH’S JOURNAL BID

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 7, 2007

CONTACT: TIM SCHEIDERER OR COLLEEN O’BOYLE AT 703.683.5004

MEDIA’S ATTACK ON
MURDOCH’S JOURNAL BID
Just Liberal Sour Grapes

ALEXANDRIA, VA – How dare a successful conservative businessman actually try to buy a major newspaper? That’s the attitude many journalists have taken about Rupert Murdoch’s bid to buy The Wall Street Journal. The media, including the union representing many reporters and editors at the Journal, have openly opposed Murdoch calling him a “meddler” and questioned his “editorial integrity.”

The Journal’s union, IAPE Local 1096 of the Newspaper Guild Communications Workers of America, even recruited left-wing billionaires to come up with other bids for the paper. Clinton ally Ron Burkle is one of what the union calls “billionaires with integrity” and is working directly with them on a bid. Berkshire Hathaway Chief Executive Warren E. Buffett is another of the elitist left the union would consider acceptable.

Concerning the mainstream media’s open opposition to conservatives owning a major newspaper, MRC President Brent Bozell issued the following statement:

“The left-wing biases of the media are never as obvious as when they think conservatives might invade their exclusive club. By rejecting the bid from one of the most successful media businessmen in the world, journalists are showing they have no tolerance for diversity of opinion. This is just another example of the media’s outlandish double standard when it comes to political beliefs that differ from their own left-wing views.

“The real story here is one of a declining industry fighting desperately to salvage the failed liberal mindset that runs much of American journalism. The media dare to criticize Murdoch and Fox News when they have long forgotten how to present the news in a fair and balanced way. ”

“What journalists have been reluctant to report is how selfish they are being by jeopardizing more than $1 billion in profits for investors who have stood by the Journal despite its poor stock performance,” added Dan Gainor, the director of the MRC’s Business & Media Institute.

To schedule an interview with MRC President Bozell or an MRC spokesperson, please contact Tim Scheiderer (x. 126) or Colleen O’Boyle (x. 122) at 703.683.5004.