Murdoch's hands-on style

You know as I was reading through the comments on the previous Murdoch post, I was begin to wonder Justin is what is your actual opinion. If Murdoch came along and bought up Time how would you react? There's always the business perspective, we know you have a great deal to say about that. But as a writer, how does it make you feel if someone who clearly intervenes in the content and editorial tone of his publications, came and bought the publication you worked for?

Umm, yeah. I wouldn't be thrilled. But I'd still prefer it to seeing my employer bought by some purely financial type interested only in getting costs down.

"Umm, yeah. I wouldn't be thrilled. But I'd still prefer it to seeing my employer bought by some purely financial type interested only in getting costs down."

lets not forget that Murdoch screwed the union employees of The Times of London in order to reduce his costs....

Sure, Murdoch is willing to lose money on some of his properties --- as long as they are towing the ideological line. (Of course, hacks like Stengal wouldn't have to worry about their jobs, and you wouldn't either -- as long as you molded your opinions to Murdochs)

"Umm, yeah. I wouldn't be thrilled. But I'd still prefer it to seeing my employer bought by some purely financial type interested only in getting costs down."

To me, this sounds like you are saying, "I'd rather have a job writing half-truths than not have a job writing."

I don't think it is what you meant.

On the one hand, I could see why someone at a movie or music company would be happy to accept some input from the new boss in exchange for healthy production budgets. Even with bad suggestions, the bigger budgets could make a better product than a "pure" product on a small budget.

On the other hand, in a news org, what kind of input might be given. If I may wag my tongue a bit, I'd rather be on Earth with the rest of us than some other planet with Murdoch, even if I get my own separate continent.

Well, let me tell you about how Rupert Murdoch singlehandedly destroyed one of life's greatest pleasures: ribald, passionate, full-bodied Dodger-hating.

Yeah old Rupert forayed into baseball-owning back in the late 90's when there were still Dodger-lovers and Dodger-haters. We were Dodger-haters, despite all else which divided the fam-ileeee we always had that to bind us together... So Rupert set about firing all the competence, destroying the farm system, firing farm managers left and right (Including Mike Scioscia, who finally, FINALLY after 40 miserable years led the Angels to their only WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP) signing mediocrities to huge contracts and the optioning of some of the beloveds, Piazza et al. Hmmmmp.

Anyway, all that firing and meddling in baseball (hey! you can't meddle with BASEBALL!) the Dodgers became sooooo pathetic that it was impossible to hate them any longer. You had to feel bad for the sorry state of the organization, kind of like a long-running train wreck, one pathetic mediocrity stepping up to the plate and onto the mound while Rupert kinda lost interest. Hell, they even alienated Sandy Koufax fer crissake! NOT a better pitcher than Nolan Ryan, sorry! Let me take you to the record books to disabuse you of that idea. But, you kind of had to feel sorry for the losers.

So Justin, what makes you think you'd be spared under the management of a Rupert Murdoch?