Go to the online Wall Street Journal and (if you're a subscriber) click on the top story. The scoop (right now it's the immigration bill) is being brought to you by the Associated Press.Why? According to a message posted on Poynter Online and released by the Newspaper Guild, the entire U.S. reporting staff of the Wall Street Journal is staging a walk-out (or a not-show-up, I guess). "The Wall Street Journal's long tradition of independence, which has been the hallmark of our news coverage for decades, is threatened today. We, along with hundreds of other Dow Jones employees represented by the Independent Association of Publishers' Employees, want to demonstrate our conviction that the Journal's editorial integrity depends on an owner committed to journalistic independence," they write.
Wall Street Journal parent Dow Jones & Company Inc (NYSE: DJ) is close to closing a deal with rowdy potential daddy News Corporation (NYSE: NWS). The reporters are evidently worried about being handed pink slips when the deal goes through; they say this step is a reminder to "Dow Jones management that the quality of its publications depends on a top-quality professional staff." They'll be back at their desks this afternoon.
I guess a real news hound can't stand missing a whole day's worth of news. Interestingly, the bloggers are still on duty, though it appears my most-read, David Gaffen, is on vacation this week.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-28-2007 @ 12:18PM
Virginia said...
If Murdoch buys Wall Street Journal - it is over for free press. It will be a new form of knowledge is power and the only knowledge that will sink to the consumer is that which benefits Murdoch and his elite wealthy friends.
We have reached a frightening point in the world. One world view of imposed upon Darwinian consumerism. We buy, en masse, the propaganda views that are brainwashed into our collective consciousness.
So far, the Fox network has brought us faith based creationism vs. scientific fact, unreal reality shows based upon hyper sexual stimulation, and win by any means necessary politics.
An Australian is destroying America by owning it's "free" press.
What price is freedom?
I, for one, am glad that the reporters are taking a stand. Unfortunately, the spin will create the image of truth and another great lie will be imposed upon freedom.
6-28-2007 @ 2:42PM
Jim Sullivan said...
I agree with Virginia's 6/28/2007 post about Robert Murdoch. These days so many of the media outlets are owned by corporations which censor what the media can report. The WSJ is an independent paper with excellent, unbiased content. Don't sacrifice this great reputation by selling to Rupert Murdoch or any other media owner who introduces political/economic bias into the media.
Jim Sullivan, Ventura, CA
6-28-2007 @ 4:29PM
kbstevens said...
The take over of the wall street is an out rage. the realist view of what business is, not just here in the u.s but globaly, will most likely be tanted with murdock's own view of what should and what should not be publised. this take over will most likely make the man even richer, like he needs more cash. i'm just a little guy trying to increase my my savings and the wall street journal is the best info that i have and trust. K
6-28-2007 @ 4:58PM
Ron Thornton said...
The wall Street Journal is by far, the best NEWspaper in the World. The reason is this: Just plain excellent reporting. You get the best news on business,,products, stocks, advertising, health,aviation, wholesale/retail, the list is long. With News Corp trying to buy the WSJ, the information format that has been a WSJ trademark for a century, will for sure change.
I call on the bancroft family to break off talks with News Corp, and continue what the WSJ has provided millions for their readers, great independent journalism.
The world Needs the WSJ to continue the way it reports the news.
6-28-2007 @ 5:18PM
gshort3011 said...
This has become the most corrupt period in our history, all thanks to the corporate Nazis like Murdoch and our lame educational system. America died a long time ago folks. We actually live in a police state with a one party system, completely controlled by corporations that run the national media. But who cares, so long as Paris Hilton is out of jail and Oprah has gained a few pounds.
6-28-2007 @ 5:32PM
Poncho said...
You guys are crazy mon. Fox News is the No. 1 news network in the world!!! They have more people watching them then any one of the liberal network's like ABC, NBC & CBS that are filtering the news to only what they think we need to know instead of telling us the whole truth about everything.
6-28-2007 @ 6:04PM
Irene said...
The take over of the WSJ by Murdoch would be a sad day for our "free press". His cable news Fox News is nothing but a means to push his agenda. Murdoch is on tape as stating he tried to influence the U.S. in going to war with Iraq. It is a very scary notion that he would take over the WSJ and Dow Jones.
6-28-2007 @ 6:17PM
SW said...
Well done reporters!
Im glad they had the guts to voice their opinion over this matter. Its good to know we still have Americans willing to stand up for the belief of free press. Not willing to write, nor report on tacky, biased entertainment.
6-29-2007 @ 2:31AM
Gramma Nadya Rossi said...
Huzzas for the brave, principled staff of the WSJ, but I suspect Murdoch will have his way. We are living in perilous times. With Dick Cheney and Rupert Murdoch alive and well (and wielding tremendous power,) we need a free press more than ever.
6-28-2007 @ 10:27PM
PETER M. said...
THERE WAS A LAW IN AMERICA PROHIBITING CROSS OWNERSHIP OF TELEVISION AND NEWSPAPER COMPANIES IN THE SAME MARKET.THE INTENT WAS TO PREVENT "INFO ONE SPEAK", AN INFORMATION BARON CONTROLLING ALL THE INFORMATION OUTLETS.WE CAN THANK THE JERKS IN WASHINGTON FOR DELIBERATELY CHANGING THIS LAW TO ACCOMODATE MURDOCH'S PURCHASE OF FOX TV NETWORK AFTER PURCHASING THE NEW YORK POST.DO WE WANT THE WALL STREET JOURNAL RESEMBLING THE POST? I DON'T.
6-28-2007 @ 10:24PM
Steve J. said...
"WE CAN THANK THE JERKS IN WASHINGTON FOR DELIBERATELY CHANGING THIS LAW TO ACCOMODATE MURDOCH'S PURCHASE OF FOX TV NETWORK AFTER PURCHASING THE NEW YORK POST."
Just for the record, the jerks you refer to would be Newt Gingrich and the GOP.
6-29-2007 @ 12:20AM
Robert Byngham said...
The only "independence" they're worried about is their ability to continue a tradition of political bias in their reporting and they realise if News Corp takes over the publication will become more balanced. In the end it's nothing more than a political stunt attempting to harm the reputation of News Corp but they fail to realise that there is a reason that Fox News Channel garners huge ratings while all the left biased news outlets (ABC, NBC, CBS, major newspapers, all the left-wing cable news) have horrid ratings and are losing viewers, or losing subscribers daily. The left is going nuts over the fact that they no longer have a stranglehold on the media, attempts by Democrats to revive the "Fairness Doctrine" is a perfect example of their meltdown.
6-29-2007 @ 12:26AM
Marcia said...
Gee, it's a free market, is it not? If Murdoch takes over the paper, so what. If the reporters don't like it they can leave. There are plenty of others waiting to take their place. They - nor anyone else anywhere - are dispensable, not indispensable. It might be interesting to see where the paper goes with new reporters.
6-29-2007 @ 5:07PM
Richard Lombardo said...
My take on this stupid walkout is this. Don't let the door hit you in the butt. This is how these elites think: They think that their opinion is the only opinion that matters. Thank God for Mr. Murdoch and Fox News. The lefties don't like it when the real truth is told in an unbiased manner. No slant, no hyperbole, no bullsh**. If it weren't for talk radio and Fox News, amnesty would be in effect and our country would be down the drain. Of course we all know that the left is associated, if not with, then part and parcel with the communist party. They just don't realize it. They think they are Americans. They wouldn't know a real American if one bit one in their butt.It would have been better if Rupert had bought the N Y Times!!
6-29-2007 @ 3:31PM
bob kelton said...
Fixed News is not the largest outlet for news. They have about 20% of the ratings that each of the big 3 have. ( I million as opposed to 5 million + for each of the big 3)Their ratings are also dropping Down 17% this year. Seems the Republican revolution is over!!!
6-29-2007 @ 4:48PM
Sam K Adkins said...
I think it is wonderful that Murdoch reflects our free enterprise system. Buying the WSJ could usher in a fresh new look in print journalism. I hope he makes the purchase.
6-29-2007 @ 6:34PM
Dan Dewes said...
You can always write to your congressman, or Senator. Good luck!!
6-29-2007 @ 9:33PM
charle said...
THE POST IS A RAUCHY CESSPOOL OF A NEWSPAPER.IT MAKES ONE THINK THAT ALL OF HUMANITY IS GOING TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET.MURDOCK WILL MOST LIKELY GET THE WALL STREET JOURNAL BECAUSE HE WILL PLAY INTO THE GREED OF THE BANCROFT FAMILY. HE WILL THEN CONTROL YET ANOTHER PUBLICATION BY WHICH HE CAN PROMOTE HIS AGENDA.BUT TAKE HEART.ONE DAY HE WILL FADE INTO HISTORY AND MAYBE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT TRUTH LOOKS LIKE WILL TAKE OVER AGAIN.AFTER ALL HE LOOKS VERY VERY OLD THESE DAYS.MONEY AND POWER CAN REALLY BE STRESSFUL FOR A MORTAL BEING,BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO WAY TO TRANSFER IT INTO ETERNAL CURRENCY.
7-02-2007 @ 11:50AM
Owen Bernard said...
This is a family feud of an historic proportion and worst of it all is that there marriage has evolved into a sibling rivalry from competing industrial points. Rather than protect the family nest egg the Barron's of the media world chose to discredit or rather take a play on the newly defined terms in "media monopoly" from within family business.
Approaching the technology age of which we are just now entering with some definitive leaps. It can be said that media can attack each other from a variety of directions and you'll never know for sure who is hedging the attacks, making the "family feud" a free for all in the media wars.
What's the future of this feud well if you have one foreign investor then you can best be assured that there are two more looking through long scopes at the falling family invaders.
The critical point is where are the Security and Exchange Commissioners? There are a number of improprieties that have been transacting and I am not so willing to not invest my intellectual and advisory skill and forgo the financial fall from the restructuring that I can beneficaly stabalize. If it is that the commissioners are silently collecting their portion of the trust then I can certainly feel proud for asking for a SEC clearance that I can establish my own trust.
While on the subject of trust, I do trust that the Buffett transaction do not take lightly the jeopardizing effect that the family fortune can take with Buffett recent callous suggestion on how to parlay the American public investment into the annual revenues that the corporations hold.
I'm looking for MOORE so sue me if I'm wrong but there is no case that the judges have to sleep on to decide, much less the SEC.
7-03-2007 @ 6:37PM
Owen Bernard said...
This is a family feud of an historic proportion and worst of it all is that there marriage has evolved into a sibling rivalry from competing industrial points. Rather than protect the family nest egg the Barron's of the media world chose to discredit or rather take a play on the newly defined terms in "media monopoly" from within family business.
Approaching the technology age of which we are just now entering with some definitive leaps. It can be said that media can attack each other from a variety of directions and you'll never know for sure who is hedging the attacks, making the "family feud" a free for all in the media wars.
What's the future of this feud well if you have one foreign investor then you can best be assured that there are two more looking through long scopes at the falling family invaders.
The critical point is where are the Security and Exchange Commissioners? There are a number of improprieties that have been transacting and I am not so willing to not invest my intellectual and advisory skill and forgo the financial fall from the restructuring that I can beneficaly stabalize. If it is that the commissioners are silently collecting their portion of the trust then I can certainly feel proud for asking for a SEC clearance that I can establish my own trust.
While on the subject of trust, I do trust that the Buffett transaction do not take lightly the jeopardizing effect that the family fortune can take with Buffett recent callous suggestion on how to parlay the American public investment into the annual revenues that the corporations hold.
I'm looking for MOORE so sue me if I'm wrong but there is no case that the judges have to sleep on to decide, much less the SEC.