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09 Nov 2009 09:59

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Biz: Rupert Murdoch: We’re gonna drop Google from our papers’ sites

  • News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch is ready drop Google, based on this interview. (It’s long but the meat of what we care about is right at the beginning.) However, as paidContent points out, he doesn’t completely understand how the Wall Street Journal uses Google to promote stories even with its pay wall. (Instead of just getting chunks of stories, you get the first couple free, then get blocked.) Regarding the evolution of newspapers to paid content, Murdoch says, “Everyone can afford a newspaper. They’re the cheapest things in the world and what you get out of it is fabulous. And it will be even cheaper when you get it electronically.” We hope so, Rupe.source

18 Oct 2009 23:23

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Politics: Max Headroom: More on the White House’s war against Fox News

  • “Chicago-style”? On Fox News, Bush-era White House strategist Karl Rove suggests that the Obama administration is carrying around an enemies list and is full of Chicago-style politicians. Is that kinda like Chicago-style pizza, Karl? That sounds tasty.

  • “Chicago-style”? On Fox News, Bush-era White House strategist Karl Rove suggests that the Obama administration is carrying around an enemies list and is full of Chicago-style politicians. Is that kinda like Chicago-style pizza, Karl? That sounds tasty.

  • Axelrod’s grinding ax White House strategist David Axelrod continues Anita Dunn’s strategy of trashing on the news value of Fox News. We think that this strategy has a lot of holes in it. And it’s making Rupert Murdoch more money.

  • “Chicago-style”? On Fox News, Bush-era White House strategist Karl Rove suggests that the Obama administration is carrying around an enemies list and is full of Chicago-style politicians. Is that kinda like Chicago-style pizza, Karl? That sounds tasty.

  • Axelrod’s grinding ax White House strategist David Axelrod continues Anita Dunn’s strategy of trashing on the news value of Fox News. We think that this strategy has a lot of holes in it. And it’s making Rupert Murdoch more money.

  • Insuring criticism Republican senator John Kyl may regret saying this. When tackling the Afghan war versus the cost of health care on “Meet the Press,” he says that the uninsured won’t die from the lack of insurance. Yeah man, whatever.

09 Oct 2009 12:30

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Biz: Dear Associated Press: Our boycott of you is still freaking on

  • We content creators have been too slow to react to the free exploitation of news by third parties without input or permission.
  • Associated Press Chief Executive Tom Curley • Discussing the idea of charging search engines money for finding their content. Rupert Murdoch of News Corp. is also on board. May we just say, as the Associated Press looks to screw over the entire Internet with its greed and lack of foresight, we would like to welcome our new Reuters overlords. (In case you’re wondering: We’re going to continue to post stuff from News Corp., because, come on, Glenn Beck!) • source

08 Oct 2009 08:45

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Biz: Rupert Murdoch: An old guy who wants to screw over new media?

  • Murdoch, at 78, doesn’t, practically speaking, have the time to see the online world into maturity—nor the intellectual interest to want to be part of the effort. Rather, his strategic effort may more logically be to slow it down.
  • Vanity Fair columnist and Newser co-founder Michael Wolff • Discussing Rupert Murdoch’s stance on online media and forcing consumers to pay for the news. Wolff suggests that Murdoch is old and probably isn’t thinking long-term about the industry at the moment, but short-term at his bank account. Murdoch owns enough of the media industry that people would notice if he started charging for some of it. • source

30 Aug 2009 11:47

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Biz: News Corp.: The BBC’s “free news” model is hurting us

  • It is essential for the future of independent digital journalism that a fair price can be charged for news to people who value it.
  • News Corp. European chairman James Murdoch • Making an argument critical of the BBC, a state-sponsored news source which he says is damaging the business models of free-market journalism. Beyond the fact that the news organization is “dominant,” he specifically has an issue with the fact that they won’t be charging for their content online. Our response to Rupert’s son? Stop whining and improve your content. While remaining independent editorially, the BBC’s news is often of a higher quality than yours, which makes it easier for us to decide what to read online. • source

07 Aug 2009 17:29

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Biz, Tech: Reuters exec: Please link to us and let us steal AP’s thunder!

  • I believe in the link economy. Please feel free to link to our stories — it adds value to all producers of content. I believe you should play fair and encourage your readers to read-around to what others are producing if you use it and find it interesting.
  • Thomson Reuters President of Media Chris Ahearn • Providing a breath of fresh air in the whole journalism-linking debate, which AP stoked the fires of over the last few weeks and Rupert Murdoch may continue to light up down the road. Ahern’s attitude towards the situation is a total breath of fresh air and makes us optimistic that some wire services totally get this new media thing. • source

06 Aug 2009 11:10

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Biz: Rupert Murdoch is talking about charging for content, too

  • He has slightly more sense about it than AP, though. Murdoch, smarting from huge declines in News Corp. this quarter, wants to start charging for all of his news products within the next year. But rather than simply a blanket “let’s screw everyone” approach (though he’s saying that, too, suggesting “furious litigation”), he wants to do it by differentiating the content of his products from what you can get for free. He should have an easy time with that, as his products tend to break a lot of big stories, especially when it comes to celebrity news. Still, though … don’t just close the doors, man. Figure out ways to let the outside world in. source
 

11 Jul 2009 11:33

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Biz: You should probably refer to some media moguls as “Grandpa”

  • 86 age of Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone source

28 Apr 2009 08:38

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Culture, U.S.: Fox officially thinks Tim Roth is more important than Obama

  • For Obama’s address tomorrow night, Fox has waved its middle finger in the air and decided to ignore the address, choosing instead to go with the Tim Roth drama “Lie to Me.” Some will say Rupert Murdoch has political reasons for this, but we think he’s just a prick. source

06 Apr 2009 10:21

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Culture: Famous last words for Fox News movie scribe Roger Friedman

  • It took really less than seconds to start playing it all right onto my computer.
  • Roger Friedman • Fox News entertainment columnist, in a mini-review of the leaked version of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” the film being released by 20th Century Fox. Uber-boss Rupert Murdoch saw the review, apparently was livid and Fox News promptly fired Friedman. Good job, goober. • source