A tour of PR blogs in search of comment or insight on the significance for media and public relations (joined-at-the-hip, as they are) of the Wall Street Journal’s purchase by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp … turned into a very quick tour, indeed! I was heartened to see Todd Defren take on the subject with his post, WSJ Sale to News Corp. – A Failure of Vision?, as well as Mark Rose’s Murdoch Grab Of Dow Jones PR Feat. To Todd and Mark, for having been so bold as to be the first to consider and comment, I say ‘Bravo!’
By contrast, it would appear that many other renowned blogging minds of public relations are too busy with tips, tech toys and visions of the social media future to simply pause for a moment, consider the significance of this landmark deal for the media landscape on which their livelihood presumably depends, and peck out at least one cogent reflection in even the most minimal of blog posts. Even if only to comment on the social networking aspect of the Murdoch empire — MySpace & Newsroo, for example — and how News Corp’s newest media platform might play into the mix.
To be fair, let’s assume that the dust has barely settled and most PR and media relations thinkers have not yet had time to consider what the Murdoch purchase of the Journal might mean to media in general. Let’s be kind and assume it’s not just that people who know they will have to pitch to the Journal in the future are out of expediency keeping their heads down and their opinions to themselves, perhaps wanting to avoid the lesson learned by one colleague who Twittered on the toes of Ziff Davis Media not long ago.
So, as an aid to those who are still considering what the WSJ-Murdoch deal means for the landscape of the media to which we all presumably relate (or, does ‘media relations’ mean we simply make our money off the media and then go home?), here are a couple of additional links that might help us all get started thinking:
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from Wired’s ‘Epicenter’ contributor Adario Strange.
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Washington Post’s Frank Ahrens considers changes in store.
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Gavin O’Malley comments on integrating media platforms.
Need more background material before posting on this? Try Google. Consider the implications for the media sea in which we all swim as PR professionals every day. And, good blogging!
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2 August, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Michael, thanks for the virtual wake up call…my thoughts are here:
http://www.engageinpr.com/?p=281
This is a hugely important topic, but for me goes way beyond Murdoch and DJ. It speaks to the need for most publications to consider the importance of how they are delivering information and adding interactivity into that delivery.
Looking forward to seeing the conversation continue and getting different viewpoints from folks.
Thanks again for the push.
/kff
2 August, 2007 at 4:39 pm
[...] a feed flame from Michael Tangeman and read his call-out on his blog. Firstly, I wanted to write about this earlier but got lost in [...]
2 August, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Check out the post by Todd Defren yesterday, very reasoned.
2 August, 2007 at 6:38 pm
As if there wasn’t enough said on this deal since it first popped May 1 (http://theflack.blogspot.com/2007/05/out-and-out.html)!
Actually, you’re right in observing how much room the deal’s closure leaves for comment from the PR community. The NY Times today had two stories worth expanding: the first was about Roger Ailes cozy relationship with candidate Giuliani (and Rudy’s corresponding top ranking in # of candidate appearances on Ailes’ Fox News Channel), and the second concerned the pressure the lawyers and investment bankers put on the Bancroft family to conssumate the deal (for fear of losing their sizable commissions). Conflict of interest?
Personally, I’m taken with the fate of the Dow Jones-CNBC content-sharing deal, which GE said would continue in a statement from July 31. It closed my post today (http://theflack.blogspot.com/2007/08/jules-bistro.html)
2 August, 2007 at 7:17 pm
I have been blogging about this for weeks on Strumpette and PR Blog News. It is a hugely significant event for anyone involved in media relations. The fact that we have tips and social media blah blah blah when this happens he sad fact that most “PR bloggers” do not practice PR and are not in the trenches pitching the press. I deal with Dow Jones wires and the Journal constantly. This is a life altering, once in a lifetime event if you are in media relations. What gives?
2 August, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Clearly this is a significant development, but am not sure quite what my views are for the impact on PR. On the one hand, we’ve seen some real issues over Murdoch re the UK media, but then he shows some vision about the future of online and social media which is equally valid and interesting.
Overall, I suppose that there is no such thing today as independent media with everyone having a commercial agenda – even our (increasingly not) so beloved BBC. We are generally seeing decreasing trust in the traditional media.
This indicates the much bigger issues that we need to consider in terms of media relations – unless you view PR as part of the power structure so increased commercialisation and potential bias may suit your clients’ interests.
Having said that, the early 19th century was dominated by “media barons” who sought to use control of publications to get over their viewpoints and influence politics and society. Maybe today with online, there are other options to present counter perspectives that weren’t available then.
I suppose only time will tell regarding the impact of this latest purchase. As PR practitioners, we are mere observers, I’m afraid.
3 August, 2007 at 12:30 am
Back when Jay Rosen called out PR bloggers for not attacking Ketchum over the Armstrong Williams debacle, Mike Manuel (author of the of Media Guerrilla blog) wrote, “Part of me is thinking what the f_ _ k, when did I sign up to become a PR industry watchdog? I didn’t get that memo.” I kinda feel that way now. I blog about what interests me and when I feel I have something worthwhile to say. I’m a blogger, not a journalist.
But as long as you ask, here’s my take on News Corp. acquiring the Wall Street Journal (and please understand that I’m no fan of Fox News or the various tabloids in the Murdoch stable):
News Corp. owns the London Times and has maintained a hands-off policy on editorial. Serious publications, it seems, get left alone. Tabloids get remolded into the Murdoch mold. I’m not going to get exercised about the Wall Street Journal acquisition until I see that there’s actually some kind of impact on editorial…at which time, I might very well blog about it. Until then, based on the London Times experience, I’m willing to watch and wait.
Same goes for integration of the WSJ with social media, the possibility of free online Journal content, and anything else about which we could speculate. I’d rather wait until it’s more than speculation, then comment on what the actual action means.
3 August, 2007 at 12:56 pm
[...] + Dow Jones…Horrible or the Horriblest?Got a feed flame from Michael Tangeman and read his call-out on his blog. Michael is right, this is an important topic that all PR [...]
4 August, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Check out the coverage I have given this on my PR/media relations blog: http://21stcenturymediarelations.com/tag/wall-street-journal/
6 August, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Murdoch, Dow Jones, High-Tech Stealth Submarines
But what do I think? Let’s just say I’m not going to join in the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of organic baked brie over whether The Wall Street Journal will get “Fox-ified”.
21 January, 2008 at 3:15 pm
[...] WEEK?S BEST KICK-IN-THE-BLOG | Murdoch, WSJ and the absence of PR opinion and insight by Michael Tangeman over at media mindshare. Mike noted that ?it would appear that many other [...]
21 January, 2008 at 3:35 pm
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21 January, 2008 at 4:28 pm
[...] WEEK�S BEST KICK-IN-THE-BLOG | Murdoch, WSJ and the absence of PR opinion and insight by Michael Tangeman over at media mindshare. Mike noted that �it would appear that many [...]
23 January, 2008 at 12:50 pm
[...] WEEK�S BEST KICK-IN-THE-BLOG | Murdoch, WSJ and the absence of PR opinion and insight by Michael Tangeman over at media mindshare. Mike noted that �it would appear that many [...]
23 January, 2008 at 1:27 pm
[...] WEEK�S BEST KICK-IN-THE-BLOG | Murdoch, WSJ and the absence of PR opiniin and insight by Michael Tangeman over at media mindshare. Mike noted that �it would appear that many [...]