Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

Al Neuharth, the founder of the USA Today had a great opinion piece talking how from his viewpoint the bid by Rupert Murdoch for Dow Jones & Co. has become a joke. If you've been following my postings about the issue, you know I agree with that assessment.

Neuharth said if the deal goes through, "it will bring down the curtain on a three-month-long farce starring WSJ reporters, columnists, editors and executives."

He added that if were on Broadway rather than Wall Street, it would be the hit comedy of the season.

What was particularly scathing of the so-called business reporters, columnists, editors and executives at the Wall Street Journal, was his comments on how they basically went to fantasyland to try to create endless scenarios that might happen if Rupert Murdoch and News Corp. (NWS-A) ended up owning the company.

I said before that the responses by some people have been borderline psychotic and nutty. But when you get alleged serious business writers and editors responding in a way that shows they don't understand what business is even about, maybe it is far past time to clean that house out and get people in that do understand it.

As Neuharth said, the reason this should work out is because it makes business sense for everybody involved; and it does.

Even those executives in the company have said there probably would have already been layoffs if Murdoch hadn't made the bid for the company, basically forestalling them for the time being.

What you don't hear a lot about, is the response of some from the industry concerning the "editorial integrity" nonsense. In some quarters it's made a laughing stock of the WSJ.

For example, Neuharth quotes Ben Bradlee, former executive editor of The Washington Post, who said, "Either sell it or don't sell it ... The idea that an owner, whoever it is, has nothing to say about editorial? What the hell?"

In truth, if Murdoch does get Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal, it will be a much better publication than it is now, as Murdoch and his business is very savvy in the field.

As Neuharth finished with, the "WSJ staffers soon may learn more about news as they just have about business." I hope they have.

The goofy response by them and their network of colleagues across the media spectrum has shown why the industry is in the trouble it is.

Related Coverage:

Bancrofts Meeting Monday to Discuss Selling Dow Jones Co.

Dow Jones Negotiations Winding Down: Tentative Agreement to be Presented to Bancroft Family

Final Stages of Dow Jones Negotiations May Start this Week - Companies to Meet

Here we go again: Another Bancroft Panics Over Dow Jones Being Bought by Rupert Murdoch

Rupert Murdoch Sends Message will Start Business Channel with or without Dow Jones

Rupert Murdoch Bid for Dow Jones Already Saving Them Jobs

Dow Jones says Story about Completed Deal with Murdoch False

Wall Street Journal Editor Supports Dow Jones, News Corp. Agreement

New York Times Article says if Murdoch buys Wall Street Journal, Dark Day for American Democracy

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