My naivete knows no limits apparently. Each day I read The Wall Street Journal, paying special attention to the front page and the opinion and editorial pages. Each day I take note of the headlines and lead stories. I read the letters to the editor to take the pulse of readers for possible changes in opinions and moods. I look carefully at the editorial and opinion pieces for how they treat the breaking news. I have been at this for about a year now.
I understand that the Journal is conservative and principally a chronicle for the business community. I also understand that the editors have a responsibility to present the conservative side of things. No problem.
Like the poet Alexander Pope, however, my “hope springs eternal,” thinking that the Journal will just be plain honest in its reporting. No doubt, such an accusation will be blasphemous to devoted readers of the paper. Yes, they publish editorials and give opinions that criticize conservatives and Republicans. I know that. My complaint is every time they do, they feel compelled to point out the foibles and failures of the Democrats and others.
Just once I would like to see real condemnation of Republicans and conservatives for indefensible actions without reservations and comparisons of past misdeeds by the Democrats. Just once.
As I say, my naivete knows no limits!
JUST ONCE!
Still remember joining, as an outsider, 1981 Rupert Murdoch´s 50-year birthday party (smuggled in by a colleague at The Sunday Times) uppermost in The Sunday Times building in Gray´s Inn Road, London. He had just bought two prestigious London papers, The Times and the ST, the latter my university of journalism. (In those days an apprentice from a small country could have access, if his publisher was a founding member of the International Press Institute.) The party was also a celebration of the installation of the new editor of The Times, Harold Evans, former editor of the ST. The brilliant journalist Evans lasted only one year in that position and escaped afterwards to less demanding assignments in New York.
One of Murdoch´s aims might have been to quench the small but rising Social Democrat movement in GB by having a powerful press fist in his hands. It was one of his first major steps out of Australia. And, of course, he was loyal to The Queen.
At the party my wife commented Murdoch´s eyes. ”Pure steel”, she said.
The Wall Street Journal is owned by Rupert Murdoch.
Thanks Carl.. Your experience sounds wonderful as well as most enlightening. You were part of history in the making for the world of journalism and, I might add, politics. “Pure steel,” indeed, as has been proven. Thanks for sharing!