Rupert Murdoch, the New York Times and the Future of American Journalism -- (Don't You Just Love Apocalyptic Headlines?)

In the current Atlantic, Mark Bowden discusses Rupert Murdoch and how his purchase of the Wall Street Journal will impact the New York Times. Bowden also addresses the broader issue about the future of American journalism -- that earnest brown-shoe, Scout's-honor version of journalism that came of age after World War II -- and what Murdoch means to it. After having worked at the Chicago Sun-Times when Murdoch bought it in 1983, and for years at Newsday which Murdoch nearly bought early this year -- I was all ears. He also pops up in my book about Si Newhouse, when the Australian-born media baron testified for the Conde Nast chieftain in his successful $1 billion tax case against the IRS.