Former Dow Jones employee believes Murdoch will change WSJ

Eric Conrad, the executive editor of the Kennebec Journal and the Morning Sentinel in Maine, writes Monday that he believes that News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch will change The Wall Street Journal if he is successful in acquiring its parent company, Dow Jones & Co.

Conrad previously worked at one of the Dow Jones community newspapers.

He wrote, “Many analysts say that’s exactly why Murdoch is so interested in Dow Jones: He sees those pre-eminent business publications, Internet and television outlets as exactly what he needs to keep expanding News Corp.’s influence and advertiser appeal.

“So, even if Murdoch agrees not to meddle in daily news operations, and even if he agrees to keep top editors and executives on board, he can change so many larger things that every Dow Jones employee, from the top on down, will feel a profound difference.

“Will they like Murdoch’s changes? Maybe. Will they stick around or be kept on if they don’t like where the new company is heading? Probably not.”

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