It's WSJ vs. NYPost on Wall Street

Verena Dobnik of The Associated Press went to Wall Street on Friday to gauge the reaction of readers about the possibility that The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post would be owned by the same company if News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch was allowed to buy Dow Jones & Co.

Dobnik wrote, “The news that Rupert Murdoch has moved a step closer toward buying The Wall Street Journal drew a range of reactions among Wall Street power brokers. Some say it’s a bad thing, while others say that this is capitalism — you have to do what’s best for the business.”

Later, she added, “But at least one person on Wall Street believes the Post has something to teach the stalwart Journal.

“‘If Murdoch can do for the Journal what he’s done for the Post, he’d be doing a great thing,’ said Bob Dolin, who has worked for 27 years in his family newspaper stand on Wall Street, a few steps from the exchange.

“‘The Post has a very good variety of writers, plus sports and interesting articles. The whole format makes it very desirable,’ said Dolin, standing behind a display of Friday’s Post, its front page touting a woman allegedly seen with Yankees star Alex Rodriguez — not his wife.

“Dolin doesn’t sell the Journal any more. The truck driver who delivers it refuses to walk the papers from the Wall Street corner where his truck stops to Dolin’s stand.”

Read more here.