News Corp. agrees to amendments for WSJ special committee

A report from the committee created last year to protect The Wall Street Journal‘s editorial independence says that its News Corp. owners have agreed to some amendments to strengthen its position.

The report, posted on The Journal’s web site, states, “Among other things, the amendments make clear that whatever their titles, the individuals who make the key news and editorial decisions at The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires will continue to fall within the provisions of the agreement. The amendments explicitly require timely notification of potential changes and Committee approval before actions are taken that might lead to removal of those who carry out the functions of the managing editor or the editor of the editorial page of the Journal.

“As contemplated in the original agreement, the managing editor of the Newswires will now report to the managing editor of the Journal, but a further amendment to the agreement provides that the top editor at the Newswires can still appeal disputes regarding ethical issues to the Committee.

“Balanced against the single recent episode is Mr. Thomson’s history of independence in editorial decision-making at the Times of London and before. We are aware of no evidence to the contrary.”

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