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Journal Deal Raises Red Flag With FCC

Commission member asks if deal serves public interest

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 26, 2007 1:47 PM CDT

(Newser) – FCC commissioner Michael Copps would like to toss a monkey wrench into News Corp.’s Dow Jones takeover, Broadcasting & Cable reports. Copps, a Democrat, yesterday called for an inquiry to determine whether the deal suits the public interest and whether current rules sufficiently cover the situation. Chairman Kevin Martin would need to open the inquiry.

The deal would give News Corp. two New York newspapers and TV stations. Companies aren’t allowed to own a newspaper and network in the same market, but as a national paper the Journal is exempt from that rule, which Martin is considering scrapping. Copps argues the commission should still “consider the public-interest implications for localism, diversity and competition.”

The Dow Jones news ticker is shown Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007 in New York's Times Square. Rupert Murdoch has sealed a deal to buy Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones & Co. for $5 billion, ending a century... (Associated Press)

The Wall Street Journal will soon be owned by Rupert Murdoch, unless FCC regulators step in. (Getty Images)

News Corp. Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch listens to a question during a news conference following the News Corp. annual meeting, Friday, Oct. 19, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (Associated Press)

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Journal Deal Raises Red Flag With FCC

Commission member asks if deal serves public interest

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News Corp Inches Closer to US Bribery Probe

Saturday's arrests mark 'an escalation in the risk,' reports the 'Guardian'

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Another Rupert Murdoch newspaper being probed, says lawmaker

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@wendi_deng is not actually Mrs. Rupert Murdoch

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Journal Deal Raises Red Flag With FCC

Commission member asks if deal serves public interest

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

television • newspaper • Rupert Murdoch • FCC • Wall Street Journal • Dow Jones • Fox • News Corp

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

News Corp Inches Closer to US Bribery Probe

Saturday's arrests mark 'an escalation in the risk,' reports the 'Guardian'

Times of London Dragged Into UK's Hacking Scandal

Another Rupert Murdoch newspaper being probed, says lawmaker

36 Victims Settle in Murdoch Phone Hacking Scandal

News Group Newspapers appears to acknowledge cover-up

Wendi Deng's Twitter Account Is—Gasp!—a Fake

@wendi_deng is not actually Mrs. Rupert Murdoch

Now on Twitter: Rupert Murdoch

But is the account real? Some think not

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Newser By Users

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What is Newser?