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Rupert Murdoch Already Affecting Editorial Decisions At Recently Acquired Publication

February 29, 2008 - 1:24am — Binh Ngo

Rupert Murdoch Hugo Restall, the Editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER), a monthly publication with a circulation of less than 200k, had commissioned a review of a book critical of Rupert Murdoch but later chose not to publish it. He admitted to getting "cold feet."

News Corp. acquired the FEER when it acquired its publisher, Dow Jones.

Written by Bruce Dover, the book Rupert's Adventures in China: How Murdoch Lost a Fortune and Found a Wife detailed Murdoch's efforts in the 90s to establish a presence in China by making deals with Chinese politicians.

From the International Herald Tribune article,

Philip Bowring, a former editor of The Review and a columnist with the International Herald Tribune, said that the magazine, one of the oldest and most storied in Asia, had a history of taking on authority, including its major shareholders.

"They are still defending their case in Singapore," said Bowring, adding that Singapore's leaders might take note of what appeared to be "double standards."

The decision on publication of the book review is "not in accord with the tradition of The Far Eastern Economic Review, at least as it was several years ago," he said.