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Don't Expect Scandal To Sour Burkle On Newspaper Business

Steve Volk wonders if politically liberal billionaire Ron Burkle, who is known to be interested in purchasing a number of U.S. newspapers, including some McClatchy cast-offs, has turned sour on the industry as a result of the Jared Paul Stern gossip scandal, in which he played a role.  Burkle is interested in Philadelphia because, among the papers he may buy this year, are the city's two dailies.  Volk writes that the local Newspaper Guild president "doesn't think the current controversy will dampen Burkle's interest in owning newspapers. His personal troubles with Page Six may even heighten his resolve to be the highest bidder. 'He understands new media badly needs the discipline and skill of traditional media,'" says the Guild prexy. "'We need to have the same safeguards and checks and balances online as we have in the mainstream print media.'"  Michael Klein, a columnist at The Philadelphia Inquirer, adds, "I think [Burkle] knows how the game is played, and he knows that mainstream journalists wouldn't operate like this. I think he's smart enough--or would realize if he does buy the papers, his employees wouldn't do the same things Page Six is accused of doing." 

 

 

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