After Journal ‘Insult,’ Times Editorializes: They’re ‘Balanced and Trustworthy’

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By Michael Calderone

June 12, 2007 | 9:14 p.m

Andrew Rosenthal.

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The New York Times

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Since Rupert Murdoch announced his bid for Dow Jones back on May 1, both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have employed a small army of reporters to cover the unfolding drama.

Although the news coverage was steady for the first five weeks, the newspapers' editorial boards—not typically known for keeping quiet—never weighed in.

That is, until The Journal's 1,300-word editorial was published on June 6.

"An Independent Newspaper" was the headline. Below it, The Journal's editorial board praised the Bancroft family—the paper's stewards this past century—and brought out the expected "free people and free markets" mantra.

And there was the swipe at The Times.

"Everyone knows that the influence of Times Publisher and C.E.O. Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. extends to selecting not merely the editorial page editor but columnists, political endorsements and, as far as we can tell, even news coverage priorities," wrote The Journal."We don't see how this differs from most of what Mr. Murdoch is accused of doing with his newspapers."

On June 10, the Times editorial page weighed in, too, under the heading "Mr. Murdoch and The Journal."

"Editorial pages generally do not compliment the competition," the board wrote.

But they did compliment The Journal, for "produc[ing] a balanced and trustworthy news report that is required reading for corporate and political leaders around the world."

Do not mistake the Times editorial board, though. The Journal's swipe at the editorial page did not go unnoticed.

"The notion that Arthur directs the news coverage is absurd," said Times editorial-page editor Andrew Rosenthal by phone on June 11, a day after complimenting the Bancrofts for keeping their hands out of the editorial cookie jar. "It's insulting!"

But what about the editorial page?

Mr. Rosenthal said that Mr. Sulzberger is aware of some editorials in advance, but not others; however, he would not confirm whether the publisher laid eyes on this particular one before going to press, or had any input.

"I don't get involved in who wrote them," Mr. Rosenthal said. He added: "It's our minor version of protecting our sources."

Journal editorial-page editor Paul Gigot declined multiple requests to comment.