Murdoch and the American Media

"Freedom of the press belongs to those who own one," A.J. Liebling famously said. And Rupert Murdoch owns a lot more than one. His company "News Corporation" controls dozens of local T.V. stations in the U.S., a publishing house, a couple of satellite systems, a string of newspapers and magazines, 20th Century Fox Movie studios, and of course Fox Broadcast Networks.

And the list may grow if the FCC gets its way. Murdoch is not the only big fish in the media pond but his brash business strategies and taste for political brawling have made him the poster child of those who see the public interest lost and dangers looming in the mega-media. But it may be that Murdoch's way is the future.

Click the "Listen" link to hear about Rupert Murdoch, his model for 21st century media and where big media in America is headed.

Guests:

James Fallows, writer for the Atlantic Monthly

Mark Cooper director of research for the Consumer Federation of America and author of "Media Ownership and Democracy in the Digital Information Age"

Michael Getler, Ombudsman, Washington Post.