Put a number on it

8 May 2007 By Rob Cox Follow @rob1cox

He’d probably boost its brand internationally to take the FT headon in Europe and Asia and invest in US political coverage and TV. Under the controlling Bancroft family, by contrast, Dow Jones has arguably been crimped of investment to pay fat dividends.

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James H. Ottaway Jr., a large shareholder of Dow Jones, over the weekend expressed opposition to the financial media company selling out to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. The sale of Dow Jones to Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp. global media giant would lead to loss of the unique news quality and integrity of The Wall Street Journal and other Dow Jones publications and Internet services, and loss of the independence and integrity of a leading national editorial voice, he wrote.

Ottaway's views were echoed by former chairman and chief executive Peter Kann, who expressed his support to members of the controlling Bancroft family who turned down the $60 a share offer from Murdoch.

In an interview with the New York Times last week, Murdoch said he would propose to set up a separate editorial board for the Journal to ensure its independence. He also said he would revitalize the Journal's European and Asian editions, and use the Journal brand as part of Fox's planned cable business news network.

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