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>That isn't the way the news business has historically worked. There is supposed to be a "Chinese wall" between the news side and the business side. Reporters and editors are responsible for what goes into the paper and are not supposed to be influenced by company profitability or politics. For example, if the publisher of the paper (or owner of the TV station, etc.) is involved in a scandal, that is news and should be covered just like it was the CEO of Enron. On the other side of this imaginary wall are top management, accountants, lawyers, and other functions that exist in any business. They are the ones responsible for profitability. The organization as a whole is not derelict in pursuing profit. It's just that news coverage is not supposed to be influenced by it. The line gets a little blurry sometimes, as we all know, and in varying degrees in different news organizations, but that's still the idea.

History is by the boards and the "Chinese Wall" is a memory that the corporations hope we all continue to count on.

A simple example: "60 Minutes" remains a program of "CBS News", assumedly because of the good ole "Chinese Wall".
Yet over the last several years 60 Minutes has had authors of books from the (same) corp's publishing division in segments timed for the release of the book and under exclusive contract until after publication. Some wall, eh????

The government now regularly asks news corps to withhold stories. In the days of 'walls' the government would learn of the story in the morning paper!!!!!!

Sad to say, Mike, but that wall is now dust.