King of the world

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp dynasty includes the Fox broadcast network, Fox News, Fox Sports, FX, over 175 newspapers, television and radio stations, a film studio, publishing house and satellite systems in Asia and England. He's on the verge of acquiring DirecTV, America's largest satellite television corporation.

With annual revenues topping $17 billion, his influence touches millions of people worldwide. The September issue of the Atlantic Monthly featured the media mogul and his contention that the media should be run like a business and not like the guardian of the public trust.

Should the US continue to weaken restrictions and rules allowing companies to consolidate media assets? Will it be beneficial to the public? Or will programming and news content suffer as a consequence?

Should one man have the power to assault the public with his predilections?