free press? freedom of expression?? again.

Even as a mining magnate in Australia is unrdemining  the only non Murdoch newspaper group  comes news of  an American billionaire  blowing up  Israel's 'other' newspapers  with  a  free newspaper he funds. A free newspaper that is effectively destroying the freedom of any counter voices.

It is becoming harder to believe in the very idea of a free press with multiple voices and many points of view.

Publishers say that competition with the Internet, as in the rest of the world, is one reason for their decline. But they say a far bigger influence has been the cost of competing with Israel Hayom, a free-distribution newspaper that American casino magnate Sheldon Adelson founded five years ago.

Adelson, whose personal fortune has been estimated at more than $20 billion, is a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing Likud bloc. He’s poured millions into the paper, whose often-fawning articles about Netanyahu have earned it the sobriquet “Bibi Press,” a reference to the prime minister’s nickname.

As an example of the close relationship between the paper and Netanyahu’s office, media analysts point to Netanyahu adviser Nathan Eshel. Eshel left his job in the prime minister’s office to work at Israel Hayom during its launch, only to rejoin Netanyahu’s staff last year.

“Are Israelis aware that they are reading a paper that is practically in Netanyahu’s pocket? Sure they are,” said Didi Remez, a left-wing Israeli political activist. “But I’m not sure they care when they make the decision to pick up the free paper.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/10/05/170732/romney-backer-sheldon-adelson.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/10/05/170732/romney-backer-sheldon-adelson.html