News Corp. Chief Faces Inquiry (click here)
By CASSELL BRYAN-LOW
LONDON—With a fresh political scandal swirling around his global media conglomerate here, News Corp. NWSA +1.32% Chairman and Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch on Wednesday began a day of questioning before a public press-ethics inquiry by deflecting criticism that he has used the company to call in political favors and push his commercial interests....
...Mr. Murdoch said early on that he wanted to "put certain myths to bed," and while he conceded "abuses" at his own company—which has been battered by a long-running scandal over illicit reporting tactics—he added: "I would say there are many other abuses, but we can go into that in time."....
...Along the way, Mr. Jay put to Mr. Murdoch a series of criticisms that are often targeted at the company and his management of it, including that he sought his growing media presence in the U.K. to influence politicians to get favorable decisions on commercial matters, dating back to Margaret Thatcher, who became prime minister in 1979.....
