Rupert Murdoch's biographer, Michael Wolff, reveals in his forthcoming book on the News Corp chairman that the media magnate has some surprising viewpoints on new media.

Despite what News Corp report in press releases, Murdoch has little interest or time for the prevailing converged, multimedia theory.

Wolff reports, "He's really not interested in all this talk about newspapers as the basis of new information franchises...blah blah. That's maybe what they say at News Corp to gull Wall Street. But Rupert Murdoch wants the physical thing."

He goes on to say, "He pokes the paper, slashes at it - move this, reduce that, enlarge this. It may be the ultimate fantasy, his continuing, contrary belief in newspapers."

Furthermore, Murdoch would like to acquire the New York Times. According to Wolff its, "Irresistible to him. I've watched him go through the numbers, plot out a merger with the Journal's backroom operations, and fantasize about the staff's quitting en masse as soon as he entered the scared temple."

Murdoch also reportedly would like Barack Obama to win the forthcoming US Presidential election as, "he'll sell more papers".

Wolff has unparalled access to the media tycoon over a nine-month period. Wolff told the New York Observer that the book should be out in December.

Source: Press Gazette