New-media inroads too risky to bypass

December 12, 2006 For instance, Peter Chernin, News Corp.'s president and chief operating officer, last week confirmed that its Fox Interactive Media unit will focus more on operations than on additional deals like its successful acquisition of MySpace. The concern shared by Levinsohn and other new-media executives between jobs -- including former AOL chief executive Jonathan Miller and outgoing Yahoo! chief operating officer Dan Rosensweig -- is that without such healthy reinvestment and innovation, there will be a dearth of next-level media developments and revenue streams in 18-24 months. Such are the challenges confronting Yahoo! where another disconcerting trend is evident: the lack of progress and clear focus that results from placing traditional media executives, with their conservative ways and limited visions, in charge of new-media properties and growth plans.

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