Jack Welch: Who cares about Iraq, world events?

Posted By Mike Boyer Monday, January 22, 2007 - 1:39 PM Share

Welch A couple years ago, I went to a funny round table discussion at the Aspen Institute where a bunch journalists sat around congratulating themselves on the renaissance taking place in American journalism. They were celebrating the return of foreign reporting and international coverage. Once again, everyone in the room seemed to think, Americans cared about the world.

Don't count it. Take former General Electric CEO Jack Welch, for instance, who wants to buy the financially-struggling Boston Globe. He doesn't see any reason why "local" media need to cover Iraq or world events.

I'm not sure local papers need to cover Iraq, need to cover global events," Welch told CNBC's Squawk Box.

I'll avoid the conspiracy theories about GE being one of the biggest contractors operating in Iraq and just ask this: Haven't the last five years taught Americans that its dangerous to be uninformed about the world? It would be a real shame if a smart paper like the Globe got dumbed down by a guy like Jack Welch.

EXPLORE:IRAQ, MEDIA

Passport, FP’s flagship blog, brings you news and hidden angles on the biggest stories of the day, as well as insights and under-the-radar gems from around the world.