Source: HPI
KAPAA, HAWAII, USA, April 1, 2010: After several weeks of intense negotiations, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation announced today that it has acquired Hinduism Today Magazine, whose editorial staff produces Hindu Press International. In a $10.8 million deal, the purchase of Hinduism Today represents the conservative media magnate’s first foray into Eastern religious news media. Paramacharya Palaniswami, the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, averred, “Though consultants considered the offer to be far too small, we found that it fit perfectly the needs of our small operation. The funds allow us to wrap up the fund-raising on the temple we are building at the monastery where we are headquartered, replete with a new nine-story editorial office building adjacent to the temple.” The new building will allow for the expansion of the editorial and advertising staff to 101, required by the purchase contract. Palaniswami continued, “Besides, we are just simple monks. What would we do with extra funds?” News Corporation’s interest in the quarterly religious journal was sparked after years of analysis resulting in Hinduism Today being in the top ten journals in an internal report on publications that favor traditional family values. While editorial control will remain with the monastic staff, other stipulations of the contract include unbiased reporting on US political candidates’ decisions affecting Hindus and other Asian religions, as well as strict qualifications for reporting to be “fair and balanced,” as on the Fox News Channel and other News Corporation brands.
Spoiler Alert! Not to worry, the following, along with all our posts on April 1, 2010, is tongue in cheek, an April Fools joke. Rupert Murdock will never get his acquisitive hands on Hinduism Today (and we will never build that 9-story office in our lush tropical jungle).