Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal goes after The New York Times in an old-fashioned newspaper war

Wall Street Journal revs up New York Times rivalry

NEW YORK — It might be the last great American newspaper war. And Rupert Murdoch intends to win it.

On Monday, Murdoch is racheting up the challenge his Wall Street Journal poses to The New York Times. The Journal is launching a metro section that will vie for readers and advertisers on the Times’ turf.

Going after the Times is the fight Murdoch had in mind when News Corp. bought the Journal and its parent Dow Jones & Co. for $5 billion in 2007. Since then, he has tried to broaden the newspaper’s appeal by remaking the Journal’s front page. Last year it surpassed USA Today as the nation’s most widely circulated newspaper.

Times executives say they are confident they can withstand the challenge and maintain advertisers — and ad rates.