Rupert Murdoch to rescue the Herald?

Sure, sure, that's pure speculation based on the news today that Herald publisher Pat Purcell is becoming executive chairman of the Ottaway Newspapers, which Murdoch got as a side dish when he bought the Wall Street Journal. The chain includes the Cape Cod Times, the New Bedford Standard-Times and the Portsmouth Herald.

"There is a great team in place at Ottaway. I think it's heading in the right direction," said Purcell, who added that he'll still be based at the Herald.

But he did say there are possibilities the Ottaway papers, especially those based in Massachusetts, could work more closely with the Herald in the future. ...

Purcell, of course, has worked with Murdoch before - and he bought the Herald from him during all that unpleasantness involving Channel 25 and Teddy Kennedy.