Combining Newsweek and the Daily Beast wouldn't have been as big of a debacle as New Coke, but it would have been awfully close. Beyond the clashing egos, it was never made clear how combining the organizations would allow them to become profitable.
Congratulations, Sidney Harman! You are now the proud owner of Newsweek, an iconic if vastly unprofitable magazine. It's a purchase that should come with an owners manual, and now it does.
Washington Post Co. got what just it wanted: Someone else to take the blame for killing Newsweek. Of all the bidders, the 91-year-old audio-gear mogul is least likely to make the changes needed for long-term survival.