Alexander Lebedev: The Russian Approach to Media Baronism

Former Soviet KGB agent, current billionaire and emerging media baron Alexander Lebedev recently made his first true tidal waves in the waters of international public consciousness by beating up fellow oligarch Sergei Polonsky on Russian national television. Lebedev, in gray in the video above, owns the British newspapers the Independent and Evening Standard. Polonsky, meanwhile is the 40th wealthiest man in Russia.

Like many Russian oligarchs these days, Lebedev appears to have cash to spare. Wouldn’t it be interesting if he were to join the American swinging dick media mogul party? Like by purchasing…say…the LA Times? Imagine: a newspaper owner who talks tough and actually is tough.