Praise, skepticism for Murdoch in UK newspapers

LONDON (AP) -- Cagey. Cuddly. Witty. Master of the intimidating pause.

The reviews in Thursday's newspapers of Rupert Murdoch's first day on the stand at Britain's media ethics have admired the performance, despite doubts about the story he spun.

"Mr. Murdoch was a picture of elderly innocence," wrote Matthew Deacon in The Daily Telegraph.

"This was a Rupert that many of us knew, admired and feared," writes Martin Dunn, a former deputy editor of two of Murdoch's London papers, The Sun and News of the World.

The Times, in an editorial, found Murdoch's performance compelling.

"Instead of a caricature, Mr. Murdoch emerged as someone with broad experience, a ready wit, a commitment to newspapers and readers, and a becoming humility," says the paper, owned by Murdoch's News Corp.