1. James Dolan

In case you were wondering who makes all the decisions around here, we’ve got your answer. James Dolan and Cablevision made a big move last year when the company acquired Newsday for $650 million. It is a curious move, with profit seemingly taking a backseat to Dolan’s desire to own a true media monopoly. It is no secret that the newsprint industry is not exactly booming, with many beloved daily titles going the way of the buggy whip and saddle shoes. With the purchase, Cablevision is the single biggest news and entertainment source in the region, given its ownership of News 12 Long Island, too. Recently, Cablevision intimated that the company would charge a subscription fee for the currently free Newsday.com website. Cablevision also wrote down Newsday’s value by more than $400 million. Despite those daunting numbers, Dolan still did pretty well for himself, according to Forbes.com, with a total compensation of $38.8 million in 2008. And since all things news must come through his organization, you have to give the tip of the power hat to Dolan, who obviously still has tricks up his sleeve.