Arch-conservative media tycoon Rupert Murdoch is increasing his political-influence footprint in Australia, a big concern to media observers, especially after the recent phone-hacking scandal in the UK.
News Corporation has just dramatically increased its political-influence footprint in Australia, but it’s a story that hasn’t made it much past the business pages. It should.
In recent months, News Corp has added strategic ownership stakes in the Ten Network and APN newspaper/radio organisation. (see Echonetdaily story at http://www.echo.net.au/2015/03/murdoch-buys-stake-in-north-coast-publisher/
The company — through its director, shareholder, management or ‘associate’ proxies, now owns or has the key influence over:
• The vast majority of metro newspapers;
• The vast majority of suburban newspapers;
• The majority of regional daily newspapers;
• Two key radio networks;
• One of three free-to-air TV networks; and
• Australia’s only pay-TV network.
Apart from the smaller online players, which have widely dispersed ownership, that leaves a diminished Fairfax, Kerry Stokes (who has close relationship with News), the Nine network and a few smaller radio networks as the only other real players across the entire Australian media of influence.
How could any politician or government resist this kind of influence? There has never been anything like this in any mature democracy in history.
News Corp may be a predominantly ‘old media’ company, but there’s nothing old about its influence on Australian politics, policy and government. (crikey.com.au)
Murdoch hands Fox CEO job to son James
New York [AFP]
Meanwhile, Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox says its board has approved a shake-up that puts the 84-year-old tycoon’s son James in the chief executive job effective July 1.
The media-entertainment conglomerate’s board approved the plan in which the Australian-born magnate would step down as CEO and become co-executive chairman with his other son, Lachlan.
The succession plan, which was leaked last week by sources close to the company, allows Rupert Murdoch to ease out of the day-to-day management of the group, with his sons sharing many of those tasks.
Tuesday’s statement said the company’s corporate functions and its global television and film operations ‘will now jointly report to Lachlan and James Murdoch’.
‘It has always been our priority to ensure stable, long-term leadership for the company and these appointments achieve that goal,’ Rupert Murdoch said in the statement.
‘Lachlan and James are each talented and accomplished executives and together, we, as shareholders and partners, will strive to take our company to new levels of growth and opportunity at a time of dynamic change in our industry.’
Lachlan and James Murdoch said in a joint statement: ‘We are both humbled by the opportunity to lead, with our father and the talented team of executives at 21st Century Fox, this extraordinary company.’
The statement added that Chase Carey, the deputy chairman, president and chief operating officer, will become the executive vice chairman and serve in that role through June 30, 2016.
James Murdoch, 42, will hold the CEO job at the group, which owns the Fox studios in Hollywood, and Fox’s television operations in the US and around the world.
He ran the Asian and European operations for his father’s group and was thrust into the position of crisis management in the phone-hacking scandal that rocked the company in Britain.
James managed News Corp.’s musical division and later headed BSkyB, a satellite broadcaster in which the company had invested, before resigning amid the phone-hacking scandal.
21st Century Fox was created two years ago when Murdoch split the struggling publishing operations from his News Corp. empire from the faster-growing media and entertainment operations.
The Boy from South Australia has become arguably the most successful media person in the world. Makes you feel proud as an Australian… And then we have GETUP…… hmmmmmm.
That right-wing oligarchical piece of s**t makes you proud? He’s a profligate propagandist. He controls media to suit himself and other large corporations. And GetUp! sounds like a great idea, you seem to think that because an Australian is in majorative control of Australian media that that must be somehow Democratic. Newsflash (pardon the pun), it isn’t.
All across the world people are fighting for a future without corporatocracy and neoliberalism, because it fucking SUCKS for anyone that isn’t rich. Which is also, probably, you. Get your head out of your ass and stop worshipping people that would happily have you as no more than either unemployed and starving, or perhaps employed (on a low wage) and supporting their privelege.
Far too much power and influence. No wonder we have our current weak government and no viable alternative!
Why is the writer of this article acting so surprised?
Rupert Murdoch in effect won the last federal election! Did you miss a page or a month or two?
Kerry Stokes and Rupert Murdoch are courted by potential incoming governments for election and by the incumbent government to suppress unwanted news ( of the world of course ).
This is their power base and this is why our governments ( state and federal ) have become so corrupted.
This is very basic stuff.
Nothing about Murdoch makes me feel proud. Thank heaven we have Getup, New Matilda and the IA.michele