Tag Archives: newscorp

Murdochs, Media, and Money

I am a sucker for programs and some discussions about the future of media and what the newspaper industry will look like in 10 years.  Even though I think it is discussed to death lately, with everyone just sticking a finger in the air and making a speech, I enjoy listening to people from different backgrounds and different experiences.

While I’m no fan of Rupert Murdoch and alot of his philosophy about the function and purpose of the media, it is interesting to see what he plans to do with his media empire online. More recently he has announced his intention that all his newspapers will be going to a for-pay business model where people will have to subscribe in order to get access. This comes as the conventional wisdom online says this is insane and will not work because the public has so much choice of free online news.

On a recent episode of Background Briefing from Australia Radio National, the topic was indeed media and business models online and it features a speech by Rupert’s son James Murdoch. They also get into what many executives see as a MEDIA WAR, when it comes to how the industry will work in the future. And just when you thought one episode couldn’t have more than two Murdochs, the program also gets into the media philosophy of Sir Keith Murdoch, who was critical of the public broadcasting model in Australia.

I highly recommend giving this episode a listen, especially if you’re like me, and you can’t resist more points of view and widsom regarding how media is funded and how it will be funded in the future.

Owning the Media

On the flight back from Lisbon, I listened closely to another excellent On Point program. This one focused on media mogul Rupert Murdoch, his bid to buy the Wall Street Journal, and more importantly: his power to influence his media.

Years ago while writing my MA thesis, I remember collecting Murdoch quotes about his opinion on influencing his newspapers. My least favorite was something to the effect of: He wants to take a sledge hammer and destroy the wall between the marketing department and the news room. That in itself told the whole story of what kind of person this is and how much he values a free and independent press.

During the On Point program you hear from journalists who say they won’t tolerate him taking over the paper. Both because of the times where he has been hands on, and because of the type of media he also owns such as Fox News, The Daily Standard and other tabloid /info-tainment/ conservative newspapers. (myspace!) You also hear of examples where he doesn’t get involved or interfere in the work of media professionals at his own companies. The contrasting habits of a man that owns such a huge chunk of the global media.

Which ever style of owner he behaves as once he takes over the Journal, this is still another nail in the coffin of mainstream press. Because business is business and somewhere somehow it was decided that media was just another business and therefore can be bought and sold and picked apart or bullied by its owners and shareholders. On the one hand, another sad day for journalism, on the other hand, yet another reason why the work of independent and alternative journalists, especially on the internet, is VITAL.