Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch is an influential media mogul, renowned for his significant ownership of prominent newspapers, including The Sun and The Times. His career as a powerful media magnate followed his inheritance of a substantial, albeit smaller, newspaper enterprise from his father, Keith Murdoch. Keith Murdoch, who was also active in journalism, notably influenced public opinion by reportedly persuading the cabinet to withdraw from the Gallipoli campaign through his "sexed up" reporting.
Ideological Stance and Business Practices
Murdoch's approach to media and governance is distinctive. He was a recognised ally of Margaret Thatcher, advocating for what was presented as a democratic revolution against an arrogant elite that had purportedly ignored the public's sentiments for too long.
He held the view that newspapers were not solely for the educated classes, suggesting that the written word's primary place might be television, or perhaps nowhere at all. Murdoch expressed pride in The Sun, challenging criticisms of its perceived triviality by stating that focusing exclusively on Page Three neglected the newspaper's broader content. He characterised such critiques as a form of slanting and elitism originating from institutions such as the BBC.
His business philosophy was driven by profit and influence, setting him apart from earlier media figures who exhibited a greater sense of patriotism. Murdoch's media empire is distinguished by its unwavering focus on business, its support for Israel, and its tendency to align with and bolster already powerful entities, an approach that has been described as "soulless".
This strategy led to the perception that he was "just about the business," operating from an unassuming office and providing content that satisfied public demand for more sensational material. His vision is credited with rendering media "a bit more trivial and a bit kind of cheaper".
Critiques and Public Perception
Despite his considerable influence, Murdoch has frequently been a target of criticism, often facing more scrutiny than other media owners, such as those of CNN or The New York Times. He has been characterised as an "insurgent outsider" who, unlike some of his predecessors, did not seek traditional aristocratic titles, choosing instead to establish his own power base within a different sphere.
Critics have accused Murdoch of trivialising public discourse and lacking genuine patriotism. The playwright Dennis Potter famously named his tumour "Robert" (Murdoch), alleging that Murdoch had done more than anyone else to degrade political discourse in the country, and expressing a desire to "shoot the bugger if I could".
He has been described as a populist whose business strategy involves "leaning into people's existing kind of just it's almost like a trivialisation of Yeah of the world no wittiness or anything you know". While Adam Curtis frames Murdoch as a challenger to British elites, Murdoch is not particularly pro-British people, with his motivations being attributed to a "chip on the shoulder dirty digger" persona.