Rupert Murdoch
NEWS CORPORATION
Rupert Murdoch – owner of one of the world biggest media corporation that includes 800 firms in 50 countries and provide news 75 % of the planet population. (www.fsk.ru)
Keith Rupert Murdoch was born on 11 March in 1931 in Melbourne, Australia. His father, Sir Keith Murdoch, was editor and owner of the “Herald”, small Australian newspaper; therefore, it was not surprisingly that after his death in 1952, Rupert became owner of Adelaide News that also belonged to his father.
Gradually, from 1952 to 1972 Mr. Murdoch became an owner of many Australian mass media companies, such as “The Daily Mirror”, “The Australian”, “Daily Telegraph”, etc.
In the mid 1960s, he started to acquire magazines and newspapers in Britain there are some of them: “The News of The World”, “The Times”, “The Sunday Times”, “and Sun”, etc.
In 1973, Mr. Rupert Murdoch began to purchase media companies in the United States that included “The San Antonio Express-News”, “The New York Post”, and when he became a citizen of the US in 1985, he could bought American television stations.
Rupert Murdoch has been married three times and has six children who also are owners of News Corporation that was founded in 1980.
There are different points of view concerned success of Rupert Murdoch. For example, Igor Dobrotvorsky, Russian business-trainer and psychologist, describes Mr. Murdoch as very diligent, fearless and persistent person who always works harder than his rivals. He has achieved everything only thanks to these personal qualities.
Nevertheless, “Economist’s View” writes that Rupert Murdoch “weakens his rivals, not by producing better quality content, still less by developing original TV programs or innovate films, but exploiting his dominant market position. Murdoch endeavors to stifle competition, and thus bring everything down to his level of mediocrity and bland populism.” Moreover, BBC published article dedicated to Mr. Murdoch where it was written: “Murdoch’s success has resulted in the dumbing-down of the media, with quality entertainment and journalism replaced by mindless vulgarity.” Furthermore, Igor Dobrotvorsky writes that main means of Mr. Murdoch to increase circulation are also sensationalism and vulgarity.
Information about managing of his media companies is interesting, For example, BBC publishes words of Andrew Neil, ex-editor of “The Sunday Times” who ask people do not believe promises of Rupert Murdoch do not interfere in editorial matters. Nevertheless, the editor of “The Times”, Robert Thomson, said: “He [Mr. Murdoch] doesn’t need to dictate or micromanage because he chooses editors who broadly agree with him. That’s not unusual in the newspaper business.”
Rupert Murdoch does not play last role in world politics. According to ABC, he supports the war in Iraq and publishes his very multi-valued words: “ … the US death toll in the conflict is “minute” from a historical perspective.” Moreover, he was long time supporter of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher (who was against trade-unions) . Advisor of Tony Blair about formation of British politics in Iraq.Participation of United Kingdom in war against Iraq actively approved by newspapers and TV channels of Mr. Murdoch. Attacks of “The Sun” on the ex- French President Jacques Chirac. (“Independent’)
Finally, from my point of view Rupert Murdoch is a person who mostly businessman than journalist. He turned journalism into very profitable business. “Business”, according to his words, is war. In the war, as one proverb says, all means are justified.
