Murdoch the Power Monger strikes again

[Wally Pipp]

Media Tycoon and his influence


Not commenting on the fact whether Britain should join at all but do you think that a media tycoon should be able to sway such debate by simply dictating his papers to be anti-Euro ?

[MartinSmith]

Especially as he is Australian and it has precisely bugger all to do with him anyway.

[Wally Pipp]

Yes, but should he be allowed to ?

[MartinSmith]

Yes, he should be allowed to.

I agree that his potential influence is frightening but what is the alternative?

We can't very well have politicians dictating what newspapers can and can't say in a free country, I guess we just have to have faith that the people who buy his newspapers can see through the propaganda, or vote with their feet and purchase a more impartial news media

[Wally Pipp]

Oh yes, the free press thing ...

Under the same flag a newspaper is allowed to reveil secrets or details of a smutty law suit regardless the consequences ...

Or, as you say, anti-this-or-that propaganda ...

Legally he may be in his right to do so and people should learn to judge for themselves but morally he's completely lost it.

And not all people are level-headed enough to see through it.
In fact it may very well be such a major influence on the referendum that you could question whether one should hold a referendum at all.

IMO this is morally wrong and a blatant abuse of power but that's just me of course ...

[MartinSmith]

I agree with you that it is of absolutely no conceivable "public interest" that Some TV star is shagging a call girl and the UK should have much more robust privacy laws.

I also agree with you that "Newspapers with" political agendas are a worry as well. I believe the consensus from studies on the issue have shown that they do have some small effect on public opinion both in terms of converting a small proportion of people and more so in strengthening existing opinions

However in many cases the causal relationship is the other way around and people will buy newspapers because they reflect their own beliefs. Murdoch has already shown that he will dramatically change the tone of his newspapers to coincide with this and not lose market share (as with the sudden support for Labour in the 1997 election and even having dramatically different stances on issues between the English and Scottish editions of the Sun) .

So whilst I agree his getting involved in the debate may have some distorting effect I do not see how one can stop him doing it, certainly allowing politicians to control the news agenda is an option with much greater potential dangers.

The decision will be that of the British people and if we allow that to be over influenced by Murdoch then we deserve no better.

[Wally Pipp]

Agreed on all points but I still think it's morally corrupt.
For the sake of the possible choice I hope that the public will rather pick the newspaper according to their views than than that they allow their views to be influenced by a power drunk media tycoon.

The reason I asked it was because whatever the outcome of the possible referendum, there will always be a hint of dirty propaganda around it i.e. if the choice is pro it'll be used to condemn the contra voters and if the choice is contra then it'll be used as scapegoat.

Either way, a bad development for an such important matter

[MartinSmith]

Yes it is definitely a disturbing development, it would have been so much nicer if he had committed himself to honest reporting of the issues rather than a slavish "anti" position but I take it that I am just being naive!

[Jim Brown]

Originally posted by MartinSmith
it is of absolutely no conceivable "public interest" that Some TV star is shagging a call girl

... you speak for yourself.

I think it's damn right they report it, as long as they prove they've got the real evidence of course; pictures, videos and stuff, know what I mean?

[simonm]

Murdoch

"Europe is made up of so many diverse cultures and histories that to slam it altogether with a government of French bureaucrats answerable to nobody... I cannot see anything but benefit by waiting," he said.

At least he's got good reasons for being anti Europe...

[Wally Pipp]

TBH if someone would try such a move over here he would be scandalised and accused of power abuse

He would sell not one paper I think