Who controls the media I use to access my news?

I’ve never really thought about it until now, probably to my detriment.

I’m going to be honest: I don’t follow the news that closely. While I know what Ukraine is, I don’t go out of my way to keep myself morali-uh, updated. Because of this, you probably could tell me I’ve been misled by the media my entire life and I’d believe you…. and never dwell on it again. 

If one were to ask me who controls the media I use to access my news, it would take me a while to give a direct answer. Whenever Google recommends a headline that catches my eye, I usually click on it without worrying about who published it. There are a few exceptions I believe to be obvious – The Sun has a long history of bullshitting the public. Really, all you need to do is look up ‘Hillsborough disaster’ and it’ll tell you all you need to know about The Sun. I tense up a little when I see that name plastered on the top of the article, but I tend to read it regardless, if it’s a topic that interests me (not that there are many). Most other publications seem reliable enough only because I don’t take the time to research.

So I guess Google controls my news? And, if I had to be more specific, Rupert Murdoch?

The more I write, and the more time I take to research this question, the more I realise how much I should care about what’s being placed in front of me. I’m now starting to see what being an intense vegan feels like. 

As I continued down the rabbit hole for this question, I discovered the sheer amount of power Murdoch has over the news media. Labor spokesman Shayne Neumann said it best when he claimed in 2014 that “there’s too much power in the media controlled by one man who lives overseas”. 

What makes this stance stand out was the effect it had on his reputation. Multiple news agencies, all owned by Murdoch, turned on him. The Australianreferred to his comments as “disgraceful, divisive, and ignorant”. Many other politicians stood in support of Murdoch, including Tony Abbott, who claimed “no newspaper has more profoundly or more consistently shaped the intellectual life of our country”. He continued by referring to The Australian as “(Murdoch’s) gift to our nation”.

As I read this story through Eric Beecher’s article, a sudden fear swelled within me, a fear I’ve never felt. While I’ve always been convinced that this sort of thing is a common occurrence in politics (thanks largely to House Of Cards), never has it felt as real as it does now. The article includes a quote from Bruce Hawker’s book The Rudd Rebellion which states that “News Corp is easily the most powerful political force in Australia — bigger than the major parties or the combined weight of the unions”. Neumann’s situation and the desperate rallying behind Murdoch that followed has allowed this quote to hold 100% truthfulness.

This task may have just prevented me from ever fully trusting the news again. With one man eyeing everything placed before us, we may never be free from political bias.

This is why I usually stick to movie stuff.

References

Siregar, C. 2022. “Why is The Sun hated by Liverpool fans & banned in many places?” GOALS 16 Jan. https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/why-the-sun-is-hated-by-liverpool-fans-banned-in-many-places/2hrhnj5tch2r1ae7tllvac6fb

Beecher, E. 2020. “Murdoch’s power: how it works and how it debases Australia” Crikey, 23 Oct https://www.crikey.com.au/2020/10/23/rupert-murdoch-power/

Samios, Z. 2020. “How much influence does the Murdoch media have in Australia?” The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 Oct https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/how-much-influence-does-the-murdoch-media-have-in-australia-20201015-p565dk.html