There is a renewed discussion about the role of News Corp in Australia. But so far, this is ignoring how the Murdoch press is particularly hostile towards female politicians.
There have been regular calls and inquiries into media ownership in Australia. But despite the howls of outrage, there has bene little political appetite to do anything about it.
Research shows Google News results often prioritise mainstream media over smaller news businesses. It’s a double-edged sword. While local outlets suffer, it’s actually better for readers.
Small newspapers and new start-ups face significant barriers to receiving government grant money and a share of ad revenue from Google and Facebook, making their survival less than assured.
It is more likely the Trump administration, and the cosy relationship it has with Murdoch’s Fox news, on top of differences on climate change, that was the last straw for James.
From personally targeting the Victorian premier to railing against the compulsory use of masks or scapegoating a minority group, News Corp’s coverage has been not just biased but dangerous.
News Corp’s announcement it will stop printing 100 suburban and community newspapers is another blow for regional Australia and the the media landscape more broadly.
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on his autobiography, ‘A Bigger Picture’
In this episode of Politics with Michelle Grattan, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull gives his assessment of Scott Morrison as a former colleague and as prime minister, warns about the right of the Liberal party, and tongue lashes News Corp.
The High Court handed down a mixed decision on the AFP raid on a News Corp journalist, highlighting just how fragile media freedom in Australia really is.
The usual pretence that right-wing commentators are on the side of their audience falls away in times of crisis. They are on the side of business - particularly their own.
Arthur Sinodinos: “One of the dangerous trends has been that the media itself has become a battleground”.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
As he leaves to take up his new post as Ambassador to the United States, Arthur Sinodinos warns that the Australian media landscape is becoming increasingly partisan.
Sinodinos warns about dangers for democracy and science posed by a polarised media.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Arthur Sinodinos with some reflections and advice
The Conversation, CC BY32.9 MB(download)
As Arthur Sinodinos prepares to leave the Senate for his new role as Australian ambassador to the US, he sits with Michelle Grattan to reflect on his time in politics.
News Corp Executive Chariman Michael Miller (left), Nine Chief Executive Officer Hugh Marks (centre) and ABC Managing Director David Anderson (right) stressed unity in their fight for press freedom.
Rohan Thomson/AAP
The heads of News Corp, Nine and ABC talked tough on the need for stronger legal protections for journalists. But unity is meaningless unless it brings meaningful action from the government.
The ABC and News Corp have argued that the AFP raids infringe the “implied freedom of political communication” protected by the Australian Constitution.
AAP/The Conversation
Media companies’ legal challenges to the legitimacy of recent AFP raids will allow the courts to clarify where the line is between national security and press freedom.
Assessing the national mood has become much more difficult, but the media have continued reporting them as though nothing has changed.
Wes Mountain/The Conversation
This election showed that Australia is stuck with an increasingly polarised media, a highly concentrated media ownership landscape and no apparent way to do anything about it.
In recent years, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp papers have become more politically aggressive, adopting the openly partisan approach of British tabloids.
Jason Reed/AAP
New research reveals how News Limited was secretly established in the early 1900s by a mining company for the express purpose of disseminating ‘propaganda’.
There is a sense that democratic societies have had enough of Murdoch’s propaganda machines masquerading as news services.
AAP/Dan Himbrechts