Rupert and the Murdoch empire: A legacy of negative influence and bad behaviour

Murdoch’s enduring influence leaves an uncertain future not only for News Corporation but also for the broader media landscape in Australia.

Rupert Murdoch’s recent decision to step down as the chairman of Fox News and News Corporation, passing the torch to his son, Lachlan Murdoch, marks a significant moment in the ongoing saga of the Murdoch media empire. However, this transition is far from the end of Rupert Murdoch’s enduring influence and leaves an uncertain future not only for News Corporation but also for the broader media landscape in Australia.

Over the years, Rupert Murdoch has wielded immense power and influence, stretching across three continents and significantly shaping the political and media landscapes in Australia, Britain, and the United States. Despite the gradual decline of mainstream media’s power, it remains a formidable force that continues to impact political narratives and public opinion.

Murdoch’s legacy is a complex one, marked by a slew of controversies and allegations. While he has garnered praise from many sycophantic political leaders and media figures for his “passion and principles”, his actions have come under deep scrutiny in the past, most notably, the Leveson inquiry in the UK in 2011, which revealed allegations of criminal behaviour within his media empire.

Critics argue that Murdoch has frequently acted in bad faith, employing his media outlets to propagate misinformation and pro-conservative propaganda. His public support – through his media networks – for figures such as Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and his influential role in Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory have also drawn sharp criticism. Moreover, his media outlets have played a role in promoting the unsubstantiated claim that the 2020 US election was stolen, which ultimately contributed to the shocking events of the Capitol Hill riots in early 2021. Is this the passion and principles his misguided supporters are applauding?

Many voices, such as Australians for a Murdoch Royal Commission and former Prime Ministers such as Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull, have called for Murdoch to face legal consequences for his actions, suggesting that his media licenses should have been revoked based on these previous actions, particularly in his home country, Australia. Yet, Rupert Murdoch has largely remained unscathed by the consequences of his actions, and at the age of 92, it seems increasingly unlikely that he will be held accountable.

Beyond media ownership, Murdoch has exerted significant influence on the political landscapes of Australia, Britain, and the United States. His support for politicians like Boris Johnson and Theresa May in the UK, as well as Donald Trump in the US, has played a role in shaping these countries’ political narratives.

Critics argue that Murdoch’s media outlets have been instrumental in perpetuating the status quo, making it challenging for significant policy changes, such as gun law reform in the United States, to gain traction and his newspapers and television shows tend to echo the same themes and arguments to other parts of the world, with localised variations.

Interestingly, in the media markets where Murdoch’s media outlets do not have a strong presence, such as Canada, New Zealand, and mainland Europe, there is often a more diverse and balanced media landscape. Even in Italy, where the media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi had a similar polarising effect on politics and media, there were enough counterbalances to offset their white-dominated, one-sided and conservative perspectives.

It is tempting to speculate about the eventual end of Murdoch’s influence. Still, as long as Rupert Murdoch remains active in the media landscape, he is unlikely to relinquish his grip easily, even if it is as ‘Chairman Emeritus’, whatever that might represent. The rise of Lachlan Murdoch, while not without its challenges, seems to be a continuation of the Murdoch dynasty’s presence in the media world.

Rupert Murdoch’s legacy is one characterised by a complex interplay of power, influence, and controversy. His media empire has left a negative mark on the political and media landscapes of multiple countries, and its impact continues to reverberate through the world of media and politics. As the baton is passed to the next generation, the future of the Murdoch empire remains uncertain, but one thing is certain: Rupert Murdoch’s influence is far from over, and needs to be counteracted and reduced wherever possible.

The ongoing influence and controversies of the Murdoch empire

The future of News Corporation and its impact on the media and political landscapes remains uncertain and Lachlan Murdoch’s role and the direction he will take in Australia, the US, and the UK are questions that have yet to be fully answered. The Murdoch empire, with its right-wing media outlets such as Fox News and Sky News “after dark”, has often been criticised for its sensationalist and over-the-top approach, blurring the line between news and entertainment.

While for many people, these outlets are primarily for freak-show amusement or a perverse form of “infotainment” and many viewers can see through the rhetoric, it is undeniable that they wield significant influence. They have the ability to sway public opinion and radicalise certain segments of the population and it is this influence has led to concerns about the potential erosion of democracy and the spread of conspiracy theories, which can have real-world consequences, as evidenced by the Capitol Hill riots.

The business model employed by News Corporation and Fox News involves magnifying particular news stories to create outrage. When such stories are lacking, they are often manufactured to maintain viewership and readership. But is such a great business model? This approach can be lucrative, but it also comes with significant risks. For example, pushing the narrative of the “stolen election” following the 2020 US election resulted in a $US797 million defamation case against News Corporation by Dominion Voting Systems. There is also the looming threat of the Smartmatic case, which could lead to even more substantial financial repercussions: two lawsuits at a possible cost of over $US2 billion. How is this a business model that can sustain the company in the long term?

Rupert Murdoch should have faced consequences for his actions long ago. The phone hacking scandals of 2011, which led to the closure of News of the World publication, should have resulted in a criminal trial for Murdoch. However, he managed to evade serious consequences by offering apologies and promises to clean up the company’s act, suggesting “it was the most humble day of my life”. At the Leveson Inquiry, James Murdoch proclaimed “these actions do not live up to the standards that our company aspires to, and it is our determination to both put things right, make sure these things don’t happen again, and to be the company that we’ve always aspired to be”.

If anything, since the Leveson Inquiry in 2011 and since those weasel-words were uttered by both James and Rupert Murdoch, the behaviour of News Corporation has become significantly worse. In hindsight, those promises were hollow, as News Corporation and Fox News have continued to operate with lower journalistic standards and, instead of improving and a determination to both put things right, make sure these things don't happen again, the media empire has become more unhinged, contributing to the polarisation of political discourse.

One notable aspect of Rupert Murdoch’s influence is the fear that many politicians have of him. Even though some politicians have publicly clashed with him, there is often a reluctance to take decisive action against him. This influence extends beyond individual politicians and permeates the media landscape in Australia. Many media outlets such as the ABC, Seven West Media and Nine Media now feel the need to compete with the Murdoch model, compromising journalistic integrity in the process.

The rise of independent media outlets has provided an alternative to the Murdoch-dominated landscape, offering diverse perspectives and challenging the status quo. However, Murdoch’s influence still casts a long shadow over the media industry in Australia and beyond.

As for the future under Lachlan Murdoch, it remains to be seen whether he will chart a different course or follow in his father’s footsteps. Rupert Murdoch’s historical precedent, taking over the empire when his own father passed away, showed that he was not always considered the best fit at the time. Lachlan, in contrast, has the advantage of having his father as a mentor and advisor, which could shape the direction of News Corporation and, potentially, in a very negative way.

The true impact of Lachlan Murdoch’s leadership will likely remain uncertain until Rupert Murdoch either passes away or becomes too incapacitated to continue his involvement. Regardless of the outcome, the Murdoch empire’s influence, controversies, and complex legacy are unlikely to fade into obscurity anytime soon. The ongoing saga of the Murdoch empire will continue to be a subject of interest for historians, media analysts, and psychologists, as it raises questions about the intersection of media, politics, and power.

The uncertain future of the Murdoch empire

Part of the uncertainty of the Murdoch empire arises from the internal dynamics within the Murdoch family, as well as Lachlan Murdoch’s own business track record – the failure of One.Tel in the 1990s and 2000s being the most significant – and his political leanings.

One of the challenges Lachlan Murdoch faces is the shadow of his own family name. He will not only be contending with the expectations and pressures associated with inheriting a media empire but also the comparisons to his father, Rupert Murdoch, who has been a dominant figure in the media landscape for decades. Rupert’s reputation as a shrewd businessman, a charismatic leader, and a formidable media mogul has set a high bar for Lachlan to meet.

Rumours of Lachlan Murdoch’s right-wing and fanatical approach to using media for political motivations have always raised concerns. However, it is important to remember that these claims remain speculative, and Lachlan’s true intentions and direction will only become evident over time and, for as long as Rupert Murdoch is alive, his presence will continue to influence the empire, making it challenging to gauge the extent of any potential changes.

The saying that ‘the first generation builds the empire, the second generation consolidates, and the third generation destroys’ has often been cited in discussions about family-owned enterprises. In the case of Rupert Murdoch, it appears he may be oscillating between the phases of consolidation and potential destruction of the empire and the mounting defamation cases and diminishing influence the mainstream media in general, suggests that the Murdoch empire is already be in decline.

However, the fate of News Corporation will not solely depend on the Murdoch family dynamics. External factors such as evolving media landscapes, regulatory changes, and shifts in audience preferences will also play significant roles in shaping its future. The media industry is in a state of flux, with digital platforms and independent media outlets gaining prominence.

Comparisons to other dynasties, such as the Fairfax and Packer dynasty in Australia, or the Vanderbilt and Hearst empires in the United States, provide some insight into the potential trajectory of the Murdoch empire. These families saw their wealth and influence diminish in the third generation, suggesting that a similar fate may await News Corporation. While it is worth noting that each dynasty is unique, the fate of the Murdoch empire does remains uncertain: it could diminish completely, as was the case with Kerry Packer’s Australian Consolidated Press; or it could morph into a supra behemoth, even greater than its current global reach. It’s unlikely.

Rupert Murdoch faced skepticism when he took over the News Limited business after the death of his father, Keith Murdoch, in 1952, and yet he went on to become a transformative figure in the media world. There are doubts over Lachlan Murdoch, but it has to be remembered that his father faced the same doubts, albeit at a much younger age.

There will continue to be a range of internal and external influences: the dynamics within the Murdoch family, the evolving media landscape, and Lachlan’s own decisions will all play crucial roles in shaping the direction of News Corporation. A crucial first business decision of nominating former Prime Minister Tony Abbott to the board of Fox Corporation does not bode well. Abbott has no business experience and skill and, while he was the Prime Minister of Australia, he is a totemic culture war warrior who only has an interest in divisive and polemical outcomes, as was evident during his prime ministership between 2013–15.

This is the wrong direction: if Lachlan Murdoch wanted to show the business community that he is a leader with business acumen and wanting to change the direction of News Corporation and, to echo the words of James Murdoch from 2011, to show determination to both put things right, make sure these things don’t happen again, this is not the right decision.

Whether the empire continues to thrive, undergoes transformation, or faces decline will be a topic of ongoing speculation and analysis in the ever-changing world of media and politics. It’s early days, but a day-one decision to install Abbott onto the board of Fox Corporation could also indicate that Lachlan Murdoch is oblivious to the fact that he could fast-tracking the demise of News Corporation. And if that is the result, wouldn’t that be a sight to behold.