Rupert Murdoch
Australian-American business magnate
Rupert Murdoch
Australian-American business magnate
Gordon Brown Slams Media Influence in Fiery Speech
- Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Gordon Brown’s speech condemning Rupert Murdoch and his newspapers is seen by some as marking a new era for politics and media. However, the author argues that politicians will always seek favorable coverage from the press, while newspapers crave power and influence. The tension between the two has only worsened over time due to politicians' desire for unmediated communication with the electorate and media organizations' need for legal and regulatory favors to expand their empires. Brown's own attempts to make friends with Murdoch and his lieutenants are highlighted as examples of this perpetual loveless embrace, with no condemnation or promise of virtue being enough to bring about change; instead, transparency in dealings between politicians and the press is necessary for a new era.