BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 08:55 AM

Mind you, I'm with Milliband on this one.

Ofcom can only judge the application on the merits of monopoly and plurality of provider. To say that Murdoch represents lies and therefore must be gagged is difficult, because once a government is seen to be gagging the press, free speech is at risk.

Murdoch is dangerous, I agree. But a government taking this into account in decisions is equally if not more dangerous.

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: GUEST, RIchard Bridge on the other browser
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 07:36 AM

Apparently OFCOM is gobsmacked at having had 60,000 anti-Murdoch messages delivered to it.

However, young James Murdich has already gone into attack dog mode and is threatening the government (a perfect example of why the Murdochs are so dangerous) see linky

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/nov/17/james-murdoch-bskyb-deal

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 06:31 AM

I heard an interesting story the other day. A friend of mine, in a burst of (in my opinion misplaced) zeal joined the Labour Party at their recent National conference in Manchester. Somehow she got to meet David Milliband, at some function or other, and told him that he ought to "stop Murdoch." To which he replied, "why?"

Speaks volumes really. Either he doesn't want to stop Murdoch or he knows that Murdoch has far too much power and influence already and it would be dangerous for the LP to oppose him too strongly.

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 04:32 AM

Other than the bit about trade unions, (not sure Ofcom see that as a legitimate lever in their ultimate decision,) I agree with the broad thrust (not all the detail) of Richard's argument.

Just to say before he does, I do (accidentally) own a few shares in News international and am looking for the best opportunity to offload them.

I worry about the likes of Murdoch, but accept that in the world of media there is Murdoch and there are those would aspire to be Murdoch.

And that alone is reason enough to ensure a plurality of providers in this particular market. Although looking at how transmission of media is going, both the general globalisation and freeing of national boundary control via the internet, I am not sure government regulation of the corporate structures ultimately affect the overall mission of the conglomerate.

(ps. Sky are offering a great package at the moment and we had our Sky HD box installed yesterday.   You see? he wins in the end........)

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: frogprince
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 10:41 PM

And I bet that Rupert never proved to anyone that cheese and jelly sandwiches can actually be pretty tasty.

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: Bobert
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 09:23 PM

There's good reason why Bruce Murdock gets more coverage here than Rupert Murdock...

Rupert can't sing... Rupert doesn't write songs... Rupert can't play geetar and lastly...

...Rupert is a creep... Bruce is cool...

Just MO, of course...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 07:51 PM

There's Murdoch and there's Bruce Murdoch (whoever he is).

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 07:42 PM

Richard, maybe BS: The latest Murdoch Menace: NewsCorp/BSkyB would have been a better way to clarify the title, to assure people you're not banging away at Bruce Murdoch for something....

It doesn't happen many places in the world, but at Mudcat, Bruce gets more press coverage than Rupert.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 07:05 PM

Thanks, rags, that worked!

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: ragdall
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 06:46 PM

Kat,
I clicked on the "Campaigns" tab and found this page http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/4-days-stop-murdoch

rags

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 05:40 PM

Dear Clone

I am content with the title amendment.

Thank you for asking (not).

Subject: RE: BS: The latest (Rupert) Murdoch Menace
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 05:38 PM

When I clicked on the link, I got a "thanks for your vote, please donate." When I tried to back out of that, using the URL, all I could get was a please donate page. I notice they accept from anywhere, so presumably they would welcome signatures, too? I would like to sign it.

He is buying up all of NBC and its affiliates and holdings, including MSNBC, although it hasn't gone through, yet.

We just watched the Australian movie, Black and White, based on real events. A young Murdoch was the moving force which brought the plight of Max Stuart, a young Aboriginal man, to worldwide attention and saved him from hanging for a crime he didn't do. The movie was well done and had an interview after with the now elderly Stuart who said he owed his life to Murdoch.

I thought the movie did a good job of showing the early beginnings of Murdoch's insatiable "eye" for using the news to promote and sensationalize in order to sell more papers. At first I was shocked when they introduced his character. I thought, "wow, I never knew he had such heart" but as it progressed it became obvious he cared more about his "product" than Stuart. Stuart was just a convenient story to tout. It was interesting to see the "seeds" of what he has become, imo.

Subject: RE: BS: The latest Murdoch Menace
From: gnu
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 04:59 PM

Crook? If so, a rich one. The worst kind.

Subject: RE: BS: The latest Murdoch Menace
From: Bobert
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 04:37 PM

Rupert Murdock wants to own all media... Then he can can rightfully claim to be "The King Maker"... He is dangerous... He is a fascist... And he is unAmerican... If he were to die tomorrow it wouldn't hurt my feelings... America does not need people like him...

Oh, and he is a crook...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: The latest Murdoch Menace
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 03:39 PM

If he is now an American citizen, he shouldn't be allowed - or any of his family - to have a stake in a British newspaper of TV network.

Subject: RE: BS: The latest Murdoch Menace
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 11:47 AM

President of NEws Corp Mr. Rupert Billious Murdoch, is the most honest God fearing Patriotic American hero in the world!

Or so say loyal Beck fans.

Subject: RE: BS: The latest Murdoch Menace
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 10:57 AM

I want him to pay his income tax here.

Subject: RE: BS: The latest Murdoch Menace
From: olddude
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 10:06 AM

I thought you were talking about our Bruce !! NewsCorp is a wack job. It should be sued for false advertising ... there ain't no news in Newscorp .. just the corp part is true

Subject: RE: BS: The latest Murdoch Menace
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 09:39 AM

I think you'll find that it might have been something to do with Dumbya!

Subject: RE: BS: The latest Murdoch Menace
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 08:40 AM

Who in the name of God approved his US citizenship? We certainly don't want him.

Subject: RE: BS: The latest Murdoch Menace
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 04:55 AM

Signed,Murdoch is a malignant sod

Subject: RE: BS: The latest Murdoch Menace
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 04:48 AM

Well said, Richard. I've already signed the petition - I hope that other Mudcatters will do likewise.

Subject: BS: The latest Murdoch Menace
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 04:29 AM

As you will know the dangerous Rupert Murdoch proposes to take B Sky B wholly private into 100% ownership by his News Corp organisation.

OFCOM has power to investigate but is so far dithering.

Below I link to a website that enables you to petition OFCOM to investigate. There is a sample message for OFCOM there. Mine is below.

Here is the link

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/contribute/stand-up-to-murdoch-thanks

Here is my message to OFCOM:






Dear Ofcom,

I refer to the proposed takeover of BSkyB by NewsCorp. I confirm that I am English born and bred. I am also a solicitor who has practised to a considerable extent in the media field.

The basic premise of democracy is an informed electorate. Without information, or with skewed information, the electorate cannot take soundly based decisions. This depends upon media plurality and relatively low barriers to entry in mass media. Indeed, when I started practice in the medial field the UK had a plethora of competing terrestrial television stations using an officially neutral network hardware, and vigorous controls on cross-media ownership within regions. Likewise there were controls on control of an excess of broadcast media and also national print media. That plurality has already been badly impaired, and those avenues for information have entered excessive concentration.

Mr Murdoch already controls two major national print newspapers - the once proudly factual and independent "Times" and the redtop "Sun". By way of background local newspaper ownership is also now concentrated in a limited number of hands, and a simple scan round the dial will show that there is a substantial commonality of a limited news coverage on terrestrial wireless broadcasts. Also, alas, broad-spectrum mass-access information is hard to find on the internet. There is a mass of crumbs for those of short attention span, but apart from 140 character "tweets" which of their nature cannot base serious discussion there is little that has the penetration to balance potential bias across those two national newspapers plus a celestial television platform.   Likewise market penetration of non-Murdoch celestial platforms is slight.

This already gives Murdoch excessive power over the quality of information provided to the public. The facts already show that he is prepared to use that influence - a Sun headline famously bragged of a previous election "It's the Sun Wot Won it". Indeed at the time there was speculation that his price for support for the relevant potential prime minister was a promise of relaxation of media controls. In the USA his "Fox News" is a byword for bigoted propaganda mixed with alleged news. He has demonstrated his opposition to democratic representation by his union-busting activities when the Times first moved from Fleet Street. All this is dangerous. The obvious corruption and venality in Italy show what can happen when political and media power are too closely entwined.

Moreover, Murdoch has already demonstrated his hostility to alternative media outlets. He and his family have made many and political attacks on the closest thing we have to unbiased media - the BBC. A comparison between the quality of output of the heyday of the BBC (and the heyday of the UK terrestrial TV franchises) with the lowest common denominator approach of Murdoch controlled TV shows a tendency towards circuses almost as basic as Roman circuses - without alas the bread, as in the famous phrase "bread and circuses".   Total Murdoch control of Sky will reduce media choice and quality.

Yet further, he has already demonstrated his contempt for regulation by cynically taking US citizenship to enable his control of Fox.

Thus the effect of NewsCorp control would be:

To place excessive media control in the hands of one dangerous individual

To place excessive political power in the hands of one dangerous individual - consider the Fox news support for Sarah Palin and the Tea Party.

To reduce meaningful media choice for the individual

To reduce the quality of televisual programming (if you doubt this look at the Times and the Sun since his ownership).

Potentially to undermine the powerbase of democratic trade union activity.



It would be very dangerous for this country.