Activities in Australia and New Zealand Rupert Murdoch

journalist sir keith murdoch (1885–1952), rupert murdoch s father

following father s death, when 21, murdoch returned oxford take charge of family business news limited, had been established in 1923. rupert murdoch turned newspaper, adelaide news, main asset, major success. began direct attention acquisition , expansion, buying troubled sunday times in perth, western australia (1956) , on next few years acquiring suburban , provincial newspapers in new south wales, queensland, victoria , northern territory, including sydney afternoon tabloid, daily mirror (1960). economist describes murdoch inventing modern tabloid , developed pattern newspapers, increasing sports , scandal coverage , adopting eye-catching headlines.

murdoch s first foray outside australia involved purchase of controlling interest in new zealand daily dominion. in january 1964, while touring new zealand friends in rented morris minor after sailing across tasman, murdoch read of takeover bid wellington paper british-based canadian newspaper magnate, lord thomson of fleet. on spur of moment, launched counter-bid. four-way battle control ensued in 32-year-old murdoch successful. later in 1964, murdoch launched australian, australia s first national daily newspaper, based first in canberra , later in sydney. in 1972, murdoch acquired sydney morning tabloid daily telegraph australian media mogul sir frank packer, later regretted selling him. in 1984, murdoch appointed companion of order of australia (ac) services publishing.

in 1999, murdoch expanded music holdings in australia acquiring controlling share in leading australian independent label, michael gudinski s mushroom records; merged festival records, , result festival mushroom records (fmr). both festival , fmr managed murdoch s son james murdoch several years.

political activities in australia

murdoch found political ally in sir john mcewen, leader of australian country party (now known national party of australia), governing in coalition larger menzies-holt-gorton liberal party. first issue of australian murdoch began taking mcewen s side in every issue divided long-serving coalition partners. (the australian, 15 july 1964, first edition, front page: strain in cabinet, liberal-cp row flares. ) issue threatened split coalition government , open way stronger australian labor party dominate australian politics. beginning of long campaign served mcewen well.

after mcewen , menzies retired, murdoch threw growing power behind australian labor party under leadership of gough whitlam , duly saw elected on social platform included universal free health care, free education australians tertiary level, recognition of people s republic of china, , public ownership of australia s oil, gas , mineral resources. rupert murdoch s backing of whitlam turned out brief. murdoch had started short-lived national star newspaper in america, , seeking strengthen political contacts there.

asked australian federal election, 2007 @ news corporation s annual general meeting in new york on 19 october 2007, chairman rupert murdoch said, not commenting on australian politics. m sorry. trouble when that. pressed whether believed prime minister john howard should continue prime minister, said: have nothing further say. m sorry. read our editorials in papers. ll journalists decide – editors. in 2009, in response accusations australian prime minister kevin rudd news limited running vendettas against him , government, murdoch opined rudd oversensitive . murdoch described howard s successor, labor party prime minister kevin rudd, ...more ambitious lead world [in tackling climate change] lead australia... , criticised rudd s expansionary fiscal policies in wake of financial crisis of 2008 unnecessary. although news limited s interests extensive, including daily telegraph, courier-mail , adelaide advertiser, suggested commentator mungo maccallum in monthly anti-rudd push, if coordinated @ all, locally driven opposed being directed murdoch, took different position local editors on such matters climate change , stimulus packages combat financial crisis.

murdoch supporter of australian republic, having campaigned 1 during 1999 referendum.