Rupert Murdoch’s Retirement: A Turning Point for the Media Landscape
Rupert Murdoch’s announcement that he will be stepping down as chairman of Fox and News Corp. has sent shockwaves through the global news industry. The question on everyone’s minds is: What will happen when Murdoch, his legacy firmly intact, eventually passes away at the age of 92?
It would be premature to declare Murdoch’s impact on newspaper, cable journalism, and American politics as a thing of the past. The virus he injected into the American bloodstream, through the likes of Fox News, the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page, and the New York Post, is resilient and far-reaching.
In a memo to his employees, Murdoch assured them that despite transitioning into the role of “chairman emeritus,” he would continue to be engaged daily with news and ideas. He promised to share his thoughts and advice, all while his eldest son Lachlan takes over the reins. Lachlan has been tasked with the mission of combating the narrative-driven media and upholding the truth.
So, despite the transition, it seems Fox News will remain unchanged. Murdoch’s signal is clear – he will still be watching over his media empire, and Lachlan is aligned with his vision. It brings to mind the old joke where a retiring politician announces his departure but continues to run for re-election.
While assessing Murdoch’s influence, it is important to note that his journalistic empire is defined not just by extreme conservatism, but also by an unflinching disregard for ethics, scruples, and the consequences of spreading false information. Even though Murdoch himself holds conservative views, he did not hesitate to sacrifice his personal sentiments when they clashed with potential profits.
A prime example of this occurs in the forgotten tale of the Hitler diaries. Despite mounting doubts about their authenticity, Murdoch purchased the rights to publish the diaries in the U.S., Britain, and Australia. When faced with the possibility of the diaries being exposed as forgeries, he made the call to publish anyway. As he famously said, “Circulation went up and it stayed up.”
Murdoch’s Fox News became dominant by offering a feast of culture war outrage and Republican partisanship to low-information voters. The stars of the channel came to believe they were the driving force behind its success, but in reality, it was Fox News that made them. Individuals like Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, and Tucker Carlson were dismissed and ultimately lost their audience and influence once they were removed from the network.
It is difficult to measure the precise impact of Murdoch’s Fox News on American politics, but it is undeniable that it has had a detrimental effect. The channel’s concentrated audience provided a platform for then-President Trump and his false claims about the 2020 election. This led to a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems, resulting in a $787 million settlement.
The future of the Murdoch empire remains uncertain with Lachlan poised to take the helm. While he shares his father’s conservative politics, doubts linger about his ability to replicate his father’s deal-making prowess. Rupert Murdoch’s empire has constantly evolved, with acquisitions and sales shaping its trajectory. The potential conflict among Murdoch’s eldest children, including differing views on the empire’s right-wing bias, adds complexity to its future.
As the media landscape adjusts to Murdoch’s retirement, one thing is certain – his influence will continue to be felt for years to come.
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