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| {{Infobox person | |||
| | name = Rupert Murdoch | |||
| | image = Rupert Murdoch 2011 Shankbone 3.JPG | |||
| | image_size = | |||
| | caption = Murdoch at the 2011 ] '']'' party | |||
| | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1931|3|11}} | |||
| | birth_name = Keith Rupert Murdoch | |||
| | birth_place = ] | |||
| | nationality = United States | |||
| | citizenship = Dual Citizen: ] and ] (naturalised 1985) | |||
| | religion = ] | |||
| | education = ] | |||
| | alma_mater = ] | |||
| | home_town = | |||
| | residence = ],<br/>] | |||
| | boards = ],<br/>] | |||
| | occupation = Chairman and CEO of<br>] | |||
| | political_party = Conservative (UK), Republican (US), Liberal Party (Australia) | |||
| | networth = {{gain}} US$ 8.3 billion (2012)<ref name = "Forbes">{{citation | url = http://www.forbes.com/profile/rupert-murdoch | contribution = Rupert Murdoch profile | title = Forbes | accessdate =March 2012}}</ref> | |||
| | spouse = {{marriage|Patricia Booker|1956|1967}} (divorced)<br>{{marriage|Anna Maria Torv|1967|1999}} (divorced)<br>{{marriage|]|1999}} | |||
| | children = Prudence Murdoch (b. 1958)<ref name=IBT/><br>] (b. 1968)<ref name=IBT/><br>] (b. 1971)<ref name=IBT/><br>] (b. 1972)<ref name=IBT/><br>Grace Murdoch (b. 2001)<ref name="BBC Murdoch"/><br>Chloe Murdoch (b. 2003)<ref name=IBT>{{cite web|title=Rupert Murdoch and His Family|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/177013/20110709/rupert-murdoch-james-murdoc-news-corp.htm|publisher=International Business Times|accessdate=24 July 2011|date=9 July 2011}}</ref> | |||
| | parents = ] (1885–1952)<br>] (née Greene, b. 1909) | |||
| | relatives = ] (son-in-law)<br>] (daughter-in-law) | |||
| | awards = ] (1984).<ref name="ACorder">{{cite web | quote = AC AD84. For service to the media, particularly the newspaper publishing industry | url= http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=883065&search_type=advanced&showInd=true | title= Honours|publisher= The Government| location = Australia | accessdate=27 February 2010}}</ref> | |||
| | footnotes = {{note label |infobox|a|a}}Australian citizenship lost in 1985 (under S17 of Australian Citizenship Act 1948) with acquisition of US nationality | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Keith Rupert Murdoch''', ], ] (born 11 March 1931) is an ] <!-- Do not change to "American", which is untrue, as the subject identifies with an Australian national background. --> ]. Murdoch became managing director of Australia's ], inherited from his father, in 1952.<ref name="BBC Murdoch"/><ref Name="Witzel"/> He is the founder, Chairman and CEO of global media ] ], the world's second-largest ].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2009/industries/145/index.html |publisher=CNN |title= Fortune | accessdate=20 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viacom.com/investorrelations/Investor_Relations_Docs/Q407%20Web%20Deck%20FINAL.pdf |title=PowerPoint Presentation |format=PDF |accessdate=11 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/09/news/companies/disney_dreamworks.fortune/?postversion=2009020914 |publisher=CNN | title=Why Disney wants DreamWorks | date=9 February 2009 | accessdate=20 May 2010 | first=Richard | last=Siklos}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newscorp.com/Report2007/AnnualReport2007/HTML2/news_corp_ar2007_0069.htm |title=News Corporation – Annual Report 2007 |publisher=Newscorp.com |date=30 June 2007 |accessdate=11 July 2011}}</ref> | |||
| In the 1950s and '60s, he acquired various newspapers in Australia and New Zealand, before expanding into the United Kingdom in 1969, taking over the '']'' followed closely by '']''. He moved to ] in 1974 to expand into the US market and became a ] US citizen in 1985.<ref Name="Witzel"/> In 1981, he bought '']'', his first British broadsheet. | |||
| In 1986, keen to adopt newer electronic publishing technologies, he consolidated his UK printing operations in ], causing bitter industrial disputes. His News Corporation acquired Twentieth Century Fox (1985), HarperCollins (1989)<ref>{{cite news|title=Rupert Murdoch faces authors' revolt|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/analysis/61122.stm|publisher=BBC|accessdate=24 July 2011|date=1 March 1998}}</ref> and '']'' (2007). He formed ] in 1990 and during the 1990s expanded into Asian networks and South American television. By 2000 Murdoch's News Corporation owned over 800 companies in more than 50 countries with a net worth of over $5 billion. | |||
| In July 2011 Murdoch faced allegations that his companies, including the '']'', owned by News Corporation, had been regularly ] of celebrities, royalty and public citizens. He faces police and government investigations into bribery and corruption by the British government and ] investigations in the US.<ref name="telegraph1">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8634757/Phone-hacking-David-Cameron-announces-terms-of-phone-hacking-inquiry.html|title=Phone hacking: David Cameron announces terms of phone-hacking inquiry|accessdate=13 July 2011|work=The Telegraph|date=13 July 2011|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Ed Pilkington in New York, Andrew Gumbel and agencies |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/14/fbi-news-corp-hacking-claims?INTCMP=SRCH |title=FBI to investigate News Corporation over 9/11 hacking allegations|work=The Guardian |date=14 July 2011 |accessdate=24 April 2012 |location=London}}</ref> On 21 July 2012, Murdoch resigned as a director of News International.<ref name="resignatiom">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18940016|title=Rupert Murdoch resigns as News International director|accessdate=21 July 2012|work=]|date=21 July 2012|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/world/europe/murdoch-resigns-from-british-newspaper-boards.html?_r=1 | title= Murdoch Resigns From His British Papers’ Boards| date= 23 July 2012 | work=The New York Times| first1=John F.| last1=Burns| first2=Ravi| last2=Somaiya}}</ref> | |||
| ==Early life== | |||
| Murdoch was born in ], the only son of Sir ] (1885–1952) and ] (born 1909). He has English, Irish and Scottish ancestry. His parents were both born in Melbourne. Keith Murdoch was a renowned war correspondent and later a regional newspaper magnate.<ref Name="Witzel">''The encyclopedia of the history of American management'' (2005) Morgen Witzel Continuum International Publishing Group p393 ISBN 978-1-84371-131-5</ref> He asked for a rendezvous with his future wife after seeing her debutante photograph in one of his own newspapers and they married in 1928, when she was aged 19 and he 23 years her senior.<ref name="Mother"/> In addition to Rupert, the couple had three daughters: Janet Calvert-Jones, Anne Kantor and Helen Handbury (1929–2004). | |||
| Murdoch attended ],<ref>{{cite book|author=Sue Vander Hook|title=Rupert Murdoch: News Corporation Magnate|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=MW0VHI3lumYC|year=2011|publisher=ABDO|isbn=978-1-61714-782-1|pages=}}</ref> where he had his first experience of editing a publication, being co-editor of the school's official journal ''The Corian'' and editor of the student journal ''If Revived''.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=The Corian|year=1948|month=May|volume=LXXIV|issue=1|page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=The Corian|year=1950|month=May|volume=LXXVII|issue=1|page=23}}</ref> He also took his School's cricket team to the National Junior Finals. He worked part time at the ''Melbourne Herald'' and was groomed by his father from an early age to take over the family business.<ref name="BBC Murdoch"/><ref Name="Witzel"/> Murdoch read ] at ] in England, where he supported the ]<ref name="BBC Murdoch"/> and managed ], the publishing house of ].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.oxfordtoday.ox.ac.uk/pdf/OT_Michaelmas_2009.pdf | work=Oxford Today | location=Oxford | title=Oxford Today, Oxford University alumni magazine | accessdate=11 April 2011}}{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref> After her husband's death from cancer in 1952, Elisabeth Murdoch went on to invest herself in charity work, as life governor of the ] in Melbourne and establishing the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. At 102 (in 2011) she had 74 descendants.<ref name="Mother">{{cite news|last=Barnett |first=Laura |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/20/rupert-murdoch-listen-to-mother?INTCMP=SRCH |title=If only Rupert Murdoch would listen to his mother|work=The Guardian |date=20 July 2011 |accessdate=24 April 2012 |location=London}}</ref> Murdoch completed an MA before working as a sub-editor with the '']'' for two years.<ref Name="Witzel"/> | |||
| ==Activities in Australia and New Zealand== | |||
| ] (1885–1952), Rupert Murdoch's father.]] | |||
| Following his father's death, when he was 21, Murdoch returned from Oxford to take charge of the family business ], which had been established in 1923. Rupert Murdoch turned its newspaper, '']'', its main asset, into a major success.<ref name="BBC Murdoch">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2162658.stm|title=Rupert Murdoch: Bigger than Kane|last=Walker|first=Andrew|date=31 July 2002|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=27 December 2009}}</ref> He began to direct his attention to acquisition and expansion, buying the troubled ] in ] (1956) and over the next few years acquiring suburban and provincial newspapers in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and the ], including the Sydney afternoon tabloid, '']'' (1960). '']'' describes Murdoch as "inventing the modern tabloid",<ref name=Economist>{{cite news|title=Last of the moguls|url=http://www.economist.com/node/18988526?story_id=18988526|work=The Economist|accessdate=21 July 2011|date=21 July 2011}}</ref> as he developed a pattern for his newspapers, increasing sports and scandal coverage and adopting eye-catching headlines.<ref Name="Witzel"/> | |||
| Murdoch's first foray outside Australia involved the purchase of a controlling interest in the New Zealand daily ]. In January 1964, while touring New Zealand with friends in a rented Morris Minor after sailing across the Tasman, Murdoch read of a takeover bid for the Wellington paper by the British-based Canadian newspaper magnate, ]. On the spur of the moment, he launched a counter-bid. A four-way battle for control ensued in which the 32-year-old Murdoch was ultimately successful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heritage.scotsman.com/notw-phone-hacking-allegations/Profile-Rupert-Murdoch.6801177.jp |title=Profile: Rupert Murdoch |work=The Scotsman |date=13 July 2011 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> Later in 1964, Murdoch launched '']'', Australia's first national daily newspaper, and its first broadsheet, which was based first in ] and later in Sydney.<ref name="BBC Murdoch"/><ref>{{citation | url = http://www.theage.com.au/business/welcome-antidote-to-news-limited-and-selfserving-spin-20090127-7r0g.html | contribution = Welcome antidote to News' limited and self-serving spin | title = The Age | place = AU | date = 28 January 2009 | location=Melbourne}}</ref> In 1972, Murdoch acquired the Sydney morning tabloid '']'' from Australian media mogul Sir ], who later regretted selling it to him.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dr Engledow|first=Sarah|title=Vintage Cassab|url=http://www.portrait.gov.au/magazine/article.php?articleID=178&author=14|publisher=''Magazine of Australian and International Portraiture''. National Portrait Gallery, Australia. December 2006 – February 2007|accessdate=24 July 2011}}</ref> In 1984, Murdoch was appointed ] (AC) for services to publishing.<ref name="Rupert Murdoch 2011 p88">''Rupert Murdoch: News Corporation Magnate'' (2011) Sue Vander Hook. ABDO Publishing ISBN 1-61714-782-6 p88</ref> | |||
| In 1999, Murdoch significantly expanded his music holdings in Australia by acquiring the controlling share in a leading Australian independent label, ]'s ]; he merged that with ], and the result was ] (FMR). Both Festival and FMR were managed by Murdoch's son ] for several years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/11/09/1131407684176.html |title=A long way to the bottom|work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=9 November 2005 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ===Political activities in Australia=== | |||
| Murdoch found a political ally in ], leader of the Australian Country Party (now known as the ]), who was governing in coalition with the larger Menzies-Holt ]. From the very first issue of ''The Australian'' Murdoch began taking McEwen's side in every issue that divided the long-serving coalition partners. (The Australian, 15 July 1964, first edition, front page: "Strain in Cabinet, Liberal-CP row flares.") It was an issue that threatened to split the coalition government and open the way for the stronger Australian Labor Party to dominate Australian politics. It was the beginning of a long campaign that served McEwen well.<ref name="Garden">Don Garden, ''Theodor Fink: A Talent for Ubiquity'' (Melbourne University Press 1998)</ref> | |||
| After McEwen and ] retired, Murdoch threw his growing power behind the ] under the leadership of ] and duly saw it elected<ref>{{cite news|title=A man of selfish loyalties: Rupert Murdoch's apparent overture to Tony Blair strikes a chilling chord among Australian politicians he has supported|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a-man-of-selfish-loyalties-rupert-murdochs-apparent-overture-to-tony-blair-strikes-a-chilling-chord-among-australian-politicians-he-has-supported-1376362.html|date=14 August 1994|work=The Independent |accessdate=24 July 2011|location=London|first=Robert|last=Milliken}}</ref> on a social platform that included universal free health care, free education for all Australians to tertiary level, recognition of the People's Republic of China, and public ownership of Australia's oil, gas and mineral resources. Rupert Murdoch's backing of Whitlam turned out to be brief. Murdoch had already started his short-lived ''National Star''<ref name="Garden"/> newspaper in America, and was seeking to strengthen his political contacts there.<ref>Shawcross, (1987) pp. 30–39</ref> | |||
| Asked about the ] at News Corporation's annual general meeting in New York on 19 October 2007, its chairman Rupert Murdoch said, "I am not commenting on anything to do with ]. I'm sorry. I always get into trouble when I do that." Pressed as to whether he believed Prime Minister ] should be re-elected, he said: "I have nothing further to say. I'm sorry. Read our editorials in the ]. It'll be the journalists who decide that – the editors."<ref>Michael Roland, , ], published 20 October 2007</ref> In 2009, in response to accusations by Australian Prime Minister ] that News Limited was running vendettas against him and his government, Murdoch opined that Rudd was "oversensitive"<ref>{{cite news|author=7 November 2009 12:00 am |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/rudd-too-sensitive-for-own-good-murdoch/story-e6frg8zx-1225795200045 |title=Rudd too sensitive for own good: Murdoch |work=The Australian |date=7 November 2009 |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> Murdoch described Howard's successor, Labor Party Prime Minister ], as "...more ambitious to lead the world than to lead Australia..." and criticised Rudd's expansionary fiscal policies in the wake of the ] as unnecessary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/rudd-too-sensitive-to-criticism-murdoch-20091107-i2oo.html |title=Rudd too sensitive to criticism: Murdoch |publisher=Brisbane Times |date=7 November 2009 |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> Although News Limited's interests are extensive, also including the '']'', the '']'' and the '']'', it was suggested by the commentator ] in '']'' that "the anti-Rudd push, if coordinated at all, was almost certainly locally driven" as opposed to being directed by Murdoch, who also took a different position from local editors on such matters as climate change and stimulus packages to combat the financial crisis.<ref>{{cite news | title=Comment: Rudd and the Murdoch Press |date=September 2009 |author=Mungo MacCallum| url=http://www.themonthly.com.au/nation-reviewed-mungo-maccallum-comment-rudd-and-murdoch-press-1945|work=] |pages=8–11 |accessdate=23 July 2011}}</ref> | |||
| ==Activities in the United Kingdom== | |||
| ===Business activities in the United Kingdom=== | |||
| ] | |||
| In 1968 Murdoch entered the UK newspaper market with his acquisition of the populist ''News of the World'', followed in 1969 with the purchase of the struggling daily broadsheet '']'' from ].<ref Name= "Deals">{{citation | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/jul/18/citynews.pressandpublishing | contribution = Rupert Murdoch – a lifetime of deals | title = Guardian | date = 18 July 2007 | location=London |work=The Guardian | first=Chris | last=Tryhorn}}</ref> Murdoch turned ''The Sun'' into a ] format and reduced costs by using the same printing press for both newspapers. On acquiring it, he appointed Albert 'Larry' Lamb as editor and - Lamd recalled later - told him: "I want a tearaway paper with lots of tits in it". In 1997 ''The Sun'' attracted 10 million daily readers.<ref Name="Witzel"/> In 1981, Murdoch acquired the struggling '']'' and '']'' from Canadian newspaper publisher ].<ref Name= "Deals"/> Ownership of ''The Times'' came to him through his relationship with Lord Thomson, who had grown tired of losing money on it as a result of much industrial action that stopped publication.<ref>Harold Evans, ''Good Times, Bad Times'', 1983</ref> In the light of success and expansion at ''The Sun'' the owners believed that Murdoch could turn the papers around. ], Editor of the ''Sunday Times'' from 1967, was made head of the daily ''Times'', though he stayed only a year amid editorial conflict with Murdoch.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/481851.stm |title=Journalist legend calls it a day|publisher=BBC News |date=22 October 1999 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref><ref>" guaranteed that editors would have control of the political policy of their newspapers ... that the editors would not be subject to instruction from the proprietor on selection and balance of news and opinion ... that instructions to journalists would be given only by their editor". ] ''Good Times, Bad Times''. 1984</ref> | |||
| During the 1980s and early 1990s, Murdoch's publications were generally supportive of Britain's Prime Minister ].<ref>Page (2003) p. 3, pp. 253–419</ref> At the end of the ]/] era, Murdoch switched his support to the ] and its leader, ]. The closeness of his relationship with Blair and their secret meetings to discuss national policies was to become a political issue in Britain.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/jul/23/newscorporation.rupertmurdoch |work=The Guardian | location=London | title = The PM, the mogul and the secret agenda | first=Gaby | last= Hinsliff | date= 23 July 2006 | accessdate=10 April 2010}}</ref> Though this later started to change, with ''The Sun'' publicly renouncing the ruling Labour government and lending its support to ]'s ] in the English editions, which soon after came to form a coalition government. In Scotland, where the Tories had yet to recover from their complete annihilation in 1997, the paper began to endorse the ] (though not yet its flagship policy of independence), which soon after came to form the first ever outright majority in the proportionally elected Scottish Parliament. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's official spokesman said in November 2009 that Brown and Murdoch "were in regular communication" and that "there is nothing unusual in the prime minister talking to Rupert Murdoch".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mulholland|first= Hélène| title= Gordon Brown spoke to Rupert Murdoch after misspelling row|newspaper=The Guardian|date=12 November 2009 | url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/12/gordon-brown-rupert-murdoch-misspelling| location=London}}</ref> | |||
| In 1986, Murdoch introduced electronic production processes to his newspapers in Australia, Britain and the United States. The greater degree of automation led to significant reductions in the number of employees involved in the printing process. In England, the move roused the anger of the print unions, resulting in a long and often violent dispute that played out in ], one of London's docklands areas, where Murdoch had installed the very latest electronic newspaper purpose-built publishing facility in an old warehouse.<ref>Page (2003), pp. 368–93</ref> The bitter dispute at ] started with the dismissal of 6,000 employees who had gone on strike and resulted in street battles and demonstrations. Many on the political left in Britain alleged the collusion of Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government with Murdoch in the Wapping affair, as a way of damaging the British trade union movement.<ref>{{citation | title = The Guardian | place = UK | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2004/oct/12/rupertmurdoch.citynews1?INTCMP=SRCH | contribution = Fortress Wapping: A history | date = 12 October 2004 | location=London | first=Dominic | last=Timms}}</ref><ref>Rt. Hon. Tony Benn cited in ''Hansard'', 8 May 1986. 'The mounted police advanced out of the plant exactly as the tactical options manual says that they should. They ran into the crowd. They were covered by riot police who did several things. First they ran indiscriminately into the crowd and battered people who had had nothing whatsoever to do with any stones that might have been thrown... They surrounded the bus that was acting as an ambulance. One man had a heart attack and I appealed over the loudspeaker for the police to withdraw to allow an ambulance to come. None was allowed for 30 minutes. When the man was put on a trestle a police horse jostled it and the man nearly fell off as he was carried out to the ambulance. The police surrounded the park where the meeting took place. They surrounded the area so that people could not escape.'</ref><ref>{{citation | url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/07/08/uk-newscorp-wapping-idUKTRE7675GM20110708 | title = Murdoch protests come full circle 25 years on | publisher = Reuters | date = 8 July 2011 | place = UK}}</ref> In 1987, the dismissed workers accepted a settlement of £60 million.<ref Name="Witzel"/> | |||
| Murdoch's British-based satellite network, ], incurred massive losses in its early years of operation. As with many of his other business interests, Sky was heavily subsidised by the profits generated by his other holdings, but convinced rival satellite operator ] to accept a merger on his terms in 1990.<ref Name="Witzel"/> They were quick to see the advantages of ] satellite broadcasting that did not require costly cable networks and the merged company, ], has dominated the British pay-TV market ever since.<ref>{{citation | publisher = OFTEL | place = UK | title = Submission to the ITC on competition issues arising from the award of digital terrestrial television multiplex licences | quote = The OFT has already found BSkyB to be dominant in the wholesale market for premium programming content (particularly certain sports and movie rights). BSkyB also currently controls the satellite network for direct to the home (DTH) pay television in the UK. Given its control of premium programming content, it also controls a vital input into the cable companies transmission and programme activities | url = http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/ind_info/broadcasting/dtt.htm}}</ref> By 1996, BSkyB had more than 3.6 million subscribers, triple the number of cable customers in the UK.<ref Name="Witzel"/> British financier Lord Jacob Rothschild, a close Murdoch friend since the 1960s, served as deputy chairman of Murdoch's BSkyB corporation from 2003–2007, and Murdoch jointly invested with Rothschild in a 5.5 percent stake in Genie Oil and Gas, which did shale gas and oil exploration in Israel.<ref>{{citation | Business Wire 15 November 2010}}</ref> | |||
| In response to print media's decline and the increasing influence of online journalism during the 2000s, Murdoch proclaimed his support of the ] model for obtaining revenue from on-line news,<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/may/07/rupert-murdoch-charging-websites |work=The Guardian | location = London | title=News Corp will charge for newspaper websites, says Rupert Murdoch | first=Andrew | last=Clark | date=7 May 2009 | accessdate=10 April 2010}}</ref> although this has been criticised by some.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shirky.com/weblog/2009/03/newspapers-and-thinking-the-unthinkable/ |title=Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable |last=Shirky |first=Clay |publisher=Shirky.com |date=13 March 2009 |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> | |||
| News Corporation has subsidiaries in the ], the ], the ] and the ]. From 1986, News Corporation's annual tax bill averaged around seven percent of its profits.<ref>Chenoweth (2001) pp. 300–303, 87–90, 177</ref> | |||
| ===Political activities in United Kingdom=== | |||
| In Britain, in the 1980s, Murdoch formed a close alliance with ] prime minister ], and ''The Sun'' ] with helping her successor ] to win an unexpected election victory in ], which had been expected to end in a ] or a narrow win for ] Labour.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3654446.stm |publisher=BBC | work = News | title= Forty years of The Sun | date= 14 September 2004 | accessdate =10 April 2010 | first=Torin | last=Douglas}}</ref> In the general elections of ], ] and ], Murdoch's papers were either neutral or supported ] under ]. This has led some critics to argue that Murdoch simply supports the incumbent parties (or those who seem most likely to win an upcoming election) in the hope of influencing government decisions that may affect his businesses. | |||
| The Labour Party, from when Tony Blair became leader in 1994, had moved from the Left to a more central position on many economic issues prior to 1997. Murdoch identifies himself as a ], saying "What does libertarian mean? As much individual responsibility as possible, as little government as possible, as few rules as possible. But I'm not saying it should be taken to the absolute limit."<ref>{{cite news | last=Shawcross|first=William|title= Rupert Murdoch|url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,33716-1,00.html |work=Time |accessdate=29 August 2010|date=3 November 1999}}</ref> | |||
| In a speech delivered in New York, Rupert Murdoch said that the British Prime Minister ] described the ] coverage of the ] disaster as being full of hatred of America.<ref>{{cite news| title = Blair 'attacked BBC over Katrina' | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4257190.stm|publisher=BBC | work = News|accessdate=29 August 2010|date=18 September 2005}}</ref> | |||
| In 1998, Rupert Murdoch made an attempt to buy the football club ],<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/murdochs-man-utd-bid-blocked-1086123.html | contribution = Murdoch's Man Utd bid blocked | date = 10 April 1999 | title = The Independent | place = UK | location=London}}</ref> with an offer of £625 million, but this failed. It was the largest amount ever offered for a sports club. It was blocked by the ], which stated that the acquisition would have "hurt competition in the broadcast industry and the quality of British football". | |||
| On 28 June 2006 the BBC reported that Murdoch and News Corporation were considering backing new ] David Cameron at the next General Election – still up to four years away.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5127284.stm |title= Murdoch flirts with Conservatives |publisher=BBC | work = News | date= 28 June 2006 | accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> In a later interview in July 2006, when he was asked what he thought of the Conservative leader, Murdoch replied "Not much".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-world-according-to-rupert-408937.html | title =The world according to Rupert |work=The Independent |location=London |date=23 July 2006 |accessdate=25 April 2010 | first= Nicholas | last= Wapshott}}</ref> In a 2009 blog, it was suggested that in the aftermath of the ] which is still ongoing in 2012 and might yet have Transatlantic implications<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14111966 | contribution = Rupert Murdoch: Could his US empire be affected? |publisher=BBC | title = News | date = 12 July 2011}}</ref> Murdoch and News Corporation might have decided to back Cameron.<ref>{{cite news| location = UK | url= http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/christopherhope/100002849/rupert-murdoch-to-back-david-cameron-at-next-general-election-exclusive/ | work= The Daily Telegraph | location= London | date= 10 July 2009 | accessdate=10 April 2010 | title= Rupert Murdoch to back David Cameron at next general election}}</ref> Despite this, there had already been a convergence of interests between the two men over the muting of Britain's communications regulator ].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://blogs.pressgazette.co.uk/mediamoney/2009/07/06/paying-tribute-to-murdoch-cameron-promises-the-end-of-ofcom-as-we-know-it/ |title=Paying tribute to Murdoch: Cameron promises the end of Ofcom "as we know it" | work = Media Money | publisher= Press Gazette | local = UK | date =6 July 2009 | accessdate =25 April 2010}}</ref> | |||
| In 2006, Britain's '']'' newspaper reported that Murdoch would offer Tony Blair a senior role in his global media company News Corporation when the prime minister stood down from office.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article1202848.ece |title= Murdoch set to back Blair – for a place in his boardroom |work=The Independent |location= London |date= 29 July 2006|accessdate=25 April 2010 | first= Andrew | last=Grice}}</ref> | |||
| He is accused by former Solidarity ] ] of having a personal vendetta against him and of conspiring with ] to produce a video of him confessing to having affairs – allegations over which Sheridan had previously sued ] and won.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://news.scotsman.com/ViewArticle.aspx?articleid=2815752 | title= Sheridan claims to be 'victim of MI5 plot' |work=The Scotsman |location=UK |accessdate=25 April 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref> On being arrested for ] following the case, Sheridan claimed that the charges were "orchestrated and influenced by the powerful reach of the Murdoch empire".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article3258014.ece |title= Tommy Sheridan charged with perjury |work=The Independent |location= London | date= 17 December 2007 |accessdate=25 April 2010 | first=Kim | last=Sengupta}}</ref> | |||
| In August 2008, British Conservative leader and future Prime Minister ] accepted free flights to hold private talks and attend private parties with Murdoch on his yacht, the ''Rosehearty''.<ref name='R000977'>{{cite news | first= Andrew| last= Grice| title=Cameron, Murdoch and a Greek island freebie | date= 24 October 2008 | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cameron-murdoch-and-a-greek-island-freebie-971470.html |work=The Independent |location=London | accessdate =25 October 2008 }}</ref> Cameron has declared in the Commons register of interests he accepted a private plane provided by Murdoch's son-in-law, public relations guru ]; Cameron has not revealed his talks with Murdoch. The gift of travel in Freud's ] private jet was valued at around £30,000. Other guests attending the "social events" included the then EU trade commissioner ], the Russian oligarch ] and co-chairman of ] ]. The Conservatives have not disclosed what was discussed.<ref name = 'R000976'>{{cite news | first= David| last= Hencke| title= Tories try to play down Aegean dinner | date= 25 October 2008 | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/oct/25/david-cameron-rupert-murdoch-meeting |work=The Guardian | accessdate =25 October 2008 | location=London}}</ref> | |||
| In July 2011 it emerged that Cameron met key executives of Murdoch's News Corporation 26 times during the 14 months that Cameron had served as Prime Minister.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Rupert-Murdoch-Apologizes-to-Phone-Hacking-Victims-125682133.html | contribution = Records Show Britain's Cameron Kept Close Ties to Murdoch Officials | title = ] | date = 16 July 2011}}</ref> It was also reported that Murdoch had given Cameron a personal guarantee that there would be no risk attached to hiring ], the former editor of ''News of the World'', as the Conservative Party's communication director in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/the-battle-of-wapping-mk-ii-2310041.html |title= The Battle of Wapping, Mk II – Press, Media |work=The Independent |location= UK |accessdate=12 July 2011 |first1=Jane |last1=Merrick |first2=James |last2=Hanning |first3=Matt |last3=Chorley |first4=Brian |last4=Brady |date=10 July 2011}}</ref> This was in spite of Coulson having resigned as editor over phone hacking by a reporter. Cameron chose to take Murdoch's advice, despite warnings from ], ] and '']''.<ref>{{cite news | author = Toby Helm and Daniel Boffey | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/09/phone-hacking-andy-coulson-paddy-ashdown |title= Phone hacking: I warned No 10 over Coulson appointment, says Ashdown |work=The Guardian |location=UK | accessdate=12 July 2011 | date=9 July 2011}}</ref> Coulson resigned his post in 2011 and was later arrested and questioned on allegations of further criminal activity at The ''News of the World'', specifically the ].{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} | |||
| ==News International phone hacking scandal== | |||
| {{main|News International phone hacking scandal}} | |||
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| In July 2011 Rupert Murdoch along with his son James gave testimony before a ] committee regarding phone hacking. In the U.K his media empire remains under fire as investigators continue to probe reports of other phone hacking.<ref name="cnnaug">{{cite news|url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/16/murdoch-pie-thrower-reportedly-blogging-from-prison/?hpt=hp_t1 |title=CC Murdoch pie thrower reportedly blogging from prison |publisher=CNN |date= 16 August 2011|accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| On 14 July, the ] of the ] served a ] on Murdoch, his son ], and his former CEO ] to testify before a committee on 19 July.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-12/news-corp-s-murdoch-faces-six-u-k-inquiries-as-parliament-seeks-hearing.html|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=24 July 2011|title=News Corp.'s Murdoch Faces Six U.K. Inquiries as Parliament Seeks Hearing|date=13 Jul 2011|first1=Lindsay|last1=Fortado|first2=Thomas|last2=Penny}}</ref> After an initial refusal, the Murdochs confirmed they would attend after the committee issued them a summons to Parliament.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14148658 |title=Phone hacking: Murdochs agree to appear before MPs |publisher=BBC |date=14 July 2011 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> The day before the committee, the website of the News Corporation publication '']'' was hacked, and a false story was posted on the front page claiming that Murdoch had died.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rovzar|first=Chris|title=Website of Murdoch's Sun Hacked|url=http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/07/website_of_murdochs_sun_hacked.html|accessdate=18 July 2011|newspaper=]|date=18 July 2011|agency=New York Media Holdings|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/60HMbQTWj|archivedate=18 July 2011|location=New York City}}</ref> Murdoch described the day of the committee "the most humble day of my life". He argued that since he ran a global business of 53,000 employees and that the ''News of the World'' was "just 1%" of this, he was not ultimately responsible for what went on at the tabloid. He added that he had not considered resigning,<ref name=BBC14195259>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14195259|title=Phone hacking: 'Humbled' Murdoch rejects blame|publisher=BBC News|date=19 July 2011|accessdate=19 July 2011}}</ref> and that he and the other top executives had been completely unaware of the hacking.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/19/live-blog-police-murdoch-brooks-to-testify-in-phone-hacking-scandal/|title=Murdochs, Brooks, Police testify in phone-hacking scandal|date=19 July 2011|work=CNN|accessdate=19 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/world/europe/20hacking.html |title=Murdochs Say Top Executives Didn't Know of Phone Hacking|date=19 July 2011|work=The New York Times|accessdate=19 July 2011|first=Sarah|last=Lyall}}</ref> | |||
| On 15 July Rupert Murdoch attended a private meeting in London with the family of ], where he personally apologised for the hacking of their murdered daughter's voicemail by a company he owns.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14170756 |title= Rupert Murdoch 'sorry' in newspaper adverts |publisher=BBC News |date= 16 July 2011|accessdate=16 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{cite news|author=Lisa O' Carroll |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/16/rupert-murdoch-phone-hacking-apology?INTCMP=SRCH |title=Rupert Murdoch's public acts of contrition |work=The Guardian |date=16 July 2011 |accessdate=24 April 2012 |location=London}}</ref> On 16 and 17 July, News International published two full-page apologies in many of Britain's national newspapers. The first apology took the form of a letter, signed by Rupert Murdoch, in which he said sorry for the "serious wrongdoing" that occurred. The second was titled "Putting right what's gone wrong", and gave more detail about the steps News International was taking to address the public's concerns.<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/> In the wake of the allegations Murdoch accepted the resignations of ], head of Murdoch's British operations, and ], head of Dow Jones who was chairman of Murdoch's British newspaper division when some of the abuses happened. They both deny any knowledge of any wrongdoing under their command.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110715/WIRE/110719709 |title=Wall Street Journal publisher resigns |publisher=Heraldtribune.com |date= 15 July 2011 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| On 27 February 2012, the following day after Murdoch's controversial release of the Sun on Sunday, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers informed the ] that Police are investigating a "network of corrupt officials" as part of their inquiries into phone hacking and police corruption. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers told the ] that evidence suggested a "culture of illegal payments" at the Sun newspaper and that these payments allegedly made by the Sun were authorised at a senior level.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17173438|title=Leveson Inquiry: Evidence suggests 'network of corrupt officials'|publisher=BBC News|date=27 February 2012|accessdate=27 February 2012}}</ref> | |||
| In testimony on 25 April 2012, Murdoch did not deny the quote attributed to him by his former editor of ''The Sunday Times'', ]: "I give instructions to my editors all round the world, why shouldn't I in London?"<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/26/what-rupert-murdoch-hasnt-read |title= Just what hasn't Rupert Murdoch read? |author= Helen Pidd |date= 26 April 2012 |publisher= guardian.co.uk |accessdate= 21 April 2012 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Transcript-of-Morning-Hearing-25-April-2012.txt |title= Transcript of Morning Hearing 25 April 2012 |publisher= The Leveson Inquiry |page= 33 |accessdate= 26 April 2012 }}<br/>'''Robert Jay QC''': This is 4 March 1983. You apparently said this: "I give instruction to my editors all round the world, why shouldn't I in London?" Do you remember saying that?<br/>'''Murdoch''': No, I don't.</ref> On 1 May 2012, the ] issued a report stating that Murdoch was "not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/may/02/phone-hacking-mps-clash-murdoch|title=Phone-hacking: MPs clash over when Murdoch criticisms were discussed|accessdate=1 May 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=1 May 2012|location=London|first1=Patrick|last1=Wintour|first2=Dan|last2=Sabbagh|first3=Josh|last3=Halliday}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17898029|title=Rupert Murdoch 'not a fit person' to lead News Corp - MPs|work=BBC News|date=1 May 2012|accessdate=2 May 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ==Activities in the United States== | |||
| Murdoch made his first acquisition in the United States in 1973, when he purchased the '']''. Soon afterwards, he founded '']'', a ], and in 1976, he purchased the '']''.<ref Name="Witzel"/> On 4 September 1985, Murdoch became a naturalised citizen to satisfy the legal requirement that only US citizens were permitted to own US television stations. This resulted in Murdoch losing his Australian citizenship.<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Given | first = Jock| title = Foreign Ownership of Media and Telecommunications: an Australian story| journal=Media & Arts Law Review| volume = 7| issue = 4| page = 253| date = December 2002| url = http://www.law.unimelb.edu.au/cmcl/malr/7-4-1%20Foreign%20Ownership%20Formatted%20for%20web.pdf| format = PDF}}{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| title = The World's Billionaires No.73 Rupert Murdoch| newspaper=Forbes| date = 7 October 2007| url = http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/10/07billionaires_Rupert-Murdoch_639W.html| accessdate =8 October 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ] sold ]'s interest in ] to Murdoch for $250 million in March 1984. Davis later backed out of a deal with Murdoch to purchase ]'s Metromedia television stations.<ref name="Wolff2010"/> Murdoch went alone and bought the stations, and later bought out Davis' remaining stake in Fox for $325 million.<ref name="Wolff2010">{{cite book|author=Michael Wolff|title=The Man Who Owns the News: Inside the Secret World of Rupert Murdoch|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ZWleLGIrwBcC&pg=PT167|accessdate=19 February 2012|date=5 May 2010|publisher=Random House|isbn=978-1-4090-8679-6|pages=167–}}</ref> The six television stations owned by ] would form the nucleus of the ], founded on 9 October 1986, which would go on to have great success with programmes such as '']'' and '']''.<ref Name="Witzel"/> | |||
| In 1987 in Australia, he bought ], the company that his father had once managed. By 1990 News Corporation had built up debts of $7 billion (much from Sky TV in the UK).<ref Name="Witzel"/> forcing Murdoch to sell many of the American magazine interests he had acquired in the mid-1980s. In 1993, it took exclusive coverage of the National Football League (NFL) from ] and increased programming to seven days a week.<ref>''Rupert Murdoch: News Corporation Magnate'' (2011) Sue Vander Hook. ABDO Publishing ISBN 1-61714-782-6 pp78-9</ref> In 1995, Murdoch's ] became the object of scrutiny from the ] (FCC), when it was alleged that News Ltd.'s Australian base made Murdoch's ownership of Fox illegal. However, the FCC ruled in Murdoch's favour, stating that his ownership of Fox was in the best interests of the public. That same year, Murdoch announced a deal with ] to develop a major news website and magazine, '']''. Also that year, News Corporation launched the ] pay television network in Australia in partnership with ]. In 1996, Murdoch decided to enter the cable news market with the ], a ] ] station. Ratings studies released in 2009 showed that the network was responsible for nine of the top ten programs in the "Cable News" category at that time.<ref> ''Huffington Post''</ref> Rupert Murdoch and ] (founder and former owner of CNN) are long-standing rivals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2003/apr/25/newscorporation.pressandpublishing |title=Turner: Murdoch is a 'warmonger' |work=The Guardian |date=25 April 2003 |accessdate=24 April 2012 |location=London}}</ref> In late 2003, Murdoch acquired a 34 percent stake in ], the operator of the largest American satellite TV system, ], from ] for $6 billion (USD).<ref name="Rupert Murdoch 2011 p88"/> His Fox movie studio would go on to have global hits with '']'' and '']''.<ref>''Rupert Murdoch: News Corporation Magnate'' (2011) Sue Vander Hook. ABDO Publishing ISBN 1-61714-782-6 p93</ref> | |||
| In 2004, Murdoch announced that he was moving News Corporation headquarters from Adelaide, Australia to the United States. Choosing a US domicile was designed to ensure that American fund managers could purchase shares in the company, since many were deciding not to buy shares in non-US companies. Some analysts believed that News Corporation's Australian domicile was leading to the company being undervalued compared with its peers. | |||
| ] | |||
| On 20 July 2005, News Corporation bought ], which held Myspace, ] and other social networking-themed websites, for $580 million USD, making Murdoch a major player in online media concerns.<ref>{{cite news|title= News Corp in $580m internet buy |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4695495.stm|publisher=BBC | work = News |accessdate=29 August 2010|date=19 July 2005}}</ref> In June 2011, it sold off Myspace for US$35 million.<ref>Fixmer, Andy, , ''Business Week'', 29 June 2011</ref> On 11 September 2005, News Corporation announced that it would buy ] Entertainment for $650 million (USD).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/sep2005/id20050911_550700.htm | title = News Corp. Acquires IGN for $650 Million |work=BusinessWeek | date=11 September 2005 |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> | |||
| In May 2007, Murdoch made a $5 billion offer to purchase ]. At the time, the ], who had owned the Dow Jones for 105 years and controlled 64% of the shares at the time, firmly declined the offer, opposing Murdoch's much-used strategy of slashing employee numbers and gutting existing systems. Later, the Bancroft family confirmed a willingness to consider a sale. Besides Murdoch, the ] reported that supermarket magnate ] and Internet entrepreneur ] were among the other interested parties.<ref> ''USA Today''</ref> In 2007, Murdoch acquired Dow Jones,<ref>{{cite news | last=Litterick |first=David |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/08/01/bcndow101.xml |title= Report of acquisition |work= The Daily Telegraph |location= London | date = 1 August 2007 |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Day to Day |url= http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12421598 |title=Marketplace Report: Murdoch's Big Buy | publisher = NPR |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> which gave him such publications as '']'', '']'', the '']'' (based in Hong Kong) and '']''.<ref>''Rupert Murdoch: News Corporation Magnate'' (2011) Sue Vander Hook. ABDO Publishing ISBN 1-61714-782-6 p92</ref> | |||
| ===Political activities in the United States=== | |||
| McNight (2010) identifies four characteristics of his media operations: ] ideology; unified positions on matters of public policy; global editorial meetings; and opposition to a perceived ].<ref name="autogenerated303">{{citation | first = David | last = McKnight | contribution = Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation: A Media Institution with A Mission | title = 'Historical Journal of Film, Radio & Television | date = Sept 2010 | volume = 30 | issue = 3 | pages = 303–16}}</ref> | |||
| On 8 May 2006, the '']'' reported that Murdoch would be hosting a fund-raiser for Senator ]'s (]-New York) Senate re-election campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/61faabde-deb8-11da-acee-0000779e2340.html | section = US & Canada | title = Murdoch to host fundraiser for Hillary Clinton |work=Financial Times |date=8 May 2006 |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> In a 2008 interview with ], Murdoch was asked whether he had "anything to do with the '']'''s endorsement of ] in the democratic primaries." Without hesitating, Murdoch replied, "Yeah. He is a rock star. It's fantastic. I love what he is saying about education. I don't think he will win Florida... but he will win in ] and the ]. I am anxious to meet him. I want to see if he will walk the walk."<ref>{{cite web| first = Andrew | last = Sullivan | publisher = The Atlantic |url= http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/05/murdoch-on-mcca.html |title= The Daily Dish | date= 29 May 2008 |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hilary-rosen/rupert-murdoch-says-obama_b_104018.html | first =Hilary | last = Rosen | title = Rupert Murdoch Says Obama Will Win |work=Huffington Post |location=USA |accessdate=25 April 2010 | date=5 June 2008}}</ref> Murdoch is a strong supporter of Israel and its domestic policies.<ref>{{dead link|date=July 2012}} ''The Spectator''.</ref> | |||
| In 2010 News Corporation gave $1 million to the ] and $1 million to the conservative ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/01/news-corp-donates-1-million-to-anti-democrat-group | title = News Corp. Donates $1 million to U.S. Chamber of Commerce | work = The New York Times | date = 1 October 2010 |accessdate=10 October 2010 | first=Jim | last= Rutenberg}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2010/10/rupert_murdochs_news_corp_dona.html |title=Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. donates $1M to U.S. Chamber of Commerce | work = The Plain Dealer |publisher= Cleveland.com | date = 2 October 2010 |accessdate=10 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101007/el_yblog_upshot/murdoch-says-kasich-friendship-influenced-1-mil-donation | title = Murdoch says Kasich friendship influenced $1 million donation |publisher=Yahoo! | work = News |date= 7 October 2010 |accessdate=11 October 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref> Murdoch also served on the board of directors of the ] ].<ref>{{citation | url = http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:lgfQf_lM7E8J:www.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/cpr-19n6-10.html+murdoch+board+of+directors+cato+institute&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&client=ubuntu/ | contribution = Murdoch Joins Board of Directors | publisher = Cato | title = Policy report}}</ref> He is a member of the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/about/membership/roster.html?letter=M |title=Membership Roster – Council on Foreign Relations |publisher=Cfr.org |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> Murdoch is also a supporter of the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act.<ref></ref> | |||
| Murdoch is a supporter of more open immigration policies in western nations generally.<ref>{{cite news|last=Adegoke |first=Yinka |url=http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2011/11/17/murdoch-backs-progressive-u-s-immigration-policy/ |title=Murdoch backs progressive U.S. immigration policy | MediaFile | Analysis & Opinion|publisher=Blogs.reuters.com |date=17 November 2011 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> In the United States, Murdoch and chief executives from several major corporations including ], ] and ] joined ] Mayor ] to form the ] to advocate "for immigration reform – including a path to legal status for all undocumented immigrants now in the United States."<ref name="huffingtonpost1">{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/30/murdoch-bloomberg-testify_n_745499.html |work=Huffington Post | title=Rupert Murdoch, Michael Bloomberg Push For Immigration Reform | date=30 September 2010}}</ref> The coalition, reflecting Murdoch and Bloomberg's own views, also advocates significant increases in legal immigration to the United States as a means of boosting America's sluggish economy and lowering unemployment. The Partnership's immigration policy prescriptions are notably similar to those of the Cato Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—both of which Murdoch has supported in the past.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/new-study-seconds-cato-finding-immigration-reform-good-for-economy/ |title=New Study Seconds Cato Finding: Immigration Reform Good for Economy|publisher=Cato-at-liberty.org |date=7 January 2010 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> The '']'' editorial page has similarly advocated for increased legal immigration, in contrast to the staunch anti-immigration stance of Murdoch's British newspaper, '']''.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/3906232/MPs-Act-now-on-immigration.html | location=London | work=The Sun}}</ref> On 5 September 2010, Murdoch testified before the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law Membership on the "Role of Immigration in Strengthening America’s Economy." In his testimony, Murdoch called for ending mass deportations and endorsed a "comprehensive immigration reform" plan that would include a pathway to citizenship for all illegal immigrants.<ref name="huffingtonpost1"/> | |||
| In the ], Murdoch has been critical of the competence of ]'s team but nonetheless has been strongly supportive of a ] victory, tweeting: "Of course I want him to win, save us from socialism, etc."<ref name="la-tweet">{{cite news | work = ] | first = Morgan | last= Little | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-rupert-murdoch-wants-romney-to-win-despite-criticisms-20120702,0,772977.story | title = Rupert Murdoch wants Romney to win despite criticisms | date = July 2, 2012 | accessdate= July 2, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ==Activities in Europe== | |||
| Murdoch owns controlling interest in ''Sky Italia'', a satellite television provider in Italy.<ref Name="BW">{{cite web|last=Matlack |first=Carol |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_07/b4166030281413.htm |title=Berlusconi vs. Murdoch: Porn as a Pawn |work=BusinessWeek |date=4 February 2010 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> Murdoch's business interests in Italy have been a source of contention since they began.<ref Name="BW"/> In 2010 Murdoch won a media dispute with then Italian Prime Minister ]. A judge ruled the then Prime Minister's media arm ] prevented News Corporation's Italian unit, Sky Italia, from buying advertisements on its television networks.<ref>{{citation | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8327072.stmtext |publisher=BBC | place = UK | title = Business | deadurl=yes}}{{Dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref> | |||
| ==Activities in Asia== | |||
| In 1993, Murdoch acquired ], a Hong Kong company founded by ]<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/23/business/the-media-business-star-tv-extends-murdoch-s-reach.html | contribution = Star TV Extends Murdoch's Reach | title = The New York Times | date = 23 August 1993 | first=Philip | last=Shenon}}</ref> for $1 billion (Souchou, 2000:28), and subsequently set up offices for it throughout Asia. The deal enables News International to broadcast from Hong Kong to India, China, Japan and over thirty other countries in Asia, becoming one of the biggest satellite TV networks in the east.<ref Name="Witzel"/> However, the deal did not work out as Murdoch had planned, because the Chinese government placed restrictions on it that prevented it from reaching most of China. | |||
| ==Family== | |||
| ===Marriages=== | |||
| ], in 2011]] | |||
| In 1956 Murdoch married Patricia Booker, a former shop assistant and flight attendant from Melbourne and they had their first child, Prudence, in 1958.<ref name="Examiner">{{citation | url = http://www.examiner.ie/business/business-features/how-safe-is-the-murdoch-empire-160545.html | contribution = How safe is the Murdoch empire? | date = 9 July 2011 | title = The Irish Examiner}}</ref><ref Name="Wherenow"/> Rupert and Patricia Murdoch divorced in 1967.<ref name=IBT/> In 1967 Murdoch married Anna Maria Torv (Tõrv),<ref name = "Examiner" /> a Scottish-born cadet journalist working for his Sydney newspaper '']'' (not to be mistaken for the actress ] of '']'' who is the elder Torv's niece).<ref name=IBT/> During his marriage to Torv, a Roman Catholic, Murdoch was made a ] (KSG), a papal honour awarded by ].<ref> – site of the ]</ref> Torv and Murdoch had three children: ] (born in Sydney, Australia on 22 August 1968), ] (born in London, UK on 8 September 1971), and ], (born in London on 13 December 1972).<ref name="Examiner"/><ref Name= "Wherenow" /> Murdoch's companies published two novels by his then wife: ''Family Business'' (1988) and ''Coming to Terms'' (1991), both widely regarded<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wn.com/Queensland_Department_of_Primary_Industries |title= Murdoch's companies published two novels by his then wife: Family Business (1988) and Coming to Terms (1991); both are widely regarded as vanity publications | publisher = WN.com |accessdate=12 July 2011}}</ref> as vanity publications. They divorced in June 1999. Anna Murdoch received a settlement of US$ 1.2 billion in assets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/media/features/14302/index6.html |title= The Boy Who Wouldn't Be King |publisher= NY Mag | date= 19 September 2005 |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> | |||
| On 25 June 1999, 17 days after divorcing his second wife, Murdoch, then aged 68, married Chinese-born Deng Wendi (]).<ref>{{citation | url = http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jul/30/business/fi-murdoch30 | contribution = Murdoch's Heir Apparent Abruptly Resigns His Post | title = LA Times | date = 30 July 2005 | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Sallie | last=Hofmeister}}</ref> She was 30, a recent ] graduate, and a newly appointed vice-president of his ]. Murdoch now has two daughters with her; Grace (born 2001) and Chloe (born 2003). | |||
| ===Children=== | |||
| Murdoch has six children.<ref Name="Explode">{{citation | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8641599/Phone-hacking-Rupert-Murdochs-media-empire-explodes.html | contribution = Phone hacking: Rupert Murdoch's media empire explodes | date = 16 Jul 2011 | title = Daily Telegraph | publisher = The Telegraph | place = UK | location=London | first1=Neil | last1=Tweedie | first2=Matthew | last2=Holehouse}}</ref> His eldest child, Prudence MacLeod, was appointed on 28 January 2011 to the board of ], part of ], which publishes '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Another Murdoch joins the Time.|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/mar/02/rupert-murdoch-thetimes|work=The Guardian |accessdate=24 July 2011|date=2 March 2011|location=London|first=Roy|last=Greenslade}}</ref> Murdoch's eldest son ], formerly the deputy chief operating officer at the News Corporation and the publisher of the '']'', was Murdoch's ] before resigning from his executive posts at the global media company at the end of July 2005.<ref Name="Explode"/> Lachlan's departure left ] chief executive of the satellite television service ] since November 2003, as the only Murdoch son still directly involved with the company's operations, though Lachlan has agreed to remain on the News Corporation's board.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.economist.com/node/4255447 | contribution = The sadness of Rupert Murdoch | title = The Economist | date = 4 August 2005}}</ref> | |||
| After graduating from ]<ref Name="Court" /> and marrying classmate Elkin Kwesi Pianim (the son of Ghanaian financial and political mogul ]) in 1993,<ref Name="Court"/> Murdoch's daughter ], along with her husband, purchased a pair of NBC-affiliate television stations in California, ] and ], with a $35 million loan provided by her father. By quickly re-organising and re-selling them at a $12 million profit in 1995, Elisabeth emerged as an unexpected rival to her brothers for the eventual leadership of the publishing dynasty's empire. But after divorcing her first husband in 1998 and quarrelling publicly with her assigned mentor ] at BSkyB, she struck out on her own as a television and film producer in London. She has since enjoyed independent success, in conjunction with her second husband, ], the great-grandson of ] (the founder of ]) whom she met in 1997 and married in 2001.<ref Name="Court">{{citation | place = UK | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/nov/13/elisabeth-murdoch-matthew-freud-politics | contribution = Inside the court of London's golden couple | title = The Guardian | date = 13 November 2008 | first=John | last=Harris}}</ref> | |||
| It is not known how long Murdoch will remain as News Corporation's CEO. For a while the American cable television entrepreneur ] was the second-largest voting shareholder in News Corporation after Murdoch himself, potentially undermining the family's control. In 2007, the company announced that it would sell certain assets and give cash to Malone's company in exchange for its stock. In 2007, the company issued Murdoch's older children voting stock.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} | |||
| Rupert Murdoch has two children with Wendi Deng: Grace (b. New York, 19 November 2001)<ref name="BBC Murdoch"/> and Chloe (b. New York, 17 July 2003).<ref name=IBT/><ref Name= "Wherenow">{{citation | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/so-where-does-rupert-murdoch-go-from-here-500802.html | contribution = So where does Rupert Murdoch go from here? | date = 31 July 2005 |work=The Independent | place = UK | location=London}}</ref> It was revealed in September 2011 that ] is Grace's ].<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tony-blair/8740530/Tony-Blair-is-godfather-to-Rupert-Murdochs-daughter.html | contribution = Tony Blair is godfather to Rupert Murdoch's daughter | date = 4 September 2011 | publisher = The Telegraph | place = UK | location=London | first=Anita | last=Singh}}</ref> There is reported to be tension between Murdoch and his oldest children over the terms of a trust holding the family's 28.5 percent stake in News Corporation, estimated in 2005 to be worth about $6.1 billion. Under the trust, his children by Wendi Deng share in the proceeds of the stock but have no voting privileges or control of the stock. Voting rights in the stock are divided 50/50 between Murdoch on the one side and his children of his first two marriages. Murdoch's voting privileges are not transferable but will expire upon his death and the stock will then be controlled solely by his children from the prior marriages, although their half-siblings will continue to derive their share of income from it. It is Murdoch's stated desire to have his children by Deng given a measure of control over the stock proportional to their financial interest in it (which would mean, if Murdoch dies while at least one of the children is a minor, that Deng would exercise that control). It does not appear that he has any strong legal grounds to contest the present arrangement, and both ex-wife Anna and their three children are said to be strongly resistant to any such change.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/02/business/media/02murdoch.html| title = New York Times | contribution = Wife and Ex-Wife Now Shape News Corp.'s Fate | date = 2 August 2005 | work=The New York Times}}</ref> | |||
| ==Portrayal on television, in film, books and music== | |||
| Murdoch and rival newspaper and publishing magnate ] are thinly fictionalised as "Keith Townsend" and "Richard Armstrong" in '']'' by British novelist and former MP ].<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/maxwell-vs-murdoch--the-untold-story-1346669.html | contribution = Maxwell vs Murdoch – the untold story | title = The Independent | place = UK | date = 11 May 1996 | location=London | first=Hugo | last=Barnacle}}</ref> | |||
| Murdoch has been portrayed by ] in the 1991 mini-series '']'', ] in a parody of '']'' in the television show '']'', ] in the film '']'', Paul Elder in '']'' and by himself on '']'', first in "]" and later in "]". | |||
| It has been speculated that the character of ], the global media magnate and main villain in the 1997 ] movie '']'', is based on Murdoch. The writer of the film, ], has stated that Carver was actually inspired by British press magnate ], who was one of Murdoch's rivals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2008/01/bruce-feirste-2.html | title =Bruce Feirstein: The Tao of Bond-Film Naming |date=29 January 2008|work= Vanity Fair | first= Bruce | last = Feirstein}}</ref> | |||
| Since both Rupert Murdoch and Robert Maxwell had the same initials they were often confused by the public. | |||
| This confusion was exploited by the writers of the British situation comedy ']' which was set in a TV newsroom | |||
| who chose to name the fictional proprietor Sir Roysten Merchant (initials RM). | |||
| The writers state on their DVD commentares that it was "fortunate" for them that the two men shared the same initials. | |||
| In the 1997 film '']'', the head of Octopus Inc. Rod McCain (initials R.M.) character is likely modelled after Murdoch.<ref>{{citation | last = MATHEWS | first = Jack | url = http://articles.latimes.com/1997-01-24/entertainment/ca-23063_1_fierce-creatures | title = Los Angeles Times | date = 24 January 1997 | accessdate =2 August 2011}}</ref> | |||
| In 1999, the ] owned ] aired an original sitcom, '']''. This featured an all-] cast and the role of an Australian TV veteran named Harry Waller. The character is described as "a self-made gazillionaire with business interests in all sorts of fields. He owns newspapers, hotel chains, sports franchises and genetic technologies, as well as everyone's favourite cable TV channel, The Chimp Channel." Waller is thought to be a parody of Murdoch, a long-time rival of Turner's.<ref>{{citation | last = Lucas | first = Michael P | url = http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jun/01/entertainment/ca-42906/2 | title = Los Angeles Times | date = 1 June 1999 | accessdate =8 April 2010}}</ref> | |||
| In 2004, the movie '']'' included many interviews accusing Fox News of pressuring reporters to report only one side of news stories, in order to influence viewers' political opinions.<ref>{{cite news | last = Memmott | first =Mark |url= http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2004-07-11-outfoxed_x.htm | title = Another film joins the political debate today when Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism is unveiled in New York | quote = 'Outfoxed' accuses Fox of slanting the news. Outfoxed, which is being promoted by the liberal advocacy group MoveOn, charges that Fox News executives order their cable TV anchors, reporters and producers to slant the news to be pro-Republican and pro-Bush administration |work=USA Today |date=12 July 2004 |accessdate=12 July 2011}}</ref> | |||
| In 2012, the satirical show ''Hacks'', broadcast on UK-based ], made obvious comparisons with Rupert Murdoch using the fictional character 'Stanhope Feast', as well as other central figures in the ]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hacks | title=Hacks | accessdate=8 January 2012}}</ref> | |||
| == Influence, wealth and reputation == | |||
| Murdoch's reputation and influence have been noted, both positively and negatively. | |||
| According to the 2011 list of Forbes richest Americans, Murdoch is the 38th richest person in the US and the 106th-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $8.3 billion.<ref name = "Forbes" /> | |||
| Murdoch has been listed three times in the ] as among the most influential people in the world. In May 2012, '']'' ranked him as the 24th most powerful person in the world.<ref>, '']''.</ref> | |||
| In connection with Murdoch's testimony to the ] "into the ethics of the British press", editor of '']'', ], referred to him as "the man whose name is synonymous with unethical newspapers".<ref name=Varadarajan>{{cite news | first=Tunku | last=Varadarajan | url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/04/29/world-on-a-page-nationalization-and-necrophilia.html | title=Nationalization and Necrophilia. Till death do us part. Chronicle of a Death | work=] | date=30 April 2012 }}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| {{portal|Victoria}} | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist|30em}} | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| *{{cite book |last=Chenoweth |first=Neil |title=Rupert Murdoch, the untold story of the world's greatest media wizard |year=2001 |publisher=Random House |location=New York}} | |||
| *Dover, Bruce. ''Rupert's Adventures in China: How Murdoch Lost A Fortune And Found A Wife'' (Mainstream Publishing). | |||
| * Ellison, Sarah. ''War at the Wall Street Journal: Inside the Struggle To Control an American Business Empire'', Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. ISBN 978-0-547-15243-1 (Also published as: ''War at The Wall Street Journal: How Rupert Murdoch Bought an American Icon'', Melbourne, Text Publishing, 2010.) | |||
| * Evans, Harold. ''Good Times, Bad Times'', London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1983 | |||
| *{{cite book | |||
| |first = Alison| last =Harcourt | |||
| |title = European Union Institutions and the Regulation of Media Markets | |||
| |edition = | |||
| |publisher=Manchester University Press | |||
| |location = London, New York | |||
| |year =2006 | |||
| |url = | |||
| |isbn = 0-7190-6644-1}} | |||
| * McKnight, David. "Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation: A Media Institution with A Mission," ''Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television,'' Sept 2010, Vol. 30 Issue 3, pp 303–316 | |||
| *{{Cite book |last=Page |first=Bruce |title=The Murdoch Archipelago |publisher=Simon and Schuster UK |year=2003}} | |||
| *{{Cite book |last=Shawcross |first=William |title=Murdoch: the making of a media empire |publisher=Simon and Schuster |location=New York |year=1997}} | |||
| *{{cite book |last=Souchou |first=Yao |title=House of Glass – Culture, Modernity, and the State in Southeast Asia |year=2000 |publisher=White Lotus |location=Bangkok}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{Sister project links|v=no|b=no|wikt=no|s=no}} | |||
| * {{C-SPAN|rupertmurdoch}} | |||
| * {{Charlie Rose view|390}} | |||
| * {{IMDb name|613770}} | |||
| * {{Aljazeeratopic|person/rupert-murdoch}} | |||
| * {{Bloombergtopic|rupert-murdoch}} | |||
| * collected news and commentary at '']'' | |||
| * {{Guardiantopic|media/rupert-murdoch}} | |||
| * {{NYTtopic|people/m/rupert_murdoch}} | |||
| * {{WSJtopic|person/M/rupert-murdoch/563}} | |||
| * {{Worldcat id|lccn-n83-219772}} | |||
| * {{Nndb|420/000023351}} | |||
| * at '']'' | |||
| * resources from ] | |||
| * , 29 June 2007 | |||
| * Arsenault, A & Castells, M. (2008) . International Sociology. 23(4) | |||
| * – audio report by '']'' | |||
| * {{dead link|date=July 2012}}. ''New Statesman'' | |||
| {{News Corporation}} | |||
| {{2011 News Corporation scandal}} | |||
| {{Business in Australia}} | |||
| <!-- Metadata: see ] --> | |||
| {{Persondata | |||
| |NAME = Murdoch, Keith Rupert | |||
| |ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | |||
| |SHORT DESCRIPTION = Businessman | |||
| |DATE OF BIRTH = 11 March 1931 | |||
| |PLACE OF BIRTH = ] | |||
| |DATE OF DEATH = | |||
| |PLACE OF DEATH = | |||
| }} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Murdoch, Rupert}} | |||
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