Topics

Posted 9/25/2023, 4:20:18 PM

Rupert Murdoch's Rollercoaster Ride in Tech: From MySpace to Phone Hacking Scandals, Battles with Tech Giants, and Climate Contradictions

Murdoch bought MySpace in 2005 for $580 million but was unable to compete with Facebook, selling it in 2011 at a huge loss.
Murdoch's News Corp phone hacking scandal in the UK put new emphasis on digital privacy and mobile security.
Murdoch wanted tech giants like Google and Facebook to pay news organizations for content, reaching a deal with Google in 2021.
Murdoch had a majority stake in streaming service Hulu starting in 2007, until Disney took control in 2019.
Murdoch's Fox News spread climate misinformation, despite Murdoch's personal investments in climate-focused National Geographic.

gizmodo.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/25/2023

Elon Musk stopped policing political misinformation. The tech industry followed.

Facebook and YouTube are stepping back from their role as curators of political misinformation, which could have significant consequences for the 2024 presidential election.

9/21/2023

Rupert Murdoch Steps Down as Fox News Chairman, Lachlan Murdoch Takes Over as Network Faces Lawsuits Over Election Claims

Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corp, with his son Lachlan Murdoch taking over as sole chairman of both companies.

9/21/2023

Rupert Murdoch's Retirement Seen as Trial Balloon to Boost Son Lachlan's Status as Heir to Media Empire

Rupert Murdoch's announcement of his "retirement" and transition to chairman emeritus is likely a strategic move to boost the status of his chosen heir, Lachlan Murdoch, and maintain control of his media empire after his passing.

9/22/2023

Rupert Murdoch's Influence Spans Continents But Faces Ongoing Scrutiny Over Media Dominance

Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old media mogul, has left a lasting impact on Australian institutions and media ownership, despite concerns about his influence on the nation's democracy and calls for a Royal Commission, as his retirement draws near.

9/23/2023

Lachlan Murdoch to Take Control of Fox in November, Seen as Ideologically Aligned with Father Rupert

Lachlan Murdoch's assumption of control over the Murdoch media empire is not expected to bring significant changes to the conservative-leaning Fox News, as he has been described as just as conservative as his father, Rupert Murdoch.

9/23/2023

Fox News Unlikely to Change Partisan Tone Despite Leadership Transition

Despite the departure of Rupert Murdoch, Fox News is expected to continue amplifying political bias, disinformation, and conservative causes, as its business model remains unchanged and economically successful, according to analysts.

9/23/2023

Lachlan Murdoch to Take Over as News Corp Chair From Father Rupert After Rocky Past With Company

Lachlan Murdoch is set to become the undisputed leader of his father's media empire, News Corp. and Fox Corp., as Rupert Murdoch steps down, but history suggests that things can quickly change within the Murdoch family business.

9/24/2023

Murdoch Media Empire Pushed Iraq, Brexit and Trump for Profit, Not Ideology

Rupert Murdoch's retirement leaves behind a destructive legacy, as his media empire played a significant role in the Iraq War, Brexit, and the rise of Donald Trump and his false claims.

9/26/2023

MAGA Media Outlets Seek to Overtake Fox News With More Extreme Pro-Trump Lies

The departure of Rupert Murdoch from Fox Corp. and News Corp. has shifted focus to the succession within the Murdoch family, but the bigger story lies in the growing competition from well-funded GOP propaganda outlets that are more extreme, explicitly racist, and favor Trump even more than Fox News viewers, which could threaten Fox News' audience and influence.

9/28/2023

Swisher: Murdoch's Media Empire in its 'Waning Days' and Will Unravel After He Dies

Rupert Murdoch's media empire is seen as a destructive force due to the spread of disinformation and the erosion of trust in facts, but with his departure as chairman, the future of the empire is uncertain.

Topics

Posted 9/25/2023, 4:20:18 PM

Rupert Murdoch's Rollercoaster Ride in Tech: From MySpace to Phone Hacking Scandals, Battles with Tech Giants, and Climate Contradictions

Murdoch bought MySpace in 2005 for $580 million but was unable to compete with Facebook, selling it in 2011 at a huge loss.
Murdoch's News Corp phone hacking scandal in the UK put new emphasis on digital privacy and mobile security.
Murdoch wanted tech giants like Google and Facebook to pay news organizations for content, reaching a deal with Google in 2021.
Murdoch had a majority stake in streaming service Hulu starting in 2007, until Disney took control in 2019.
Murdoch's Fox News spread climate misinformation, despite Murdoch's personal investments in climate-focused National Geographic.

gizmodo.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/25/2023

Elon Musk stopped policing political misinformation. The tech industry followed.

Facebook and YouTube are stepping back from their role as curators of political misinformation, which could have significant consequences for the 2024 presidential election.

9/21/2023

Rupert Murdoch Steps Down as Fox News Chairman, Lachlan Murdoch Takes Over as Network Faces Lawsuits Over Election Claims

Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corp, with his son Lachlan Murdoch taking over as sole chairman of both companies.

9/21/2023

Rupert Murdoch's Retirement Seen as Trial Balloon to Boost Son Lachlan's Status as Heir to Media Empire

9/22/2023

Rupert Murdoch's Influence Spans Continents But Faces Ongoing Scrutiny Over Media Dominance

9/23/2023

Lachlan Murdoch to Take Control of Fox in November, Seen as Ideologically Aligned with Father Rupert

9/23/2023

Fox News Unlikely to Change Partisan Tone Despite Leadership Transition

9/23/2023

Lachlan Murdoch to Take Over as News Corp Chair From Father Rupert After Rocky Past With Company

9/24/2023

Murdoch Media Empire Pushed Iraq, Brexit and Trump for Profit, Not Ideology

Rupert Murdoch's retirement leaves behind a destructive legacy, as his media empire played a significant role in the Iraq War, Brexit, and the rise of Donald Trump and his false claims.

9/26/2023

MAGA Media Outlets Seek to Overtake Fox News With More Extreme Pro-Trump Lies

9/28/2023

Swisher: Murdoch's Media Empire in its 'Waning Days' and Will Unravel After He Dies