The Murdoch Archipelago - Couverture rigide

Rupert Murdoch is one of the most powerful men in the world today. As chief executive of News International, he controls a global media empire which boasts some of the major players in newspapers, television, publishing and the movie business. In the English-speaking world, and increasingly in 'untapped' but potentially lucrative markets such as China, he wields an influence as political kingmaker second to none.
How did he do it? How did this empire, a loose 'archipelago' of media islands large and small, come to be so successful and influential? Bruce Page's extraordinary investigation is the most rigorous analysis yet of the Murdoch empire -- tracing it back to Rupert's father, Sir Keith, and forward to his sons Lachlan and James. Together their stories illustrate the development of a business method which democracies would be foolish to ignore.
Page shows how Murdoch's approach to the acquisition of influence has benefited from being diluted across three different political cultures -- the US, Britain and Australia -- even in the media-saturated, global-village culture he has been instrumental in creating. And because of the physical and cultural distances between the three Murdoch has been able to influence political affairs with impunity. Is this a good thing? Bruce Page argues convincingly that it is not, and indeed that it goes against fundamental principles of democracy. Arguing that the freedom of the press is not just in our interest but a matter of life and death, and building on many years' research and featuring many previously undisclosed revelations, THE MURDOCH ARCHIPELAGO builds a devastating case against the dangers of media monopoly.

'An important and timely book' New Statesman
'A remarkable account . . . Speculative and learned . . . A mighty book' Literary Review
The first book to address the News Corporation scandal, this is the definitive account of Murdoch and his empire
In its first edition, The Murdoch Archipelago said that Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation was becoming a worldwide threat to liberal democracy. Now, as a brilliant investigation by the Guardian exposes the monopoly's pitilessness quality, moderate politicians of both left and right have come to see the danger. This new edition brings the Murdoch story up to date, and shows that the hacking of Millie Dowler's phone was not a random offence, but one originating in the Murdoch organisation's essential character, unchanged for more than eighty years.
'This book must be read' Independent on Sunday
'This book is to be admired. It is scholarly and ambitious . . . thorough and precise' Michael Portillo, Sunday Telegraph