Rupert Murdoch: Meet the Man Who Owns the World's News

12 August 2023
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Rupert Murdoch is an Australian-born American business magnate, media proprietor, and investor. He is the founder of News Corporation, one of the world's largest media conglomerates. Murdoch is known for his conservative political views and his influence on the media landscape.

Murdoch was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1931. His father was a newspaper publisher, and Murdoch inherited his father's two Adelaide newspapers in 1954. He quickly turned the newspapers around, using a mix of crime, sex, and scandal stories to boost circulation. In 1960, Murdoch bought the News of the World, a British tabloid newspaper. He turned the News of the World into a huge success, using its sensationalistic headlines and stories to attract readers.

Murdoch expanded his media empire in the 1970s and 1980s, buying newspapers, magazines, television stations, and book publishers around the world. He acquired The Times of London in 1981, the New York Post in 1976, and Fox Broadcasting Company in 1986. In 1996, he launched Fox News Channel, a cable news network that quickly became one of the most popular in the United States.

Murdoch's media empire has been criticized for its conservative bias and its willingness to publish sensationalized stories. He has also been accused of using his media outlets to promote his own political agenda. However, Murdoch remains one of the most powerful and influential media figures in the world.

In 2019, Murdoch sold most of his media assets to Disney for $71.3 billion. The sale created the Fox Corporation, which consists of Fox News, Fox Sports, and Fox Broadcasting Company. Murdoch's son, Lachlan, is the chairman and CEO of the Fox Corporation.

Rupert Murdoch is a controversial figure, but there is no doubt that he is one of the most powerful and influential media figures in the world. He has shaped the media landscape for decades, and his influence is likely to continue for many years to come.