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Nonfiction November 2024
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Sign up todayThe Men Who Killed the News
The inside story of how media moguls abused their power, manipulated the truth and distorted democracy
Narrator
Eric Beecher
This audiobook uses AI narration.
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Length
13 hours 26 minutes
Language
English
Bookseller recommendation
“I found this book fascinating and quite alarming at the same time, looking at media tycoons, their monopolies and their ultimate influence. Eric has thoroughly researched this topic and I found it very easy to listen to. ”
— Suzie • Farrells Bookshop
Bookseller recommendation
“A brilliantly told history of media heavyweights and how they gained their power and influence of society. It is not a recent event for the media to make up stories, use blackmail to keep certain stories out of the media or utilise their power in ways that sway political elections. From the 1950’s through to the present day, this narrative includes the influence of social media and the impact of AI. A great read for anyone with an interest of media’s influence on how we live our lives. ”
— Lisa • Collins Booksellers Sale
Crikey owner and ex-News Corp and Fairfax editor lifts the lid on the abuse of power by media moguls – from William Randolph Hearst to Elon Musk – and on his own unique experience of working for (and being sued by) the Murdochs.
What’s gone wrong with our media? The answer: its owners. From William Randolph Hearst to Elon Musk, from the British press barons to colonial upstarts Conrad Black and Rupert Murdoch, media proprietors have manipulated the news to accumulate wealth and influence as they meddled with democracy.
Eric Beecher knows the news business from bottom to top. He has been a journalist, editor and media proprietor (of Text Media and Crikey), with the rare distinction of having both worked for and been sued (unsuccessfully) by the Murdochs.
This book reveals the distorted role of the media moguls of the past two centuries: their techniques, strategies, behind-closed-doors machinations, and indulgent lifestyles. It explains how they have exploited the shield of the freedom of the press to undermine journalism – and truth.
In an era of fake news, AI and misinformation, this is democracy’s chillingly important story: how a small coterie of flawed and narcissistic moguls created a shadow of power that has contributed to making the media an agent of mistrust.
Eric Beecher has had a long career in journalism, media and publishing. He started his career as a reporter on the Melbourne Age, spent periods at The Sunday Times and The Observer in London, and at The Washington Post; he was appointed as the youngest-ever editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and later as editor-in-chief of the Melbourne Herald. He then became an independent media owner, launching several media and publishing start-up companies, initially in print and then in digital news publishing. He is currently chair and the largest shareholder in Private Media, owner of several Australian news websites, including Crikey.
Eric Beecher has had a long career in journalism, media and publishing. He started his career as a reporter on the Melbourne Age, spent periods at The Sunday Times and The Observer in London, and at The Washington Post; he was appointed as the youngest-ever editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and later as editor-in-chief of the Melbourne Herald. He then became an independent media owner, launching several media and publishing start-up companies, initially in print and then in digital news publishing. He is currently chair and the largest shareholder in Private Media, owner of several Australian news websites, including Crikey.
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