Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers have been launching scathing political attacks, leaving no room for subtlety. In the past week, readers of his US titles have seen headlines labeling Donald Trump as “Trumpty Dumpty,” the “biggest loser” in Republican politics, and the man responsible for the failure of the “red wave” in the US midterm elections. The New York Post, a formerly pro-Trump newspaper, took it a step further by openly mocking Trump’s latest bid for election.
Under the headline “Florida Man makes announcement,” the Post redirected readers to a story buried on page 28. The deadpan news report stated, “With just 720 days to go before the next election, a Florida retiree made the surprise announcement Tuesday night that he was running for president.” Although the Post’s print edition has seen a decline in readership, it is believed that Trump still reads it regularly. Therefore, it likely stung when the newspaper mocked his Mar-a-Lago home, raided by the FBI in August, as a “classified documents library.”
While some view these newspaper editorials as a sign that Murdoch has distanced himself from the former president, it is important to note the more positive reaction on Murdoch’s Fox News television channel. According to media commentator Michael Wolff, Murdoch has little control over his most important outlet, Fox. Despite recent criticism of Trump on the network, presenters like Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson have cultivated loyal audiences who have been fed pro-Trump content for years. Consequently, a sudden shift away from Trump could potentially alienate these viewers and jeopardize the network’s advertising revenue.
Behind the scenes, Murdoch is working to reunite and ultimately hand over control of his business empire to his 51-year-old son, Lachlan. Due to the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, Murdoch’s media interests are divided into two separate businesses. The US-focused television business, Fox, constitutes the core of the empire, while the newspaper assets, including UK titles, are controlled by News Corp. Although merging the two entities may not make much business sense, it would facilitate family succession planning and allow Lachlan to pursue the same conservative agenda.
The challenge for Fox News lies in finding a way to distance itself from Trump without risking the substantial advertising revenue it receives. Fox is regarded as the Murdochs’ most influential outlet, and they aim to maintain its status as the go-to news channel for conservative voters. Striking a delicate balance between appeasing the Trump supporters and appealing to a broader audience will be crucial for the network’s future.
Murdoch’s physical location has also undergone a significant change in recent years. While he spent a considerable amount of time in the UK with his ex-wife Jerry Hall and daughter Elisabeth during the Covid pandemic, he has now relocated to a newly acquired ranch in rural Montana. This remote state, favored by billionaires, has become Murdoch’s base of operations. It raises questions about who is truly calling the shots within the Murdoch empire – the 91-year-old Rupert or his son Lachlan, who manages part of the business from Australia.
The Trump years took a toll on Murdoch, with Fox News facing a $1.6 billion lawsuit for amplifying Trump’s false claims about Election fraud. James Murdoch, Rupert’s son, has since distanced himself from the family business and openly criticized Fox News. This rift has had a significant impact on Murdoch and his family, as Trump’s influence at Fox has strained their relationships.
Trump, who is banned from Twitter and struggling to regain airtime, has not taken his ostracism lightly. He has accused News Corp, which includes Fox, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post, of favoring Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. However, media analyst Alice Enders asserts that Murdoch doesn’t support losers and views Trump as such.
In conclusion, Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers have launched blistering attacks on Donald Trump, leaving no room for subtlety. While there are signs of a potential rift between Murdoch and Trump, the reaction on Fox News remains more positive. Murdoch faces the challenge of maintaining Fox’s conservative audience while distancing the network from Trump. Meanwhile, Murdoch’s efforts to reunite and hand over control of his empire to his son Lachlan continue, as they navigate the delicate balance between appeasing Trump supporters and broadening their audience.
Original Story at www.theguardian.com – 2022-11-18 08:00:00
Comments are closed.