Rupert Murdoch: Enduring resolve to fight for freedom and the truth
Rupert Murdoch has warned the fight for free speech is intensifying and accused much of the media of serving political elites rather than uncovering the truth.
Rupert Murdoch says the fight for freedom of speech has intensified, accusing “self-serving bureaucracies” of trying to silence criticism while warning that too much of the media is peddling political narratives to aid “elites” instead of pursuing the truth.
Stepping down as executive chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corp after a seven-decade career, in a move that will see his son Lachlan become the sole chair, Mr Murdoch said both companies had inherited a commitment to freedom of speech and thought that originated with his father, Sir Keith Murdoch.
The announcement will take effect from the annual general meeting for each company in mid-November, with Mr Murdoch saying he will remain “involved every day in the contest of ideas” as he transitions to a new role as chairman emeritus at Fox and News.
Mr Murdoch said Lachlan was “absolutely committed to the cause” and a “passionate, principled leader”.
“We have every reason to be optimistic about the coming years – I certainly am, and plan to be here to participate in them,” Mr Murdoch said.
“But the battle for the freedom of speech and, ultimately, the freedom of thought, has never been more intense.
“My father firmly believed in freedom, and Lachlan is absolutely committed to the cause.
“Self-serving bureaucracies are seeking to silence those who would question their provenance and purpose.
“Elites have open contempt for those who are not members of their rarefied class. Most of the media is in cahoots with those elites, peddling political narratives rather than pursuing the truth.”
Lachlan Murdoch said that “on behalf of the Fox and News Corp boards of directors, leadership teams, and all the shareholders who have benefited from his hard work, I congratulate my father on his remarkable 70-year career”.
“We thank him for his vision, his pioneering spirit, his steadfast determination, and the enduring legacy he leaves to the companies he founded and countless people he has impacted,” he said.
“We are grateful that he will serve as chairman emeritus and know he will continue to provide valued counsel to both companies.”
Former Liberal prime minister John Howard said on Friday that Mr Murdoch was the “most talented and influential world business figure Australia has produced”.
“He changed the face of media and was always intensely interested in the battle of ideas,” Mr Howard said. “At Wapping in the 1980s he stared down the print unions, thus striking a blow for free speech.
“His flagship publication, The Australian, is a great forum for political commentary.”
Billionaire Anthony Pratt, the executive chairman of the cardboard box manufacturing giant Visy and Pratt Corporation, described Mr Murdoch as the “greatest Australian businessman in the world”, while Sir Rod Eddington, a former News Corp director, said the media titan’s entrepreneurial skills, sound business judgment and media industry knowledge stood him in good stead when “he took decisions that others thought risky”.
Jim Chalmers said the announcement of Mr Murdoch’s decision to step down marked the “end of an era”, arguing that Mr Murdoch was an “incredibly influential figure on the global media landscape”. The Treasurer said Mr Murdoch was “in lots of ways a controversial figure, but also an influential figure too”. “And this is the end of an era at News,” he said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said “any fair-minded observer might say that, you know, some of the News Limited papers might not exactly be cheerleaders of the Labor Party, but that’s what happens in a democracy. I wish him well for his retirement.”
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Mr Murdoch’s career was “quite extraordinary”.
“I congratulate Mr Murdoch for his many years in the sector,” she said. “Of course, he is a major global player not only in Australia but throughout the world.”
Peter Dutton said Mr Murdoch “started in Adelaide and maintained his passion for Australia as his media empire grew exponentially”.
“In an age when most business leaders cower in public debates and only take positions to fulfil their desire to be liked on social media, Rupert has been brave enough to stand up for what he believes in,” the Opposition Leader said.
“To exit at a time of his choosing, and to hand over to someone as capable as Lachlan Murdoch, is a significant achievement in itself.”
He said Lachlan Murdoch had “his own skills and attributes” that would see a “great company with its roots in Australia continue to go from strength to strength”.
Former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, an avowed critic of Mr Murdoch, said he “had the largest voice in the Australian media for many decades” and was the “most influential voice in the United States and the UK as well”.
He attacked Mr Murdoch’s legacy as “shocking”, claiming he had denied the “reality of global warming” and created through Fox News an “anger-tainment ecosystem” in the US, which had divided Americans while creating the environment for the storming of the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021.
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