The the inside story of how media moguls abused their power, manipulated the truth and distorted democracy Beecher, Eric 1951- creator at Sydney, NSW Scribner Australia 2025 Updated edition eng xxxii, 383 pages ; 21 cm. 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 Introduction Moguldom. An encounter with Lachlan Murdoch Gutenberg to Zuckerberg Building the empires Succession Decline and fall Power. Editorial dictators The exercise of power Sycophants and sackings The mogul politicians The madness of great men Malfeasance. The moral compass Give 'em what they want Meddling with history 'We go out an destroy other people's lives' Fox News The ends justify the means 'I didn't know Hitler kept a diary' The future. The new moguls The media is broken Reimagining journalism Eric Beecher. "The inside story of journalism's demise"--Cover "With a new preface"--Cover Ética empresarial Comunicación Aspectos políticos Empresas Prácticas corruptas Desinformación Manipulación (Psicología) Medios de comunicación Influencia Medios de comunicación Aspectos morales y éticos Medios de comunicación Objetividad Responsabilidad social de las empresas P 96 B414m 2025 9781761632600 (paperback) 1761632604 (paperback) 210426 20260721124917.0 eng