“Read your own obituary notice; they say you live longer,” says Leopold Bloom in James Joyce’s Ulysses. Rupert Murdoch may be able to testify to the accuracy of that, following his announcement last week that he was (sort of) stepping down from his roles at News Corp and Fox Corp, becoming “emeritus chairman” and handing the reins over to his son Lachlan.
The Australian was always going to lay it on pretty thick when Murdoch senior left, one way or another. But it’s doubly surreal in this context. First, his announcement insisted he would still be very involved in the company: “We have every reason to be optimistic about the coming years — I certainly am, and plan to be here to participate in them”, and that “When I visit your countries and companies, you can expect to see me in the office late on a Friday afternoon”.
Plus, as has been widely noted, his semi-retirement comes at the end of what has been a pretty lousy year for the 92-year-old, with rumours of persistent ill health, abandoned engagements, and, of course, costly and damaging court battles. Very little of that made it into The Weekend Australian.
The tributes quoted in the straight-ish news report of the announcement were led by (who else) former prime minister John Howard, who called Murdoch the most “talented and influential world business figure Australia has ever produced”. The piece then quoted several Labor figures dancing on the tightrope of praising Murdoch, but not too much. Words like “extraordinary” and “influential” came up a lot.
Then came the spread on pages eight and nine, complete with benevolent smiles, group shots with kids and joshing about with Muhammad Ali.
Here’s a taste of the tone.
Under the headline “Three ingredients to success in 70 years of audacious deals”:
Rupert Murdoch has been hailed as ‘Australia’s greatest businessman’ by his billionaire peers, following the announcement that the 92-year-old will step down as chairman of News Corp and Fox Corporation after building a $US25bn ($39bn) global empire over seven decades.
Some of the country’s most successful business identities cited Mr Murdoch’s entrepreneurial acumen, good business judgment and a deep understanding of the global media sector as traits that have driven his commercial success.
“How Rupert Murdoch changed the face of media across the globe“
The legend of Murdoch has been built on his innate curiosity, ranging from technical innovation to an ear for gossip, his acuity in reading the tea leaves of society, his business flair and his gambler’s willingness to bet on new ventures.
None of this matched the quivering pen of Greg Sheridan, expounding on Murdoch’s “extraordinary ability to operate simultaneously in many different contexts — not just different geographical ones, but technological, social, intellectual”. Murdoch is “at ease intellectually at the highest level of political ideas, but also in culture, literature and social change” and “always seems to be reading several books”.
On and on it goes, at an ecstatic pitch that you think must flag at some point, must catch sight of itself in the mirror and blush, but never does. Having noted Murdoch’s “generosity in conversation” as a man “willing to share his own insights from the top of US, British or indeed Asian politics” but “also intensely curious”, Sheridan concludes: “It’s been a privilege to work for one of the greatest Australians. His contribution is overwhelmingly positive, his legacy magnificent.”
Paul Kelly, while hailing Murdoch’s possession of “a creative mind, a tenacious spirit and a massive work ethic”, appeared to be the only News Corp writer attempting to wrestle with Murdoch’s past few years. He deserves credit — among all the purple prose spilling from the Oz‘s commentariat, his is the only piece where you will read the words “Dominion Voting Systems” (though that and the phone hacking scandal do briefly interrupt the praise from the likes of Gina Rinehart and Kerry Stokes in the Business Review section).
Meanwhile, at the Herald Sun, iconoclast Andrew Bolt wasn’t joining his misty-eyed colleagues, and didn’t care who he offended:
I’ll say what no other Murdoch journalist has: I’m glad Rupert Murdoch has made way for son Lachlan.
I can say this because if I’m sacked tomorrow I couldn’t care less.
It will not shock you to hear that what he means is he’s glad it’s Lachlan and not the “left-wing” Murdoch son, James. Bolt is just delighted that Lachlan, an “anti-elitist freethinker”, is taking over.
“Mind you, if I’m glad Rupert is stepping aside it’s not because I’ve lost my admiration and affection for this genius.” Fearlessly standing up to the elite, as always.
