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5 comments about Murdoch.

1. Our world is dependent on broadcast media, and the more rapid our lives change, the more we depend on impersonal and mass-produced flows of information. Mr. Shawcross gives a deep look into the world of information flow, a flow that is not manipulated by evil, maniacs, but rather a world of flow that is about making money for owners and investors of information service providers. Presenting both the history of commercial media development and also interpretation of the personalities involved, I highly recommend this book to see beyond the hysteria of anti-media communications and see that one person can make a difference in how information is procured, packaged, and sold.
   A few of my favorite quotes are:
   --the new world favors those who pursue policies of which the traders approve.
   --The Disruption of 1843 had little to do with theology. It was the culmination of 130 years of a bitter dispute in which the English crown had sought to control the Scottish Church by the appointment of ministers loyal to London. In the early nineteenth century a new generation of younger, more radical men had emerged in the Church of Scotland; they were known as "the wild party," or "the popular party," or the Evangelicals. Ecclesiastically and theologically conservative, yet socially and politically liberal (and some of the downright radical), they hated the controls imposed by London through the Scottish lairds.
   --Free Church ministers and elders like James Murdoch tended to be active, hard-headed, well-educated, practical men who knew how to make money and how to use it wisely.
   --The debate on the free flow of information would be settled by engineers, not by politicians. Governments would not for long be able to conceal the evidence of their crimes.
   --"The very existence of new information channels, operating in real time and across all frontiers, will be a powerful influence for civilized behaviour. If you are arranging a massacre, it will be useless to shoot the cameraman who has so inconveniently appeared on the scene. His pictures will already be safe in the studio five thousand miles away and his final image may hang you."
   --Information was being presented as entertainment.
   --A really integrated media company has to be in the production of entertainment. It also has to be in news reporting.
   --Nations are now increasingly defined by the extent to which knowledge is a tradable commodity in their economies.
   
   This is not a great, classic book, but it does give valuable snippets of how global media systems operate and manipulate and are manipulated.



2. Rupert Murdoch is one of the most interesting business men of our day. His growth at the Fox Network and other various news outlets has made him one of the most powerful men on the planet. Shawcross does an excellent biography telling about his life in Australia up through his dominant position in America today. It covers the start of the fourth network as well as the New York post and battles with government regulators. It stops before the Fox News Channel really gets going but this still remains the best biography on Murdoch that has been done to date.



3. When I read William Shawcross' "Murdoch" back when it was originally published (early 90s), I thought it was one of the best biographies I had read. I especially liked the author's focus on his subject's "pre-News" days, most notably a very memorable discussion on Murdoch's infatuation with Marxism during his university days.

   Murdoch explains that period away with the following answer: "If you're 20 and not a communist, you have no heart; and if you're 40 and not a capitalist, you have no head."

   Shawcross then painstakingly builds a portrait of a man who - over the next 30 years - slides clear across the spectrum to become Maggie Thatcher's biggest champion. There's a great blow-by-blow of Murdoch's battle with the press unions at Wapping, with Thatcher's tacit support.

   Of course, things in Murdoch's world move quickly, so Shawcross put out an update edition (this one) in 1997. Now, we need an update to the update. So much has transpired in these six years. We need Shawcross' take on:

   - The continued rise of the Fox Network (expecially Fox News)
   - Lachlan and James Murdoch's increasingly large roles at News Corp.
   - The DirectTV takeover attempts (Part 1 and 2)
   - Continued efforts to penetrate India and China
   - Wife #3 Wendy Deng + two new young children

   ...and much, much more. Never a dull moment with the man who fellow (now ex-) mogul Ted Turner heads up the world's leading "evil empire."




4. Very well documented personal (a combination of gambling instinct and dour puritanism) and business biography of the media tycoon. The rise of Murdoch from an owner of a small newspaper in Australia to a global media tycoon. His motif: "power, not money." The power to influence political/social history through his colossal media empire. Murdoch believes that the Americanizing of the world is not only profitable for his business, but a great good in itself.
   The author situates the ascent of Murdoch within the world political history (cold war, Thatcher, Reagan ...) and gives an incisive portrait of some of his collaborators: Barry Diller and Kelvin Mac Kenzie (editor of his milk cow 'The Sun').
   Written with a good sense of humour, e.g. "... Giles should assume the title of Editor Emeritus ... Giles asked Murdoch what this title really meant . It's Latin, Frank. E means exit and meritus means you deserve it." Or, after Murdoch banned alcohol on the working place, someone replied "Free drunks produce better newspapers than sober slaves". The tycoon was even asked by the Vietnamese government to make communist-controlled television more popular!
   Besides, the author gives a sneer at Unesco for attacking freedom of information. One minus point: on different occasions, the author refers to big financial troubles for the media empire without giving the numbers.



5. The book is quite exhaustive about his beginnings - and his attitude towards competition, employees and enemies, I was hoping to read more about the political favors that he most definitely got in other countries besides the US, Aus and the UK.
   I also wanted to know how these political wheelings and deelings have helped him - because lets fase it - with the amount of money/ business that he inherited, it may not have been too difficult for a few others to achieve the greeatness that Murdoch has achieved in his lifetime.
   Also the fact that he is still working might have taken away some of the liberty from the author to shed more light on the ugly side of Murdoch. I would have also liked more coverage of the 90s, when the floodgates were opened for him to capture Europe and Asia.

2 comments about Against The Grain.

1. Geoffrey Nyarota is an unbelievably experienced man. His stories bring shivers down your back and tears to your eyes. He has been through more than most people can imagine. His artful language skills portray a wistful look at Zimbabwe, where this man longs for the country he loves.
   
   Beautifully written, brutally honest...
   6 stars out of 5.



2. Geoffrey Nyarota started off his career as a teacher in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe in the 1970's. He describes firsthand the brutalities civilians endured and those he himself experienced at the hands of both the security forces of Ian Smiths government and ZANLA guerrillas fighting in the area where he taught. The intensification of the war forced the closure of many schools resulting in him embarking into a career in journalism. Having the unique experience of being a black journalist in the white dominated media of Rhodesia provided him with the necessary experience and qualifications allowing him to rise to the top of his field post-independence with postings as Editor of the Manica Post and most notoriously the Chronicle of Bulawayo. He gives insight into the extremely difficult situation he found himself in as Editor of the Bulawayo Chronicle during the Gukurahundi massacres, facing the dilemma of risking personal safety and telling the public a story that needed to be heard. As a youth growing up in Zimbabwe in the 1980's I personally feel one of Mr Nyarotas greatest achievements was his exposure of corruption in Robert Mugabe's government through the Willowgate car scandal and resultant Sandura Commision. An extremely brave act fuelled by his belief in freedom of the press and his uncompromising tenacity in pursuit of the truth, these unfortunately were not seen as admirable qualities by his superiors and cost him his job as Editor.
   Mr Nyarota continued in his fight to expose corruption and fraud as founding editor of the Daily News, an independent newspaper and a breath of fresh air to us Zimbabweans for years force fed government propaganda through the state controlled media. The odds were stacked heavily against the Daily news however it persevered and won a few battles but unfortunately the Government won the war forcing closure of the paper and Mr Nyarota into exile.
   The book is unique in that although autobiographical, it covers important periods of Zimbabwean history by a resident Zimbabwean, most recent works charting the rise and decline of Zimbabwe have been penned by non-blacks and foreigners. He follows the transformation of notorious Zimbabwean politicians and military figures from their student and liberation war days to their rapid accumulation of wealth and power post-independence. He gives recognition to Zimbabwean heroes snubbed and forgotten after having fallen out of favor with ZANU PF such as Dzinashe Machingura and Willie Musarurwa to name a few. Unfortunately his accounts are not always chronological and at times he digresses, however his experiences of Zimbabwean politics, politicians and society coupled with his good sense of humor make the book in general very interesting to read.
   Very importantly, he highlights the grave dangers African journalists and their families risk in pursuit of the truth, the repercussions being more harsh and brutal than western journalists protected by their respective governments.
   My hope is that his story does not end here and that he will return home soon to continue uncovering the truth.

4 comments about The Good Times.

1. ...I was surprised at how dated some of his 'contemporary style' writing has become. I used to read and enjoy his column in the NY Times every Sunday. I realize the man is from an older generation (most of the book takes place in the 50's, when he was in his late twenties); many of his phrases and patterns of speech reflect that 'gee-whiz-bang' time. Unfortunately, no one says 'Gee-whiz-bang' anymore. Baker also tends to repeat himself a bit, and his name-by-name tribute to every good (and bad) newspaperman he could think of won't mean much to the layman.
   Don't get me wrong--I couldn't put the book down, and some of his personality portraits of the leading politicians of the day were illuminating. Baker's own humility is overly self-conscious, but most definitely genuine.
   Remember that reviews you read of this book by other publications--especially newspapers--will really tend to gush over this.
   But buy it anyway--it's a good, solid read.



2. I was forced to read this book for one of my journalism classes and I had the 'typical' student attitude: 'I will skim through this book and guess my way through the paper'. I decided to read the first and last chapters of the book to get a basic understanding and then skim the rest. I started the book and realized that I could not put it down. This language in this book was very natural and the stories that were told were interesting. Being a journalism student, I was fasinated seeing all of the hardships that Baker went through to become the famed reporter that he is today. For once an assigned book that was actually interesting and worth reading.



3. While I was "forced" to read "Growing Up"--part one of Russell Baker's autobiography--by my high school English teacher, I anxiously sought out this sequel. Baker's descriptions of the everyday life of a reporter makes for an intriguing book. While he has a tendency to romanticize situations, Baker provides enough details to give a clear picture of the type of challenges that reporters constantly face, especially early on in their careers. Baker's writing style is clean and straightforward without being simple. (I would zip through 20-30 pages at one sitting without even realizing it.) This is one of the few books I've read more than once and boy, do I wish he'd write another "chapter" of his autobiography. If you like the so called "adventures" of a reporter, an effortless history lesson, and lots of behind-the-scenes stuff, buy this book.



4. A gently but lively autobiographical memoire. For me, reading this book was a rare case of pure enjoyment, and one which I expect to repeat about once a year until ... .

5 comments about Deadlines and Datelines: Essays for a New Century.

1. This collection of essays from his syndicated weekly column is sorta like Nick Clooney's in Cincinnati. This book contains 99 short composites espousing his point of view on diverse themes; he's not afraid to state his likes, dislikes, and fears plus his sense of humor. Like his take on Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' which is different but thought-provoking, and the "immorality" in the White House during Lincoln's term.
   
   Surely he wasn't serious about an Oscar for Debbie Reynolds as an old woman. She was just playing herself, as she always did. He chose her because she was born in Texas. Hey, she grew up in California! For his deficient memory, she was the 'original' Tammy, then Sandra Dee took over in "the Doctor" with Peter Fonda. Debbie is a good entertainer but not so successful in normal living, as being "turned on" is the only way she knows how to be. Last year, she moved her movie memorbilia to Pigeon Forge (not too far from Dollywood) in the Smokies and, as a result, was chosen to ride the main float in their Christmas parade. Now, that's a star -- to come to Tennessee after the flob in Las Vegas. It appears that she lives through her obese daughter, Carrie, who writes. He had flattering things to say about Dolly Parton, a native of this state but not representative of us all.
   
   He bemoans the fact of the seasons overlapping in 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Easter,' due to marketing and displays in the stores. I wish we could go back to the old days when fruit and veggies are available only in the growing season for America; they do taste better then, as he lamented.
   
   He likes to go where the action is. In June 1996 in Moscow, at 3 a.m. after filing his last report on the Russian elections and on the way to his hotel, he heard the voice of Ella Fitzgerald who'd just died. She had a pure quality to her voice, received much acclaim in life as in death. He wrote, "We never knew much about her personal life; we never knew anything about her except in her songs." If he listened to MUSIC OF YOUR LIFE and Chuck Southcott, he'd be sad to learn that she'd lost both legs due to diabetes, and her friends would take her for a daily afternoon ride around Los Angeles while Chuck played her songs on the radio. She may have seemed "alone" in her singing, but her friends in the Society of Singers made her life bearable, so as not to be completely alone.
   
   Some of these "timely" accounts are dated, but all in all I found it an interesting book. I'm glad I have it as he is one of my favorite broadcasters. The comprehensive index was helpful. I will miss seeing his friendly face on the nightly CBS news; he was the best reporter ever, and I hope he will contribute to Sixty Minutes. Maybe he can replace Andy Rooney?



2. Deadlines and Datelines isn't a regular book with a central theme or one message, or even chapters that are put together that have a plot. Deadlines and Datelines has many essays written by Dan Rather (and a few other people wrote a few essays in the book and are credited) that are based on his weekly news column and his CBS radio report. Basically Dan Rather has written many different essays that are about things like when his friend Bill Cosby's son was taken from him and how he used to watch the super bowl with his son and since he was gone he asked if Dan Rather could come over, he explained that you shouldn't be sad that his son is gone because Bill Cosby is famous, but because he was a great man.
   A lot of essays have great meaning, and have some comical meanings, but he seems to write seriously, but he does when talking about comical things, like in one of his essays he talks about the v-chip which is supposed to be a chip which could limit what types of programs children could watch, he then gives examples of ratings that would be better than the standard: TV-MA, TV- PG, TV- 14. And another one he talks about how people have altered different books when they made the movies to make it more appealing to teenagers, with more things they are interested in.
   What is so great about this book is that it has so many morals and messages, it really makes you think. Deadlines and Datelines has many different stories that talk about things that are surprisingly serious, and it is written in a way that is really interesting. The book hooks you in after the first essay because of the knowledge of Dan Rather and the life experience of him. He talks about some of the most important issues like an essay about how libraries are so important and that many Americans take that for granted, and how First Lady Hilary Clinton has been trying so hard to get many people to go to libraries again. But even subject that would seem to be boring are really made interesting through the eyes of Dan Rather in Deadlines and Datelines.
   His different experiences are very enjoyable to read, because of how he explains them thoroughly and really makes people learn something, or makes someone care about something that he didn't care about before. And the truthfulness in his writing is exceptional, because his writing is very down to earth, and about stuff that could really moves anyone. His viewpoints are not at all bias, and really make for a great read.
   -Austin R. Ardizzone



3. Dan Rather gives us his unique and very valuable insights into the most interesting news stories/topics/events over the past several years including the Reginald Denny case, the Jon Benet Ramsay case, the nature of customer service in America, Oklahoma City and corporate greed, just to name a few. This is a man truly in love with his country and the freedom it gives every citizen.



4. I have met Dan Rather in February of 2000. He is a awesome, well-known, and journalistic anchor who's knows the business and can write a good story. So when I read this book I knew he stands out all the time with his award-winning writing!



5. You don't have to be a Republican to wonder why Dan Rather covered up evidence that President Clinton raped Juanita Broadrick especially since Mr. Rather led the fight against Clarence Thomas for his alleged dirty joke. Either Mr. Rather is a moral monster, who finds a black man's joke to be worse than a white man's rape, or he is a total idiot. Evidence of the latter proposition can be found in this book. There are few paragraphs more than two sentences long. What he has to say is not original and is expressed in a very pedestrian manner. It's amusing for awhile to read the first few lines of one of his "essays" and then write the rest of the piece yourself. This could be written by a computer which has been programmed on the Dick and Jane series. But even THAT computer would have been offended by the President's rape.