The inherent danger of having so much of the nation’s news media controlled by one family, whose company is based in another country, is on full display. The closure of more than 100 News Corp newspapers in Queensland and NSW — some completely, others moved to digital-only — is a cruel blow to the communities affected and the hundreds of people who are about to lose their jobs. In regional areas the media is a force of social cohesion, a place where important conversations start. The even bigger tragedy here is, of course, the question of accountability: who will hold local councils to account, or attend the courts? As Crikey noted this week, News Corp’s moves demonstrate the extraordinary power of one company — and one family — to decimate a large slice of a country’s news in a single media release. A company worth billions, run from New York, has wielded a knife through large swathes of Australian democracy. And, aside from a few murmurs from National MPs, law-makers have little to say about it and apparently no will or power to act. The news business is tough, and News Corp is a business, not a charity. It is not the ABC. But these closures reveal just how fragile the news media is — and how vulnerable the fourth estate and all its public interest functions are to Rupert Murdoch, his family and their lieutenants. Crikey has been writing about the danger of media concentration for years. Now, it is plain for everyone to see. We take no pleasure in seeing newspapers close. If anything, it makes us even more determined to ensure that with your help, independent media, such as Crikey, will be around for many years to come. With that in mind, please enjoy a selection of the best of Crikey’s week, starting with our coverage of the News Corp decision. We hope you stay with us in this fight. |