Murdoch and the Hacking Scandal JMRC Seminar Series

Dr David McKnight spoke today at the Journalism and Media Research Centre Seminar on his latest book that everyone’s talking about: Rupert Murdoch: an Investigation of Political Power                     Cultures of phone hacking in news media organisations; the enduring influence of newspapers in the global inter-media landscape and the enigmatic influence of media proprietors on the media-political economy- were key topics in the Journalism and Media Research Centre Seminar by leading Australian journalism academic, Dr David McKnight, Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the Journalism and Media Research Centre, at the University of New South Wales.                       Rupert Murdoch has said that a newspaper’s primary function is to make money rather than politics, yet numerous of his flagship quality newspapers run at a loss and do exert considerable political influence, was one of the findings of McKnight's recent ARC funded research reported in his book. This is significant as despite falling sales newspapers- that are sometimes disparaged as ‘legacy’ media- continue to play a central role in the new media landscape, as the primary source of stories in online, and broadcast, media, said McKnight.                   As a journalist David McKnight, worked for the ABC and Sydney Morning Herald, and he has been an academic for 16 years. His investigative research presentation was followed by questions from the capacity audience of media academics, students and members of the public.                   Amongst the diversity of contemporary media themes canvassed in the seminar and audience questions  were the selective rhetorical media manipulations of the concept of “elites”, media agendas of climate change skepticism and attacks on the Gillard minority government; questions about the role of contemporary journalism as the fourth estate in global media and the significance of styles of news writing in shaping meaning…             This was a lively and incisive start to the JMRC Seminar Series 2012.              Dr Ruth Skilbeck  is a Lecturer at the Journalism and Media Research Centre and an organiser of the Journalism and Media Research Centre Seminar Series 2012.                                                                            -   -   -   -           February 2012.                    Murdoch and the hacking scandal. JMRC Seminar presents David McKnight on his new book, Rupert Murdoch: an Investigation of Political Power.                         “Rupert Murdoch says that the hacking scandal ‘went against everything I stand for’. But how true is this? Murdoch himself is probably the most influential Australian of all time. He sees himself as an anti-establishment rebel yet his influence in in Australia, the UK and the US makes him part of a global elite.”                         Dr David McKnight, Senior Research Fellow at the Journalism and Media Research Centre, is speaker at this year’s first JMRC Seminar.                         David McKnight will speak about his new book on Rupert Murdoch and political power. “The book explains how phone hacking fits the wider Murdoch culture.”                         Don’t miss your chance to listen to the author and join in the debate on Rupert Murdoch’s global influence, in questions with David McKnight.                         JMRC Seminar, Morven Brown Building, 15th March 2011                         3.00 for 3.30. One hour author talk by David McKnight, followed by questions and drinks.                         We look forward to seeing you at the Seminar.                                     Dr Ruth Skilbeck and Emily Booker,             JMRC Seminar 2012 organisers.                         Click here for David McKnight’s new book on Rupert Murdoch.                         Or order from Booktopia.                         http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=94&book=9781742373522                         JMRC Seminar series Bringing together the best of the established, and new thinkers and writers in the global field of journalism, media and communication studies.