The Media Barons

WAISers have spoken harshly of media barons, especially Rupert Murdoch, putting a strain on my attempt to be fair- Yesterday he appeared as a key witness in a hearing of the House Judicial Committee. Murdoch, president and CEO of News Corp, was defending his planned acquisition of Direct TV. He impressed me as a very ordinary individual, and it was disturbing to think that such a man had such power over public opinion. As usual in the US, the discussion broke down along party lines, with the Republicans praising him and Fox News, while the Democrats asked probing question. Maxine Waters, a Black Democrat representative from California was very effective. Unfortunately the stress was not on international affairs but on what such things as football matches, which are of course more important. Congress has no power to judge on mergers and acquisitions. That is the business of the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department. The weasel responses of the representative of the former made me suspect that Murdoch's acquisition of Direct TV will be approved, but at least the congressional hearing made the public more aware of the problem.

Ronald Hilton - 5/9/03