The concentration of media in Australia's Murdoch
hands is close to 70% of the metropolitan newspaper
readership nationwide and has press monopolies in the
newspaper capital cities. However, it's more than that.
These newspapers also set the radio and television agenda
every day and therefore frame the political debate.

Lord David Putnam says that the media has a duty of care
to the people to protect their "fragile democracy."
It also has a duty to inform not inflame.

Can the Murdoch media under Lachlan Murdoch make people
less cynical, more engaged and more likely to participate
in the democratic process with Tony Abbott and all of his
qualifications, on its board?

Murdoch doesn't get $ 1Billion/year from the Taxpayer to run an indoctrination rort, the ABC/SBS do !
Don't see the Lefties getting upset about that ?

A well-informed population is vital in a democracy.
Informed not inflamed as Lord David Putnam stated.
Not one brainwashed by
ceaseless and increasingly hysterical spin.
And then brain scrubbed by
commercial television and radio toadies and shock
jocks all adding their influence.

There's no denying the concentration of media to be
found in Australian Murdoch hands. They have
control close to 70% of the metropolitan newspaper
readership nationwide and as stated earlier they
have press monopolies in the capital cities.

However it is more than that because these newspapers
also set the radio and television agenda every day and
therefore frame the political debate.

Yes the media does have a duty of care to the people
to protect their fragile democracy and inform not inflame.

Currently many people are cynical, less engaged and
many are less likely to participate in the democratic
process.

Will this change under Lachlan Murdoch? Will Mr Abbott
be able to exert much influence? What will the shareholders
want done?

Interesting times ahead.

Foxy,

There you go again with the left whinge talking points.

Newscorp does not own a monopoly, there are many newspapers to choose from it is just that most people prefer to read Newscorp papers and find their diversity and quality hard to beat.

Your logic would have the top athletes banned because they win most of the races.

Perhaps that is your problem Foxy.

No one glued to the ABC & Guardian for their news & information is ever going to know what is happening in the world.

There you go again Shadow Minister - using
labels that don't apply. If you find News Corp,
Sky News, et al, high-brow media - then of coure
I have to respect your opinion. However opinions
are not facts and no matter what you claim - the
facts disagree with you about the Murdoch media
influence.

Hasbeen,

It's not my problem. It's our problem.
The media needs to inform, not inflame. Listening
to Sky News, Bolt, Credlin, and Co - you won't
be informed - you'll be inflamed. But of course
it's you choice. I actually use a wide variety of
sources - not just the ABC. It's a professional
habit.