The end of the Murdoch Archipelago

This week, the media mogul once unquestioningly known as 'the kingmaker' appears before the UK state inquiry into the British press - a day after his son and would-be heir. To mark this moment, we publish the new introduction to the defining account of the 113-year-old Murdoch dynasty, asking the

By Open democracy

/ 22 Apr 2012

Is Murdoch still corrupting Parliament's Select Committee?

Is the British parliamentary investigation of the Murdoch press proceeding with collusion between the Murdochs and members of the Committee investigating their behaviour and its influence? We should be given the evidence to allow us to decide.

By Anthony Barnett

/ 19 Apr 2012

Britain's PR culture breeds corruption, just look at Hackgate

The UK phone hacking sandal has shown how the growth of the PR industry has facilitated the corruption of British society

By Open democracy

/ 15 Aug 2011

The need for greater plurality of British media ownership

We should embrace plurality in our debates about media reform and create a new system of inquiry responsive to the wishes of a commissioning public

By Dan Hind

/ 9 Aug 2011

The future of newspaper ownership in Britain

After the phone-hacking scandal, questions have been raised about the ownership of the UK's newspapers. But we need to make sure that any new rules are effective and not counter-productive.

By David Elstein

/ 8 Aug 2011

Media reform in the UK

In the wake of the phone hacking scandal, ourKingdom launches a joint initiative to debate the critical issues surrounding the future of the British media.

By Sunny Hundal and Anthony Barnett

/ 8 Aug 2011

The Press Complaints Commission: from 'Last Chance Saloon' to 'Toothless Poodle'

The phone hacking scandal has put the spotlight on the British media industry's self-regulatory body, revealing a history of weakness and failure. So what is the future of the PCC and press regulation in the UK?

By Open democracy

/ 5 Aug 2011

UK journalists have spoken on 'Hackgate' - now give your views

One of the central hubs for British journalism has asked its members for their views on the News of the World hacking scandal. Read their responses here, and give your own opinions as a member of the public

By Open democracy

/ 2 Aug 2011

News International: Britain's Mafia

Murdoch's hold over Britain over the last three decades has been nothing short of mafia-like. Much can be learned through a comparison between the Italian mafia the Comorra, and the media mogul's empire

By Open democracy

/ 28 Jul 2011

Barnett is wrong; the public had little to do with Murdoch's fall

Was it the public's outrage that brought down the News of the World? And Ed Miliband's courage that has led to a wide-reaching Press inquiry? Anthony Barnett thinks so, but perhaps he was being a little too generous...

By Open democracy

/ 26 Jul 2011

Is the hacking scandal the British establishment's 'Napster Moment'?

There are two new models of crisis: the 'Wikileaks Moment' and the 'Napster Moment'. They involve the technological freeing up of information, and the consequent delegitimisation of the elites who have controlled that information. The News of the World scandal relates to both

By Open democracy

/ 25 Jul 2011

A Brief History of Britain’s Power Elites: through Murdoch and beyond?

War with Hitler’s Germany spelled the end for Britain’s old power elite. A new political class emerged, including the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. Now the Murdochs are revealed in their true colours: as aggressors at the head of a global empire. So what now for the collapsing British state?

By Open democracy

/ 25 Jul 2011

Britain vs Murdoch