Rather than relying on the power of individual public civilians, more revolutionary changes to social issues can be made with the help of media that is completely free of the reigns of Murdoch and his controversial political and commercial views.

Kevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister, has called for a Royal Commission into Rupert Murdoch’s media company NewsCorp, and its undemocratic public agendas within Australia. In order to successfully launch a Royal Commission, Rudd has started an online petition in an effort to raise public awareness and gain community support for the issue at hand. As of mid-October 2020, the petition has received over 38,000 signatures.

Although Rudd’s actions are largely unprecedented, his call for a Royal Commission is indicative of the current state of Australia’s media, whereby Murdoch’s newspapers and their influences continue to dominate the Australian market. 70% of Australia’s most viewed and established media organisations (including the Australian, Courier Mail, Daily Telegraph and Herald-Sun) are all owned by Murdoch and such concentrated ownership has sparked concerns of free speech and democratic rights within the country.

What is Kevin Rudd’s take on Australian media?

Rudd’s national campaign against Murdoch is largely concerned with NewsCorp and its growing influence on the Australian media and consequently, the Australian public. Rudd is concerned with the implications of having Murdoch’s politically controversial and pro-business views lead the front of Australian media.

Equivalent to notoriously drama-provoking news channel, Fox News in the United States, Sky News and NewsCorp today are mainstream Australian news outlets which have been accused of politicising truths for commercial benefits. Murdoch is well known for his denial of climate change as well as his strong and influential business connections.

Under Murdoch’s leadership, news organisations such as NewsCorp have destabilised democratic rights and proceedings in Australia, which is the core concern for the previous leader of the centre-left Australian Labor Party. Rudd goes so far as to call Murdoch’s media monopoly in Australia a ‘cancer on democracy’.

How will a Royal Commission set things straight?

In Australia, a Royal Commission is an independent investigation into an issue deemed of great importance. When called, a Royal Commission has strong legal power and proceeds in a setting similar to that of our regular courts. A Royal Commission the ability to hold public hearings, call witnesses under oath and compel for evidence of claims.

By calling for a Royal Commission, Rudd is looking to have Murdoch’s business operations in Australian news outlets exposed and initiate pro-democratic change, either through legal recommendations from the Royal Commission itself or from public outcry and protest.

Rudd is also pushing for a Royal Commission to encourage the Australian public to defy Murdoch’s ‘sheer arrogance and swagger and bullying behaviour’ be protected when standing up or having different options to Murdoch’s point of views.

What will Kevin Rudd’s national petition against Murdoch mean for Australians?

For Australians, a successful initiation of a Royal Commission will most likely mean an overhaul of Australia’s current media direction and an increasing focus towards ‘freethinking’ and democratic rights. The media will be able to act independent of social powers (such as the Government or corporate influence) and become more involved in facilitating social movements concerning systemic racism, which at least in 2020 we’ve seen much of. Rather than relying on the power of individual public civilians, more revolutionary changes to social issues can be made with the help of media that is completely free of the reigns of Murdoch and his controversial political and commercial views.

Source:
New York Times
The Guardian
Australian Government
The Sydney Morning Herald

Image via Crikey.

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