Media Monsters

Media Monsters The Transformation of Australia's Newspaper Empires

Paperback (01 Jun 2023)

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Publisher's Synopsis

In 1941, the paper emperors of the Australian newspaper industry helped bring down Robert Menzies. Over the next 30 years, they grew into media monsters.

This book reveals the transformation from the golden age of newspapers during World War II, through Menzies' return and the rise of television, to Gough Whitlam's 'It's Time' victory in 1972.

During this crucial period, twelve independent newspaper companies turned into a handful of multimedia giants. They controlled newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations. Their size and reach was unique in the western world.

Playing politics was vital to this transformation. The newspaper industry was animated by friendships and rivalries, favours and deals, and backed by money and influence, including from mining companies, banks and the Catholic Church.

Even internationally, Australia's newspaper owners and executives were considered a shrewd and ruthless bunch. The hard men of the industry included Rupert Murdoch, Frank Packer, Warwick Fairfax's top executive Rupert Henderson, and Jack Williams, the unsung empire builder of the Herald and Weekly Times.

In Media Monsters, Sally Young, the award-winning author of Paper Emperors, uncovers the key players, their political connections and campaigns, and their corporate failures and triumphs. She explores how the companies they ran influenced the Australia we know today.

Book information

ISBN: 9781742235707
Publisher: NewSouth Publishing
Imprint: UNSW Press
Pub date:
DEWEY: 079.94
DEWEY edition: 23
Language: English
Number of pages: 544
Weight: 272g
Height: 234mm
Width: 153mm
Spine width: 33mm