Breaking News: Sex, lies and the Murdoch succession

by Paul Barry

At the age of 82, Rupert Murdoch is divorcing his third wife Wendi Deng and gearing up for the toughest challenge of his to hand his empire on to his children. But is this the end of the Murdoch dynasty?Lachlan doesn't want to succeed him. James is in disgrace. And Elisabeth is not a serious contender. His grip on the group has also been weakened by scandal. His British tabloids have been caught hacking phones and bribing officials on an industrial scale. At least twenty journalists will soon face trial for hacking and corruption and could be jailed.But Rupert thrives on crisis. He has recently split News Corp in two, doubled his fortune to US$9 billion, and is bouncing around like a man in his prime.So can he win this one last battle and keep it all in the family?

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, Politics, Journalism, History, Business

473 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2013

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

What amazing research. Barry really takes the reader inside the hearts and minds of the Murdochs. Despite all their money and 'power' they seem decidedly unhappy. The phone hacking scandal is a blight on the newspaper industry forever (especially in the UK). Rupert Murdoch is reported to have said to the House Of Commons Cultural Committee that his appearance before them over the newspaper scandal was the most humble day of his life. After he left that committee his actions and words appeared to me as though he was incredibly unrepentant. Paul Barry unravels the Murdochs and how they wined and dined so many British politicians expecting and receiving incredible favours in return. The broken political system appears to be the same the world over. Greed and power triumphs fairness and transparency every time. Well done Mr Barry.

(if anything just a tad too long)

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meticulously researched - there’s 45 pages of references at the end. That’s how Barry makes sure that the notoriously litigious Murdoch doesn’t chase him for writing an incredible account of Murdoch’s early history, his and his children’s adventures in his business, their frightening level of influence among the political class, and of course the hacking scandals.

[Zakgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, great insight to what really goes on (or went on) at News of the World and other media outlets. I could see lots of research went into this work but that's part of why I didn't like it. The research was good but the repeating of information through the four parts of the novel became irritating. However, this is not to say it wasn't a great read because it was, and I am fascinated how Rupert Murdoch fell into the same trap as Lang Hancock by succumbing to his instinctive animal psychophysiology and marrying a woman a "tad" younger than himself only to find that the paddock wasn't all that much greener on the other side. Hoping Rupert still has that great friendship he had with his first wife (and the mother of his children). It's particularly interesting that now that the fallout has all happened and this is all now past tense the now defunct News of the World no longer has to answer to any of the charges. Life is good again for some. From what I understand from this book, a lot of innocent people's lives were ruined by a seriously off or rotten corporate culture. Worth the read. Hard to hear but eye-opening-education.

[Wendy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and involving book about the Murdoch family and the phone hacking scandal in Britain. Thoroughly researched and forensic in detailing the gobsmacking details of criminal activity, cover-up and manipulation of facts. Weakened a little by being written in 2013 with outcomes still unknown. Dispiriting to realise that senior figures in the evil empire slithered away from consequences and the Murdochracy went on to cause considerable harm in Australia, the US and Britain.

[Petia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A challenging read, but interesting nonetheless. If you are not familiar with British politics it will be hard to follow all the names, people and events (and I frankly couldn't).

[Astrid Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Barry notes that 'writing about Rupert Murdoch and his family is perhaps not a great career move, given that they have such power and patronage in the media in Australia, the UK, the US and the rest of the world' (Acknowledgements, page 405).
No doubt Barry will not be writing for the News empire in the future. But this is exactly why this work is such a good read - the author pulls no punches.
Barry takes the reader through the various crises faced by News in the last decade, and also takes a look at the key players: children Elisabeth, Lachlan and James, and former favourite Rebekah Brookes. Pervading the entire book is an account of Rupert himself, the indefatigable and most definitely long lived 'Sun King'.

[Lyn Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul Barry gives the reader some idea of what it is like to be born into the Murdoch dynasty and provides insight into the machinations of the power brokers in this incredibly powerful and wealthy family. At 80+ years, Rupert is still firmly in charge, despite the play acting before the House of Commons and his admission of being humbled. But, like King Lear, he needs to anoint the successor, and one wonders whether it's going to work out any better for Rupert than it did for Lear.

[Sharon Gamble · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to this on audio and managed to tune out for vast blocks of it. The general gist seemed to be that Murdoch is not a very nice person. I would have liked to hear more about his personal side, such as his relationship with his mother and friends. It did give a little insight but I was a little too distracted to listen carefully.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little jumpy in its thesis, but it's ultimately a highly entertaining look at the Murdoch clan that later focuses on the effects of, and their reactions to, the telephone tapping scandals in Britain.

[Garret · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a word, fascinating.

[Nez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an eye-opener and definitely worth reading.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.