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Media Mayhem
In the 1980s/1990s, the face of Australian media changed forever.
Highflying entrepreneurs like Bond, Holmes a Court, Brierley and Skase competed with the Fairfax, Packer and Murdoch dynasties for a piece of the action. Two media empires, the Herald and Weekly TImes, and John Fairfax and Sons, would not survive the feeding frenzy. John D'Arcy, former HWT CEO, tells what it was like to be at the coalface during those turbulent days.
D'Arcy joined Queensland Newspapers in 1954. In 1979, when Rupert Murdoch made his first raid on the HWT, QNPL was the major shareholder. D'Arcy, as Finance Director, liaised with the Fairfax group to stymie the bid.
He was appointed CEO of the HWT in 1985. A second Murdoch raid in 1986/87 was successful, though wrestling the media giant to the ground proved to be quite a challenge.
D'Arcy was also one of the four Australian Independent Newspapers directors who, backed by almost every large investment house in the country, shaped up against the might of foreign raiders Conrad Black and Tony O'Reilly.
In Media Mayhem, D'Ary relates the twists and turns of the struggles from his ringside seat.
Highflying entrepreneurs like Bond, Holmes a Court, Brierley and Skase competed with the Fairfax, Packer and Murdoch dynasties for a piece of the action. Two media empires, the Herald and Weekly TImes, and John Fairfax and Sons, would not survive the feeding frenzy. John D'Arcy, former HWT CEO, tells what it was like to be at the coalface during those turbulent days.
D'Arcy joined Queensland Newspapers in 1954. In 1979, when Rupert Murdoch made his first raid on the HWT, QNPL was the major shareholder. D'Arcy, as Finance Director, liaised with the Fairfax group to stymie the bid.
He was appointed CEO of the HWT in 1985. A second Murdoch raid in 1986/87 was successful, though wrestling the media giant to the ground proved to be quite a challenge.
D'Arcy was also one of the four Australian Independent Newspapers directors who, backed by almost every large investment house in the country, shaped up against the might of foreign raiders Conrad Black and Tony O'Reilly.
In Media Mayhem, D'Ary relates the twists and turns of the struggles from his ringside seat.
268 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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