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Elisabeth Murdoch seeks to distance herself from family's woes Elisabeth Murdoch seeks to distance herself from family's woes
(40 minutes later)
She kept her counsel throughout the phone hacking scandal that battered the reputation of her father's publishing company and threatened to engulf the multi-billion pound operation that he built over 60 years.She kept her counsel throughout the phone hacking scandal that battered the reputation of her father's publishing company and threatened to engulf the multi-billion pound operation that he built over 60 years.
So when it came to Elisabeth Murdoch breaking her silence on family matters, it was no surprise that media pundits were looking for any sign of continuing tensions between her and her brother James who ran News International and who she reputedly once said had "fucked the company". So when it came to Elisabeth Murdoch breaking her silence on family matters, it was no surprise that media pundits were looking for any sign of continuing tensions between her and her brother James, who ran News International and who she reputedly once said had "fucked the company".
Stepping out of the shadows this week to deliver the biggest speech of her career, she seized the chance to show her credentials to take over father Rupert's empire as her brothers' claims to lead it out of scandal have faded.Stepping out of the shadows this week to deliver the biggest speech of her career, she seized the chance to show her credentials to take over father Rupert's empire as her brothers' claims to lead it out of scandal have faded.
Over the hour-long carefully crafted MacTaggart memorial lecture to the Edinburgh International TV Festival, she put clear blue water between herself and her brother, once considered the obvious heir to their father's empire.Over the hour-long carefully crafted MacTaggart memorial lecture to the Edinburgh International TV Festival, she put clear blue water between herself and her brother, once considered the obvious heir to their father's empire.
Three years ago he used the same MacTaggart platform to lambast the BBC as Orwellian and to describe the scale and scope of the BBC as "chilling", positing that the only reliable, durable and perpetual guarantor of media independence was profit. Three years ago James used the same MacTaggart platform to lambast the BBC as Orwellian and to describe the scale and scope of the BBC as "chilling", positing that the only reliable, durable and perpetual guarantor of media independence was profit.
At the time James was seen as a chip off the old block, his speech echoing the well known hostility Rupert held towards the corporation. In 1989, he enraged the British TV industry with a blistering attack on the BBC and its obsession with the past, the "strangulated accents" of its output . He said British TV was part of a wider "British disease" which portrayed "businessmen as crooks, money-making to be despised".At the time James was seen as a chip off the old block, his speech echoing the well known hostility Rupert held towards the corporation. In 1989, he enraged the British TV industry with a blistering attack on the BBC and its obsession with the past, the "strangulated accents" of its output . He said British TV was part of a wider "British disease" which portrayed "businessmen as crooks, money-making to be despised".
James speech helped consolidate his position as heir apparent to his father's role but since then his capital within News Corp has declined considerably and James and Rupert have been chastened by the fallout from the hacking scandal at their News of the World tabloid – now closed – which prompted outrage last year, damaging the value and reputation of News Corp and the Murdoch family. James's speech helped consolidate his position as heir apparent to his father's role, but since then his capital within News Corp has declined considerably and James and Rupert have been chastened by the fallout from the hacking scandal at their News of the World tabloid – now closed – which prompted outrage last year, damaging the value and reputation of News Corp and the Murdoch family.
Elisabeth, on the other hand, kept clear of the scandal entirely along with her PR husband Matthew Freud, once considered one of the behind-the-scenes kingmakers in Fleet Street. Elisabeth, on the other hand, kept clear of the scandal entirely along with her PR husband, Matthew Freud, once considered one of the behind-the-scenes kingmakers in Fleet Street.
That decision appears to have paid off, removing Elisabeth from any of the "toxicity" associated with her father's print business.That decision appears to have paid off, removing Elisabeth from any of the "toxicity" associated with her father's print business.
Praising the BBC's "exuberant" Olympic coverage, the "vision" of its director general Mark Thompson and explicitly saying she was a supporter of the licence fee, was a way of creating maximum contrast with James and Rupert.Praising the BBC's "exuberant" Olympic coverage, the "vision" of its director general Mark Thompson and explicitly saying she was a supporter of the licence fee, was a way of creating maximum contrast with James and Rupert.
To cheers and whistles of approval from the TV industry gathered in Edinburgh, Elisabeth has positioned herself as a native Brit occupying a higher ethical plane than her younger sibling.To cheers and whistles of approval from the TV industry gathered in Edinburgh, Elisabeth has positioned herself as a native Brit occupying a higher ethical plane than her younger sibling.
It is believed she hasn't spoken to her brother about business since their falling out last year, but sources say this should not be read as a complete family rift. They may not be on speaking terms, but they do not hate each other, it is said. "She is positioning herself as someone who is quite genuinely part of our industry, not the outsider, or the revolutionary determined to up-end it," said media commentator Steve Hewlett. "She compliments the BBC. Who would have imagined a Murdoch ever doing that?" says Hewlett.It is believed she hasn't spoken to her brother about business since their falling out last year, but sources say this should not be read as a complete family rift. They may not be on speaking terms, but they do not hate each other, it is said. "She is positioning herself as someone who is quite genuinely part of our industry, not the outsider, or the revolutionary determined to up-end it," said media commentator Steve Hewlett. "She compliments the BBC. Who would have imagined a Murdoch ever doing that?" says Hewlett.
He says her remarks that "profit without purpose" is the road to ruin could be read in two ways. "If it is about James, it is quite a small thing, if it is about News Corp, then it is quite a big thing for her to say," added Hewlett.He says her remarks that "profit without purpose" is the road to ruin could be read in two ways. "If it is about James, it is quite a small thing, if it is about News Corp, then it is quite a big thing for her to say," added Hewlett.
Sources close to Elisabeth insist the speech was in "no way" a bid for power in News Corp, that she "loves her independence" and that she has no intention of filling the gap in the battle for succession that James so publicly created in the wake of the phone hacking scandal.Sources close to Elisabeth insist the speech was in "no way" a bid for power in News Corp, that she "loves her independence" and that she has no intention of filling the gap in the battle for succession that James so publicly created in the wake of the phone hacking scandal.
There is no mention of her older brother Lachlan in her speech – it is believed relations with him are intact, and her respect for Rupert, whom she describes as "Father" with a capital "F", is unequivocal as she gives a glimpse into the machinations of the Murdoch domestics when she was growing up.There is no mention of her older brother Lachlan in her speech – it is believed relations with him are intact, and her respect for Rupert, whom she describes as "Father" with a capital "F", is unequivocal as she gives a glimpse into the machinations of the Murdoch domestics when she was growing up.
"My dad had the vision, the will and the sense to challenge the old world order on behalf of 'the people,' she said adding, in reference to the launch of Sky TV, that "he literally bet our house on it". She says she recalls how "her parents spoke to us vividly over the breakfast table about what this purpose meant, and that we could be obliged to be permanent outsiders and constant nomads"."My dad had the vision, the will and the sense to challenge the old world order on behalf of 'the people,' she said adding, in reference to the launch of Sky TV, that "he literally bet our house on it". She says she recalls how "her parents spoke to us vividly over the breakfast table about what this purpose meant, and that we could be obliged to be permanent outsiders and constant nomads".
Sources say Elisabeth, who turned 44 on Wednesday, has no desire to leave Britain and believes her father can carry on for at least another 10 years, obviating any need for a succession decision.Sources say Elisabeth, who turned 44 on Wednesday, has no desire to leave Britain and believes her father can carry on for at least another 10 years, obviating any need for a succession decision.
Women 3 Murdochs 3
Elisabeth Murdoch is the first woman to deliver the television industry's annual keynote speech for 17 years, and only the third woman to do so after the Doctor Who producer Verity Lambert and Janet Street-Porter, the journalist and broadcaster. As many Murdochs have given the speech as women, with Rupert speaking in 1989 and James three years ago. It was a discrepancy she was quick to point out, naming a string of senior female executives who could have been asked. "Did you not even think?" she asked the festival's organisers.