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| Paul Barry answers your questions – live Q&A | Paul Barry answers your questions – live Q&A |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Paul Barry, the host of the ABC's Media Watch, is also the author of a new book about Rupert Murdoch, entitled Breaking News: Sex, Lies and the Murdoch Succession. It is an investigation into where Murdoch goes now: at 82, recently divorced from Wendi Deng, battered by the phone hacking scandal and by corporate struggles, which of his children will he choose to succeed him? James is in disgrace; Lachlan doesn't want it; and Elisabeth, says Barry, is counted out because she's a woman. So what's likely to happen next? | Paul Barry, the host of the ABC's Media Watch, is also the author of a new book about Rupert Murdoch, entitled Breaking News: Sex, Lies and the Murdoch Succession. It is an investigation into where Murdoch goes now: at 82, recently divorced from Wendi Deng, battered by the phone hacking scandal and by corporate struggles, which of his children will he choose to succeed him? James is in disgrace; Lachlan doesn't want it; and Elisabeth, says Barry, is counted out because she's a woman. So what's likely to happen next? |
| Paul has written extensively about Alan Bond, Shane Warne and James Packer, and in his day job is an expert on what's happening in Australian media. | Paul has written extensively about Alan Bond, Shane Warne and James Packer, and in his day job is an expert on what's happening in Australian media. |
| Post your questions for Paul below; he'll be answering them here from 12.30 AEST. | Post your questions for Paul below; he'll be answering them here from 12.30 AEST. |
| Your questions, and Paul's answers: | |
| While the Murdochs may retain a large amount of power over News Corp, how significant is the role of ordinary shareholders in determining the future of the company? | |
| Not much, frankly. There were big votes against James and Lachlan as directors at the last two News Copr agms, and attempts to change a range of other things, but they were defeated by the Murdoch block vote, even though up to 2/3 of outside shareholders wanted change. The Murdoch family owns 12% of the shares but has 40% of the vote approx. | |
| You've written extensively about the media from the perspectives of Murdoch and Packer. How do you rate the ABC, both on air and on the web ? | |
| I think the ABC is excellent. Better than 10 years ago when I was last there. The more commercial pressure there is on newspapers and TV the more we need public broadcasting I reckon | |
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