Crikey v Murdoch & News Corp
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11:17 am, August 24th, 2022 - 5 comments
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If you have not had the pleasure of seeing this site before can I introduce you to Crikey, possibly the best news and political analysis site in Australia. It is the home of Bernard Keene who in my view is one of the most perceptive commentators on news and economics.
Recently Crikey has taken on one of the big media companies, no less than the Murdoch empire. in June Bernard Keene accused Donald Trump of being a “confirmed unhinged traitor” and Murdoch as “his unindicted co-conspirator”.
Murdoch responded by threatening legal retribution. Initially Crikey took the post down. But following the exchange of correspondence between lawyers Crikey has reposted the opinion piece, published the legal correspondence that has been exchanged, and taken out advertising in the New York Times inviting Murdoch to sue.
The Guardian has the details:
A small independent news website in Australia is taking on the Murdoch empire, buying a full-page ad in the New York Times inviting Lachlan Murdoch to sue them over an alleged defamation.
In dispute is an apparent opinion piece, and associated social media posts, published by Crikey.com.au in June headlined: “Trump is a confirmed unhinged traitor. And Murdoch is his unindicted co-conspirator” – analysing the 6 January insurrection by supporters of defeated presidential candidate Donald Trump. In legal letters published by Crikey, lawyers for Lachlan Murdoch argue the publications contain “scandalous allegations of criminal conduct and conspiracy” and carry a number of “highly defamatory and false imputations about him”.
Written by Crikey’s politics editor, Bernard Keane, the 29 June piece mentions the Murdoch name twice: in the headline and in the closing paragraphs.
The article is largely concerned with the evidence of former White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson to the US House select committee on the January 6 attack. Hutchinson did not mention Murdoch in her testimony.
Having discussed Trump’s continued peddling of the “big lie” that he won the 2020 US presidential election – he lost 306 electoral college votes to 232, and the popular ballot by 7m votes – Keane argues “the world’s most powerful media company” continues “to peddle the lie of the stolen election and play down the insurrection Trump created”.
Keane argued former US president Richard Nixon was infamously the “unindicted co-conspirator” in the Watergate scandal and drew an analogy that “the Murdochs and their slew of poisonous Fox News commentators are the unindicted co-conspirators” in the events of 6 January.
The analogy has considerable merit in my personal view. Fox News has over the past three decades destroyed the prospect of civilised discourse in US politics. Now nearly half of the country believe in bizarre conspiracy theories and thought that Donald Trump would be a good President. Basing a business model on disinforming deluded citizens should have a cost.
Crikey’s response has an Arkell v Pressdramm vibe to it. This is where Private Eye magazine was threatened with defamation for claiming that Mr Arkell had been receiving backhanders in consideration of which he had been providing work to a third party.
Private Eye published the letter of demand and it’s response which read:
Dear Sirs,
We acknowledge your letter of 29th April referring to Mr. J. Arkell.
We note that Mr Arkell’s attitude to damages will be governed by the nature of our reply and would therefore be grateful if you would inform us what his attitude to damages would be, were he to learn that the nature of our reply is as follows: fuck off.
Crickey’s response to Murdoch’s demand is in a similar vein. And it is an important issue. Freedom of the press should mean that we can have a proper debate about the destructive effects that News Corp and the Murdochs are having on western democracies.
I wish Crikey all the best in the fight to come.
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All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
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- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...7 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
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- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
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- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
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- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
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- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
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- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
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- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
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- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
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- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
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- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
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- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...3 days ago
- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
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Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...4 days ago
- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...4 days ago
- More gangs added to Gangs Act list
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Popcorn time !
Totally agree re your comments re Fox and Murdoch.
The damage is also to Australian politics for decades, which has in turn distorted possible political discourse here as well.
Yep.
Murdoch has reduced the journalistic profession, with a few exceptions, to a toxic bunch of editorialising hacks. The unmitigated folly that dominates NZ media is Murdoch-lite, and it is not fit for the purpose, and does not deserve the traditional legal protections earned by previous generations of professional journalists.
Murdoch's media were on twitter yesterday portraying Tamaki's turnout as 'Massive Protest Crowds oppose Jacinda Ardern's Government' or some such nonsense.
Not worth linking to, ever.
Burn it all down.
Cheers for the heads up on Crikey though.
Today Stuff publishes a story from the Times of London attacking Sanni Marin – Social Democrat PM of Finland.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/300669351/finland-prime-ministers-friends-posed-topless-at-her-desk
By the way the social media twitter account person (German conservative and an effective critic of Trump – the retrospective) referenced is a critic of government – believes there are the mature and educated (who deserve power) and those of the volk who are of faith (not atheists) who make for a good society.
The flaw in his thinking is that it is those of faith who support Trump as means to stick to the (secular social democratic) left. Another is his opposition to lockdown despite the fact it was necessary to prevent the health system being over-run pre vaccination – obviously someone vetted as ideologically sound by team Rupert.
But not surprising his thinking is promoted by the Times of London.