The deep, depressing irony of Michael Miller’s Press Club address
June 8, 2024 8:00
Michael Miller, the executive chairman of News Corp, fronted the National Press Club this week, issuing a stern admonishment of global tech companies such as TikTok, Meta, and X, and the immeasurable harm they are doing to our social fabric.
“We know the collective damage they cause – to our young and elderly, businesses – big and small, to our democracy, and to our economy,” Miller said of the social media companies.
Now, here’s a LA Times columnist just last year, on Rupert Murdoch’s announced retirement, summing up “the damage his empire has done”, namely: “Undermining democracy, miseducating the public, shredding the credibility of legitimate journalists.”
Back in 2018, when I worked at News, we had a sales event called Pacesetters, which felt like a glorified self-congratulatory gathering.
The event featured several speakers meant to inspire the sales team. Katie Page, interviewed by Peta Credlin, discussed their $70 million advertising spend to distribute in and wrapping tabloids with Harvey Norman advertising. Mark Ritson provided some insights on reconsidering print media and how it is better than social and digital approaches. However, the most memorable speaker was Chris Dore, who addressed The Daily Telegraph’s stance.
Dore’s key point was the importance of picking a side, warning that those who remain neutral often end up getting hit from both directions.
Michael Miller’s attempt to portray social media negatively feels hypocritical, especially considering the company’s profit-driven approach. As a former GM of state advertising used to say on the sales floor, “If I see a house ad, you aren’t selling enough.”
It’s disappointing to see News continue to decline in both ethics and quality. I hope that whatever emerges from the remnants of News is of a higher standard than its current state.
Thanks for your feedback and for pointing out the distinction between Fox Corp and News Corp. It’s a valid clarification that many overlook due to their common ownership.
However, it’s crucial to highlight that News Corp’s revenue numbers have been in a steady decline over the last few years. While celebrating the ‘high performers’ is a common practice across various industries, the revenue figures paint a clear picture: the amount of revenue being generated is significantly below where it needs to be. This suggests that despite the celebratory events, the overall performance is not meeting expectations.
Moreover, the initial point of my comment was to address Chris Dore’s remarks about the importance of picking a side. Despite claims of neutrality or supporting both sides, News Corp has historically aligned itself with a particular stance. This selective positioning contradicts the notion of balanced reporting and has contributed to the ongoing decline in both ethics and quality within the organization.
In summary, while recognizing high achievers is important, it should not overshadow the broader issues of declining revenue and the need for genuine journalistic integrity.
Thanks for writing the article.
Just wanted to point out that Fox News is owned by Fox Corp. The Abbie Chatfield hit pieces are usually published in News Corp mastheads. They are two separate companies, which everybody seems to conflate because of their common ownership. But they are each structured and capitalized in their own way.
Also, in response to one of the comments above, don’t most sales organizations, regardless of industry, reward high achievers with a self-congratulatory event?
More pith from Nathan. Long may this continue.
Hear hear, Nathan
Why is Abbie Chatfield immune to criticism? She uses her own platforms to essentially bully anyone she doesn’t agree with.