Murdoch media empire back in the spotlight
Stacey Vanek Smith: Today, the Murdoch media empire is again in the news. But the attention won’t be on Rupert Murdoch. The focus will instead be on his son, James. James Murdoch is set to appear at a board meeting for British TV company BSkyB.
From London, Marketplace’s Stephen Beard reports.
Stephen Beard: It is business as usual at Britain’s biggest TV company BSkyB. That’s according to one of the board directors. But the claim looks hollow in the aftermath of the phone hacking scandal. The Murdoch controlled News Corp. has dropped its bid for full ownership of the broadcaster. And James Murdoch’s job as chairman is under pressure. One lawmaker has just called for the police to investigate whether he misled Parliament. Professor of Journalism at City University — Roy Greenslade — says James Murdoch should step down as head of BSkyB.
GREENSLADE: I think it would have been more tactful if he had stood aside at least until we see the end of the hacking investigation.
Apart from a major police probe, and a full public inquiry, the Murdoch family face an investigation by Britain’s broadcasting regulator as to whether they are fit and proper people to run a TV company.
In London, I’m Stephen Beard for Marketplace.
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