The Murdoch Trials and the Power Struggle Within the Empire The Murdoch family has long held one of the most powerful positions in the global media landscape, controlling an empire that spans continents and influences politics, business, and culture. The Murdochs, led by the iconic patriarch Rupert Murdoch, have shaped the global media narrative for decades, from the sensationalist headlines of British tabloids to the conservative firepower of Fox News. But as Rupert Murdoch ages, the looming question of succession has grown larger, along with questions about the future of this media behemoth. The public and media world are captivated by the ongoing internal power struggle, as Murdoch’s children vie for control of the family’s crown jewels—News Corp and 21st Century Fox—and the immense political and cultural power that comes with them. The family dynamics, coupled with legal disputes, have unfolded in boardrooms, courtrooms, and tabloids, in what has been broadly referred to as the Murdoch Trials. These struggles are not only about the future of the family business, but they also shed light on the nature of dynastic power, media ethics, and the consequences of such a far-reaching media monopoly. This article takes an in-depth look at the Murdoch trials, the scandals surrounding Rupert Murdoch’s empire, the roles of each family member, and how this could shape the future of global media.
The Rise of Rupert Murdoch: A Media Empire in the Making To fully grasp the significance of the Murdoch trials and the struggle for succession, it’s crucial to first explore Rupert Murdoch's remarkable rise to media dominance. Born on March 11, 1931, in Melbourne, Australia, Rupert Murdoch inherited his first media holdings—The News, a small newspaper in Adelaide—from his father, Sir Keith Murdoch, a well-known war correspondent and media executive. While Sir Keith Murdoch ran more traditional media enterprises with integrity and restraint, Rupert Murdoch took a different approach. He focused on populism, sensationalism, and tabloids—a strategy that would turn him into one of the most influential figures in modern history. Murdoch’s journey into the world of media began in the 1950s when he took over The News at just 22 years old. In a decade’s time, he expanded across Australia, purchasing several newspapers, and developed a strategy centered on populist and scandalous journalism. It wasn’t long before Murdoch’s ambitions turned global. By the 1960s, Murdoch set his sights on the United Kingdom, where he acquired News of the World in 1969, followed by The Sun. Both publications became sensationalist tabloid powerhouses, further cementing Murdoch’s brand of scandal-driven, politically charged news. During the 1970s and 1980s, Murdoch turned his attention to the United States, acquiring the New York Post and founding Fox Broadcasting in 1986. But the crowning achievement of his U.S. ventures was the creation of Fox News in 1996, which quickly became the most influential conservative news network in the country. Murdoch’s media empire—spanning print, television, and film—gave him unprecedented power to shape public opinion, influence political outcomes, and dominate the global news cycle.
The Family Empire: Murdoch’s Children and the Succession Battle As Murdoch's empire expanded, so did his family, and with that, the question of succession became a constant source of speculation. Murdoch has six children from three marriages, and several of them have been involved in the family business to varying degrees. While all six children are technically heirs, it is his sons, Lachlan and James Murdoch, who have emerged as the primary contenders in the struggle for control. Elisabeth Murdoch: The Outsider in the Family Business Elisabeth Murdoch, Rupert’s second-oldest child, was an early contender to lead the family business. She founded her own successful production company, Shine, which produced hit shows such as MasterChef and The Biggest Loser. In 2011, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp purchased Shine for £415 million, reuniting Elisabeth with the family empire, at least temporarily. While Elisabeth has been involved in the media world, her role within News Corp has always been more limited compared to her brothers. Her decision to sell Shine to News Corp instead of positioning herself to take over the broader empire reduced her chances of ever leading the Murdoch conglomerate. Lachlan Murdoch: The Favored Heir For many years, Lachlan Murdoch was considered Rupert’s natural successor. He became Deputy Chief Operating Officer of News Corp in 1999, and he was widely seen as his father’s favorite. However, Lachlan’s relationship with his father soured after he resigned in 2005 due to disagreements with other top executives. Lachlan returned to Australia, where he built his own successful media ventures. In 2014, Rupert convinced Lachlan to return to the family business, appointing him as non-executive co-chairman of 21st Century Fox and News Corp. His return marked the beginning of a more active role in the family empire, solidifying his status as the favored heir, especially as tensions with James grew. James Murdoch: The Progressive Rebel James Murdoch, the youngest of Rupert’s children from his marriage to Anna Torv, rose quickly within the family business. Known for his socially liberal views, James was seen as more progressive and forward-thinking than his older brother. He became CEO of 21st Century Fox and played a key role in shaping the company’s technological and digital strategy. However, James’ liberal political views clashed with the increasingly conservative tone of Fox News, a network that became known for its right-wing political coverage during the Donald Trump era. James openly criticized Fox News’ handling of major events, such as the January 6th Capitol riots and climate change reporting. In 2020, after growing frustrated with the conservative slant of the company’s editorial stance, James resigned from News Corp’s board. His departure effectively removed him from the family business and left Lachlan as the frontrunner in the battle for succession.
The News International Phone-Hacking Scandal: The Empire in Crisis One of the most significant challenges the Murdoch family has faced was the News International phone-hacking scandal, which rocked the company in 2011. Journalists at Rupert Murdoch’s tabloid News of the World were found to have illegally hacked the phones of celebrities, politicians, and even murder victims to gather sensational information. The scandal reached its climax when it was revealed that Milly Dowler, a murdered British schoolgirl, had her phone hacked by News of the World reporters, sparking outrage across the UK. The public backlash was fierce, and the scandal led to parliamentary hearings, the closure of News of the World, and multiple arrests. Rupert Murdoch and his son James were called to testify before the UK Parliament. While Rupert largely escaped direct blame by portraying himself as an executive too distant from the day-to-day operations of his company, James faced harsher scrutiny. As chairman of News International during the scandal, James struggled to defend his role and ultimately stepped down from his position. The scandal not only damaged the family’s reputation but also sparked internal divisions. While Rupert and Lachlan were keen to protect the company and its traditional media holdings, James saw the scandal as indicative of a larger problem with the company’s ethical standards. His departure from the board in 2020 can be traced back to these tensions.
Fox News and the Influence on American Politics Fox News has long been the crown jewel of Rupert Murdoch’s empire, and its influence on American politics is undeniable. Launched in 1996 under the direction of media executive Roger Ailes, Fox News quickly became the go-to network for conservative Americans, positioning itself as an alternative to more liberal networks like CNN and MSNBC. The network’s rapid rise to dominance in the cable news world gave Rupert Murdoch unparalleled power in shaping political discourse in the U.S. During the 2000s, Fox News played a key role in supporting the policies of George W. Bush, and its coverage during the Obama administration was openly critical of his policies. However, Fox News’ most controversial period came during the Donald Trump presidency. The network became an unwavering supporter of Trump, often echoing his rhetoric and amplifying his attacks on the media, the Democratic Party, and his political opponents. Fox News’ relationship with Trump reached its zenith during the 2020 presidential election. The network initially supported Trump’s claims of election fraud, even after Joe Biden had been declared the winner. This led to major internal disagreements, with James Murdoch criticizing the network’s editorial stance. The fallout from Fox News’ post-election coverage has continued to reverberate, as the network faces increasing competition from newer conservative outlets like Newsmax and One America News Network.
The Succession Dilemma: Lachlan Murdoch Takes the Lead As Rupert Murdoch nears his 93rd birthday, the question of succession remains critical. With James out of the picture, Lachlan has effectively assumed control of the empire. As CEO of Fox Corporation, Lachlan has made it clear that he intends to maintain the conservative direction of Fox News. Despite his growing power, Lachlan has faced criticism f