James Fallows: The Age of Murdoch
Amidst the
mass media revolutions of the past fifty years, Rupert Murdoch has harnessed,
expanded, and then consolidated the numerous media outlets and businesses he
controls into one powerful entity: News Corp. James Fallows, writer for the Atlantic, has had first hand accounts
of the changes in media the past few decades. Along the way he has observed
Murdoch’s reactions. In the article, “The Age of Murdoch,” Fallows writes with
an admiring tone towards the media giant, and his decisions, while providing an
analysis of how the media has changed from a public service to a business like
all others. Researching Fallows, the Atlantic,
and the issues discussed within the article gives confidence in the validity of
the information entailed.
Educated at
Harvard College and Oxford University, James Fallows boasts an impressive
history. He has worked as a writer for Washington
Monthly and Texas Monthly.
Primarily, he has written for the Atlantic
since the late 1970’s. To quote the Atlantic’s
profile of Fallows, “he has reported extensively from outside the United
States, and once worked as President Carter's chief speechwriter.” Within
the magazine, Fallows is known for his fascination with technology and frequent
columns on the topic. A self-proclaimed Democrat and liberal, Fallows also
contributes to NPR’s Morning Edition,
and just recently began reporting for All
Things Considered. He has
received the National Book Award for Nonfiction, as well as the National
Magazine Award. (http://www.theatlantic.com/james-fallows/)
In “The Age
of Murdoch,” Fallows appears to take the side of Rupert Murdoch in the debate
over whether government, specifically the Federal Communications Commission,
should regulate or deregulate the communication industry. He shows agreement
with the viewpoint, “the news business is basically the same as other
businesses” by writing, “the Murdoch version has now won, and Murdoch deserves
to move from “controversial” to “visionary” status.”(Fallows, 2003)
“The Age of
Murdoch” appeared in the Atlantic in
2003. This was the only time it was published by the magazine or elsewhere. The
Atlantic itself, much like the
communication industry, has undergone changes. In 2007 its name officially
changed from the Atlantic Monthly, to
the Atlantic after ceasing to produce
twelve times a year. Now, the Atlantic only publishes ten times per year. Its
current owner is David Bradley, and current editor-in-chief is James Bennet.
Although it is publicly believed to be a leftist news source, Fallows writes in
a very straightforward manner in “The Age of Murdoch.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlantic)
Since it is
a single article published only once almost ten years ago, the reviews and
response to “The Age of Murdoch” are rather limited. Fallows does not present
many opinions in the article, but rather focuses on reporting what, how, and
why changes happened in media regulation in 2002 along with the effects and
reaction of Rupert Murdoch.
Overall,
“The Age of Murdoch” is a well-written account of media deregulation and the
important figures in the industry. Bias and personal opinion seem to be put
aside by Fallows. A reader can certainly be confident in the details within the
article, as Fallows has been shown to be a professional, credible source.
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