News commentary

How Murdoch makes a meme

BuzzMachine · Jeff Jarvis · last updated

I’ve long said that Rupert Murdoch is the single most malign influence in English-speaking democracy. He executes his strategy in small ways that add up. Here is an example: how a trope is born across Murdoch’s worldwide empire.

Here is the editorial board of #MurdochJournal with its paternalistic, patronizing, sexist, diminishing take on the Harris/Walz interview — or “chat” — on CNN.

Now here is the #MurdochTimes of London with its equally insulting take: Walz as “babysitter.”

Next: the #MurdochAustralian with further diminishment: Walz as “pet”, Harris needing “emotional support.”

Not to be left out, there is the odious Murdoch-owned Sky News of Australia (just as bad as Fox News):

Nevermind the facts. Facts never stop Murdoch & Co. Lots of tickets give joint interviews:

This is just one small exhibit of the Murdoch method. It’s a story that will dissipate like a fart. But it is all additive, like carbon monoxide in the blood with Murdoch’s constant production of poison using his bully pulpits — his term — to drive his agenda. And the rest of media help him:

Note well that Jon Lemire disagreed with the Journal. Doesn’t matter. Murdoch’s poison is spread nonetheless.

Murdoch’s newspapers and networks are not news organizations. They are political actors and should be covered by the rest of media as such. But no. Instead, the rest of media help him do his work. This is how it happens. This is how fascism spreads. 

The post How Murdoch makes a meme appeared first on BuzzMachine.

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