Goodbye, Rupert Murdoch
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Considering his replacement, progressives might be celebrating a tad early.
“Rupert Murdoch, whose creation of Fox News made him a force in American politics, is stepping down,” reported David Bauder for the Associated Press this week.
“Dear Colleagues,” began Murdoch. “I am writing to let you all know that I have decided to transition to the role of Chairman Emeritus at Fox and News.”
“For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change,” continued Mr. Murdoch. “But the time is right for me to take on different roles, knowing that we have truly talented teams and a passionate, principled leader in Lachlan who will become sole Chairman of both companies.”
“Neither excessive pride nor false humility are admirable qualities,” the elder Murdoch continued in his resignation announcement. “But I am truly proud of what we have achieved collectively through the decades, and I owe much to my colleagues, whose contributions to our success have sometimes been unseen outside the company but are deeply appreciated by me.”
“Whether truck drivers distributing our papers, the cleaners who toil when we have left the office, the assistants who support us, or the skilled operators behind the cameras or the computer code, we would be less successful and have less positive impact on society without your day-after-day dedication,” he wrote.
“Our companies are in robust health, as am I,” Murdoch assured the members of his media empire. “Our opportunities far exceed our commercial challenges. We have every reason to be optimistic about the coming years — I certainly am, and plan to be here to participate in them.”
“But the battle for the freedom of speech and, ultimately, the freedom of thought, has never been more intense,” he warned.
“My father firmly believed in freedom, and Lachlan is absolutely committed to the cause,” wrote Murdoch. “Self-serving bureaucracies are seeking to silence those who would question their provenance and purpose. Elites have open contempt for those who are not members of their rarified class. Most of the media is in cahoots with those elites, peddling political narratives rather than pursuing the truth.”