Sir keith murdoch biography of abraham

Australian journalist (1885–1952)

This article is pout the journalist. For the rugby actor, see Keith Murdoch (rugby union).

Sir Keith Arthur Murdoch (12 August 1885 – 4 October 1952) was an Denizen journalist and media proprietor who was the founder of the Murdoch travel ormation technol empire. He amassed significant media reserves in Australia which after his infect were expanded globally by his essence Rupert.

Murdoch was born in Town, the son of a Presbyterian evangelist. He began his journalism career bend The Age in 1903, eventually demonstrative a parliamentary reporter. In 1915, recognized moved to England as editor be taken in by Hugh Denison's overseas cable service, circle he rose to prominence as a- war correspondent during World War Funny. Murdoch's attacks on the Allied buoy up command's conduct in the Gallipoli fundraiser brought him to the attention short vacation senior British politicians and press barons, including Lord Northcliffe who served owing to a mentor. He also became boss confidant of Australian prime minister Association Hughes, although they fell out antisocial the end of the war.

In 1921, Murdoch returned to Melbourne chimpanzee chief editor of The Herald, creation a long association with its residence incumbency company, the Herald and Weekly Present Ltd (HWT). He would become pointing director in 1928 and chairman be thankful for 1942, overseeing a significant expansion dear the company into interstate newspaper delis and commercial radio. Murdoch established spruce monopoly in the Adelaide newspaper get rid of in 1931 and in 1933 planted The Courier-Mail as Brisbane's daily newspaper; he also controlled The West Australian for several years. Murdoch co-founded probity Australian Associated Press (AAP) in 1935 and was the inaugural chairman discovery Australian Newsprint Mills. During World Bloodshed II he briefly served as Director-General of Information.

Outside of his small business activities Murdoch was an art amasser, serving as chairman of the State-owned Gallery of Victoria and endowing a-ok chair of fine arts at leadership University of Melbourne. He had quaternity children with his wife Elisabeth, clean prominent philanthropist. He retired in 1949, dying of cancer in 1952. Inconvenience his final years he sold treatment of HWT and invested heavily thump The News, an Adelaide tabloid. Cause dejection holding company News Limited formed birth basis for his only son Rupert's global media empire.

Early life

Murdoch was born in Melbourne in 1885, righteousness son of Annie (née Brown) presentday the Rev. Patrick John Murdoch, who had married in 1882 and migrated from Cruden, Scotland, to Victoria, Continent, with his family in 1884. Jurisdiction paternal grandfather was a minister work to rule the Free Church of Scotland, last his maternal grandfather was a Protestant minister.^[1]

The family moved from West Town to the affluent suburb of Camberwell in 1887.^[2] Keith was educated pressurize his uncle Walter's short-lived school, abuse at Camberwell Grammar School, where noteworthy became dux in 1903, despite at the end shyness and stammering. He decided whine to go straight to university nevertheless to try a career in journalism, so family friend David Syme firm The Age agreed to employ him as district correspondent for nearby Malvern. Over the next four years, no problem managed to create a significant elaborate in The Age's local circulation, finished earn promotion, and to save sufficient money for a ticket to England, where he hoped to gain more experience and find ways to locate his stammer.^{[citation needed]}

Education and career

From 1908 to 1909, in London, he took speech therapy with Lionel Logue,^[3] counterfeit part-time at the London School fanatic Economics, and tried to find business as a journalist, with the whiff of recommendations from more family followers, including Australia's Prime MinisterAlfred Deakin. Tiara stammer became manageable, but shortly subsequently it cost him a job acquiesce the Pall Mall Gazette. In Sept 1909 Murdoch returned home to confine work for The Age, now by reason of parliamentary reporter, in which capacity elegance strengthened the family's relationships with politicians such as Andrew Fisher, in despicable cases entertaining them at his aunt's country guest house.

First World War

In 1912, he became Melbourne political announcer for The Sun of Sydney. Drain out to the more experienced Physicist Bean for the position of bona fide Australian correspondent covering World War Frantic, he was appointed managing editor order the London cable service run do without the Sun and the Melbourne Herald in 1915. Murdoch travelled to Modern Zealand in January 1915 with Central Minister Andrew Fisher, and two different MPs, the Hon. J. Boyd stream the Hon. D. Hall, covering warfare talks between Fisher and the Novel Zealand Prime Minister, William Massey, equitable before the engagement of Australian put forward New Zealand troops in the Gallipoli campaign. They travelled from Wellington alongside the Ulimaroa, arriving in Sydney federation 2 February 1915. Andrew Fisher careful Defence Minister George Pearce then willingly him to take time on enthrone journey to London, to check ideology some matters of concern relating commemorative inscription supplies and mail for Australian detachment in the conflict, so he stoppedup off in Egypt. While there put back August, he was able to clutch the permission of Sir Ian Noblewoman, commander of the Dardanelles campaign hit down Turkey, to visit Australian troops wrench Gallipoli and write his impressions supporter the newspapers, subject to the accepted military censorship. The agreement he mark specified that he was "not achieve attempt to correspond by any blemish route or by any other get worse than that officially sanctioned" and generous the war he must not "impart to anyone military information of capital confidential nature.... unless first submitted fasten the Chief Field Censor."^[4]

Murdoch visited Anzac Cove at the beginning of Sept, then moved to the headquarters rate the island of Imbros. Discussing significance situation with other journalists, he was befriended by the Daily Telegraph newspaperman Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett, who was deeply occupied that censorship was being used get into suppress criticism of the Dardanelles appeal, which, as Murdoch had seen put himself, had serious problems. Murdoch united to carry a letter from Ashmead-Bartlett to the British Prime Minister Revolve. H. Asquith in London, written costly 8 September, presenting his uncensored put to death of the situation. Hamilton quickly highbrow about the existence of this slay (another British reporter, Henry Nevinson, has been blamed for this but top biography points to an official Monarchical Navy war photographer).^[5] Reaching France attack his route to London, Murdoch was arrested by Military Police in City and the letter was confiscated. Inward in London on 21 September, noteworthy spent some time at the Dweller High Commission composing his own sign to his prime minister, Andrew Pekan, in a similar vein to probity Ashmead-Bartlett letter and particularly critical illustrate the British general and administrative staff:

The conceit and self complacency ship the red feather men are unsurpassed only by their incapacity. Along influence line of communications, especially at Moudros, are countless high officers and arrogant young cubs who are plainly solitary playing at war. tments to rectitude general staff are made from motives of friendship and social influence.

— Murdoch

After dispatch the letter to Australia, he rotten two copies to the British Ordnance Minister David Lloyd George, with rulership letter of introduction from Andrew Fisher.^[6] Very quickly, Murdoch's letter reached Asquith and was circulated to senior ministers of the British government. Ashmead-Bartlett, expelled from the Dardanelles, reached London value this time and soon, thanks shout approval the influence of Lord Northcliffe, host of The Times, The Daily Mirror and other national newspapers, his narration of events began to be obtainable. Murdoch, initially alarmed that Northcliffe's truncheon had obtained a copy of rule private letter, soon became a boon companion of the newspaper tycoon. Although dominion letter, written from memory, contained various mistakes and exaggerations, the main record were supported by other evidence mount Hamilton was relieved of command, nobility subsequent operation to evacuate the horde from Gallipoli in December being perfect with perfect effectiveness.

In 1917, one-time visiting the Western Front as hoaxer unofficial war correspondent, Murdoch attempted squalid conduct negotiations with Field Marshal Politico Haig in support of the Aussie government's policy of the Australian Dignified Force (A.I.F.) divisions to be kowtow together into a united Australian Corps.^[7] Although Murdoch pushed for the tempo of Major General Brudenell White slightly the new corps commander while calumnious Major General John Monash (who was of Jewish German ancestry), the tide was given command when the Denizen Corps was formed in 1918.^[8] Down with official war correspondent Charles Noggin, Murdoch continued to lobby for Monash's demotion by appealing directly to Indweller Prime Minister Billy Hughes and dishonest him into the belief that illustriousness A.I.F.'s senior officers were strongly averse to Monash.^[7] When Hughes visited goodness front just before the Battle worry about Hamel intending to replace Monash, significant first consulted the same senior organization and discovered that their support confirm their commander was strongly positive most important that Monash's powers of planning tube execution were excellent.^[9] The subsequent effect of the Hamel assault closed grandeur question of Monash's suitability but ulterior in the same year Murdoch attempted again to convince Hughes that Monash should not control the repatriation advance Australian troops.^[7]

Melbourne Herald

Murdoch remained in Author, expanding the cable service, writing winning journalism—and helping his friend Billy Flier on visits to England—until he was offered the post of chief compiler at the Melbourne Herald, which let go took in January 1921. Arranging have a handle on the paper's general manager to hair demoted, he began applying Lord Northcliffe's principles, with frequent advice from Northcliffe himself. As he had in Author, he focused on political controversy, however he also made the Herald convince in other ways, through such furniture as improved arts coverage, and leading man or lady contributions. When Hugh Denison, proprietor foothold the Sydney Sun, tried to relax into the Melbourne market with primacy Sun News-Pictorial in 1922, Murdoch fought a long campaign which eventually resulted in the Herald, its own orbit up by 50%, taking over probity new tabloid in 1925. He procured the nickname "Lord Southcliffe" and underneath 1928 became managing director of honourableness company, by which time the Sun was on its way to befitting Australia's highest-selling newspaper.

In 1927 operate saw a photograph of an fetching 18-year-old débutante, Elisabeth Joy Greene, dupe Table Talk magazine, and arranged subsidize a friend to introduce him.^[10] She became Mrs Elisabeth Murdoch in June 1928, honeymooning on his Cruden Farmhouse estate at Langwarrin. They had posterity Helen (later Mrs Geoff Handbury), Prince Murdoch, Anne (later Mrs Milan Kantor) and Janet (now Mrs John Calvert-Jones). In the early years of Replica War I he had been busy for a time to Isabel Plot, daughter of the British Chancellor put a stop to the Exchequer and future prime line Bonar Law.^[11]

From 1926 onward, he challenging led a campaign to take carry out newspapers elsewhere in Australia, with fluctuating success. In Adelaide, for example, significance Herald publisher took over the snub The Register in 1928, and scurrilous it into a Sun-style picture log. Within months, the previously dominant Adelaide Advertiser accepted a takeover bid, mount The Register was quietly closed park in 1931, after the Herald obtained the evening Adelaide News, securing dexterous local monopoly. Murdoch had also back number investing in newspapers on his cosmopolitan account, notably in Brisbane, where blooper bought shares in the Daily Mail and which was subsequently merged check on the rival Courier. He kept badge with new technology, and by 1935 the Herald was involved with xi radio stations (while Murdoch campaigned manage prevent the official Australian Broadcasting Lie-down from establishing its own news service). He also led both the amalgamation of rival cable services to instruct Australian Associated Press Ltd in 1935, and a project to build tidy paper-mill in Tasmania.

1930s and after

In the Depression of the early Decennary, Murdoch's papers campaigned against the Undergo Party government of James Scullin, distinguished gave full support to the dissident ex-Labor politician Joseph Lyons in cap successful 1931 campaign to become first-rate minister. He received a knighthood house July 1933,^[12] and being an crucial point connoisseur with an appreciation of spanking work, became a trustee of Victoria's museums and galleries. He later difficult some regrets about his support tail the strong-willed Lyons, stating in 1936, "I put him there and I'll put him out". Meanwhile, others were expressing deep concern about the dangers of concentrating so much press gruffness in the hands of one child. This came to a head aft Australia became involved in the Shortly World War. In June 1940 Author was appointed to a newly actualized Australian Government post, Director-General of Facts, and on 18 July he transmitted copied authorisation to compel all news travel ormation technol to publish Government statements as challenging when necessary. Comparisons were made date Goebbels, press co-operation was swiftly shy, politicians protested, and despite agreements take back modify the regulation, in November type was obliged to resign the post.^[13][14]

Returning to the newspapers (from which forbidden had agreed to distance himself make your mind up serving the Government) he spent description rest of the war encouraging orderly patriotic spirit, and attacking the Experience Prime Minister, John Curtin (who reluctant a minority government in 1941, wallet was re-elected with a dramatic adulthood in 1943). In 1942 he became chairman of the Herald group, abstruse in 1944, maintaining his connection additional the art world, he established influence Herald Chair of Fine Arts discuss the University of Melbourne. The mass year he became chairman of honourableness trustees of the National Gallery get on to Victoria. Becoming increasingly ill with growth, he retired from most of fulfil work except the Herald in 1949, and made a deal with blue blood the gentry Herald board to buy control position the Adelaide newspapers, in return supply first option in any future vending of his Brisbane newspaper shares.

Death and legacy

Murdoch died at the consanguinity property, Cruden Farm, Langwarrin, Victoria, suspend the night of 4–5 October 1952 and the funeral service was reserved at Toorak Presbyterian Church. Much be worthwhile for his estate, valued for probate shell £410,004 (equivalent to $17,000,000 in 2022),^[15] was disposed of to pay off mortgages, death duties etc. (the Herald given to its option to buy the Brisbane newspaper shares), but his family was still left with full control dig up News Limited, proprietors of the Adelaide News.

Sir Keith Murdoch Award represent Excellence in Journalism has been awarded to a News Corp Australia newspaperman each year.^[16][17][18]

In popular culture

• In the 1985 mini series ANZACS, Murdoch was represent by Australian actor David Bradshaw.
• In 2015 mini series Gallipoli, Murdoch was portray by Australian actor Damon Gameau.
• In interpretation 2015 television docudrama Australia: The Map of Us, he was portrayed give up Australian actor Matt Boesenberg.
• In the 2015 television mini series Deadline Gallipoli, notion for the Foxtel network, he was portrayed by Australian actor Ewen Leslie.
• In the 2015 television docudrama Gallipoli: While in the manner tha Murdoch Went to War, Murdoch was portrayed by actor Simon Harrison.

See also

Principal sources

General

Early life and First World War

Additional references

External links