Paper Emperors

Winner of the 2021 Henry Mayer Book Prize for Australian Politics

Winner of the 2020 Colin Roderick Award

Longlisted for the 2020 Stella Prize

'Prodigious research...illuminating detail.' -TheAustralian

'A tour de force.' - Professor Rodney Tiffen

Before newspapers were ravaged by the digital age, they were a powerful force, especially in Australia - a country of newspaper giants and kingmakers.

This magisterial book reveals who owned Australia's newspapers and how they used them to wield political power. A corporate and political history of Australian newspapers spanning 140 years, it explains how Australia's media system came to be dominated by a handful of empires and powerful family dynasties. Many are household names, even now: Murdoch, Fairfax, Syme, Packer. Written with verve and insight and showing unparalleled command of a vast range of sources, Sally Young shows how newspaper owners influenced policy-making, lobbied and bullied politicians, and shaped internal party politics.

The book begins in 1803 with Australia's first newspaper owner - a convict who became a wealthy bank owner - giving the industry a blend of notoriety, power and wealth from the start. Throughout the twentieth century, Australians were unaware that they were reading newspapers owned by secret bankrupts and failed land boomers, powerful mining magnates, Underbelly-style gangsters, bankers, and corporate titans. It ends with the downfall of Menzies in 1941 and his conviction that a handful of press barons brought him down. The intervening years are packed with political drama, business machinations and a struggle for readers, all while the newspaper barons are peddling power and influence.

'Stunning.' - Dr Rachel Franks,The Dictionary of Sydney

An 'exceptional book...masterfully achieved.' -Inside Story

'An invaluable volume.' - The AgeandSydney Morning Herald

'Better than a crime novel or work of fiction.' -Blue Wolf Reviews

'The best narrative of the power of the press seen for a long time.' -Otago Daily Times

'Prodigious research...illuminating detail.' -- The Australian 'A tour de force.' -- Professor Rodney Tiffen 'Stunning.' -- Dr Rachel Franks, The Dictionary of Sydney An 'exceptional book...masterfully achieved.' -- Inside Story 'An invaluable volume.' -- The Age and Sydney Morning Herald 'Better than a crime novel or work of fiction.' -- Blue Wolf Reviews 'The best narrative of the power of the press seen for a long time.' -- Otago Daily Times

Sally Young is Professor of Political Science at the University of Melbourne. She has written or edited five other books on politics and the media in Australia, two of these in collaboration with others. She has also published over forty journal articles and conference papers. Sally is a regular media commentator and wrote a monthly column for The Age between 2013–15.

WINNER of the 2020 Colin Roderick Award Longlisted for the 2020 Stella Prize 'Prodigious research...illuminating detail.' -- The Australian 'A tour de force.' -- Professor Rodney Tiffen Beforenewspapers were ravaged by the digital age, they were a powerful force,especially in Australia -- a country of newspaper giants and kingmakers. Thismagisterial book revealswho owned Australia's newspapers and how they used them to wield politicalpower. A corporateand political history of Australian newspapers spanning 140 years, it explainshow Australia's media system came to be dominated by a handful of empires andpowerful family dynasties. Many are household names, even now: Murdoch,Fairfax, Syme, Packer. Written with verve and insight and showing unparalleledcommand of a vast range of sources, Sally Young shows how newspaper ownersinfluenced policy-making, lobbied and bullied politicians, and shaped internalparty politics. Thebook begins in 1803 with Australia's first newspaper owner -- a convict whobecame a wealthy bank owner -- giving the industry a blend of notoriety, powerand wealth from the start.Throughout the twentieth century, Australians were unaware that they werereading newspapers owned by secret bankrupts and failed land boomers, powerfulmining magnates, Underbelly -style gangsters, bankers, and corporate titans. Itends with the downfall of Menzies in 1941 and his conviction that a handful ofpress barons brought him down. The intervening years are packed with politicaldrama, business machinations and a struggle for readers, all while the newspaper barons are peddling power and influence. 'Stunning.' -- Dr Rachel Franks, The Dictionary of Sydney An 'exceptional book...masterfully achieved.' -- Inside Story 'An invaluable volume.' -- The Age and Sydney Morning Herald 'Better than a crime novel or work of fiction.' -- Blue Wolf Reviews 'The best narrative of the power of the press seen for a long time.' -- Otago Daily Times

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