Think an 'independent' editorial board will protect CNN from political meddling? Think again
"They're not worth the paper they're printed on." The speaker was media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, who had accepted a sheaf of guarantees of editorial independence for the revered Times of London and the Sunday Times in order to secure government approval to take over the newspapers in 1981. Among Murdoch's undertakings were that the newspapers' editors would maintain control of their political…
Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul, offered assurances of editorial independence for two esteemed British newspapers, the Times of London and the Sunday Times, when seeking government approval for their acquisition in 1981. These guarantees included editors retaining control over political stances and independence from Murdoch's editorial direction.
Four national figures were also added to an oversight board to shield the papers from his influence, with the power to approve or reject the appointment of the top editor. However, Harold Evans, who once edited the Times under Murdoch, revealed in his memoirs that Murdoch defied all these promises. As we consider the establishment of the News Editorial Independence Board, we must remember Murdoch's chilling statement: "They're not worth the paper they're printed on."
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