Rupert Murdoch is the most influential person in British media but is “much less influential than he was 18 months ago,” according to the Media Guardian’s Top 100 most influential media figures, published today.
Rupert Murdoch’s cross media dominance secured him the top spot in the Guardian poll but his position as the individual with the most power over the UK media was challenged, with panellists questioning how much longer he could dominate the sector. However, Murdoch’s News Corporation has an annual turnover of more than £16bn and controls 37.5% of BSkyB, which dominates the pay per view satellite industry. News Corporation also owns News International, which houses the Sun, the Times, the Sunday Times and the News of the World .The top five was dominated by the usual big names with BBC Chairman, Greg Dyke, occupying the number three position just behind world’s richest man Bill Gates. Chairman and chief executive designate of AOL Time Warner, Steve Case, was in fourth place just in front of Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP, who was the only representative of advertising and marketing to make it in to the top ten.
Gordon Brown made a controversial appearance in the top ten on the grounds that he would be the individual controlling the take-up of digital television in the UK. While Chris Tarrant was ranked 42 ahead of chief executive of Channel 5, Dawn Airey, in 46th position and controller of BBC1, Lorraine Heggessey, who ranked 47. In 82nd place Jeremy Paxman was considered more influential than the editor of the Sunday Telegraph Dominic Lawson, who occupied 83rd place.
The criteria for selection were cultural influence, economic clout and political power, which according to Guardian journalist, Janine Gibson: “Translate as influence over the ability to shape the UK market, market capitalisation, number of staff and corporate innovation, and access to government and influence over decision making.”
www.mediaguardian.co.uk
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