MediaGuardian Releases Its Top 100 For 2008
MediaGuardian has released its annual guide on the top 100 most powerful people in the media industry.
Its aim is to “take a snapshot of the individuals who run or influence the UK media in 2008” and it is now into its eighth year.
Top of the pile is Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who are the founders of Google, while James Murdoch is in silver spot as chairman and chief executive of News Corp Europe and Asia as well as chairman of BSkyB. Father Rupert is not far behind at number five.
Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP, was the biggest climber from 2007, climbing from number 43 up to 13 in 2008, while ITV darlings Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly slid 34 places from number 65 down to 99.
The top 20 is below:
| Number | Name | Position | Company |
| 1 | Sergey Brin & Larry Page | Co-founders | |
| 2 | James Murdoch | Chairman and Chief Exec | News Corp Europe and Asia |
| 3 | Mark Thompson | Director General | BBC |
| 4 | Paul Dacre | Editor in Chief; Editor | Associated Newspapers; Daily Mail |
| 5 | Rupert Murdoch | Chairman and Chief Exec | NewsCorp |
| 6 | Steve Jobs | Chief Exec and Co-founder | Apple |
| 7 | Steve Ballmer | Chief Executive | Microsoft |
| 8 | Ed Richards | Chief Executive | Ofcom |
| 9 | Patrick McKenna | Chairman | Ingenious Media |
| 10 | Jane Tranter | Controller of Fiction | BBC |
| 11 | Michael Grade | Executive Chairman | ITV |
| 12 | Sir Michael Lyons | Chairman | BBC Trust |
| 13 | Sir Martin Sorrell | Group Chief Executive | WPP |
| 14 | Simon Cowell | TV Producer/Presenter | Syco |
| 15 | Peter Fincham | Director of Television | ITV |
| 16 | Andy Duncan | Chief Executive | Channel 4 |
| 17 | Neil Berkett | Chief Executive | Virgin Media |
| 18 | Jay Hunt | Controller | BBC1 |
| 19 | Lesley Douglas | Controller | BBC Radio 2 and 6Music, BBC popular music |
| 20 | Luke Johnson | Chairman | Channel 4 |
The Guardian: 020 7478 5240 www.guardian.co.uk