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| Rupert Murdoch - image via 38degrees.org.uk |
Fresh from my email's inbox: Rupert Murdoch is at it again!
Read the following email that was sent to me by the peeps at 38 Degrees and, as usual, act accordingly. Thanks in advance.
Stay safe!
Loup Dargent
The Email:
"Dear Loup,
Urgent: Rupert Murdoch has just submitted his bid for a total takeover of Sky TV. [1] If this deal goes ahead he’ll control what’s beamed into 22 million homes - making him the most powerful media owner in the UK. [2]
We have just 10 days to push the government to block the bid. [3] Karen Bradley, the minister in charge of newspapers and TV, has the final say. She could refer the bid to OfCom - an independent body with the power to stop Murdoch. [4] Or, she could wave it through.
Last time he launched a takeover bid in 2011, public opposition sank Murdoch's chances, thanks to the phone-hacking scandal. [5] Now he’s hoping we’ve forgotten his past dodgy dealings. A huge petition, delivered on Monday before time runs out, will prove that he’s wrong: the public don’t want Murdoch to get more power.
Loup, please add your name now. It only takes a minute:
SIGN THE PETITION
Murdoch’s power grab will give him even more control of what news we see. One man's personal opinions and politics would skew the news that million of us watch and read. Democracy only works if voters can get at the facts - fake news, biased reporting, and Murdoch's media power grabs all add up to a big threat to democracy.
10 days is all we have to convince Karen Bradley, the media minister, to tell OfCom to investigate. Right now, she'll will be huddling with her advisors, trying to figure out what to do. And you can bet that Murdoch’s lobbyists will be throwing everything they can at influencing her. All of our signatures, added together, are our best bet for outweighing that pressure.
Please add your name to petition now:
SIGN THE PETITION
Thanks for being involved,
Tom, Amy, Maggie, David and the 38 Degrees team"
NOTES:
- [1] Independent: Rupert Murdoch moves step closer to full takeover of Sky
- Gov.uk: Department of Culture, Media and Sport press release: Statement in response to the formal notification of the proposed merger between Sky and 21st Century Fox
- [2] The Guardian: From films to Fox News: Rupert Murdoch’s far-reaching media empire
- [3] Gov.uk: Department of Culture, Media and Sport press release: Statement in response to the formal notification of the proposed merger between Sky and 21st Century Fox
- [4] See note 3
- [5] 38 Degrees: Victory! Murdoch withdraws BSkyB bid
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