Games of Monopoly and national media

Media plurality is a huge factor in determining the character of our public discourse

Denis O’Brien is the focus of a report examining ‘concentration of media ownership’

Northcliffe, Beaverbrook, Maxwell, Murdoch, Black, O’Reilly and latterly Denis O’Brien. What is it about media barons — and tycoons who would be media barons — that drives them to more and more acquisitions?

For business moguls, generally strategic commercial planning and wealth enhancement is the answer. The media magnate is different. Influence and the heightening of the political-business power nexus distinguishes the media owner for as long as we have known democracy.

Therefore, ...