For the second straight quarter, News Corp’s executive chairman and controlling shareholder Rupert skipped the quarterly earnings call with analysts and journalists this morning.
Articles by Stephen Mayne 
Bolt, Day reveal why ACMA should move on Lachlan Murdoch
Perhaps the most striking recent example of Australia’s supine cross-media ownership laws was the decision by ACMA to allow Lachlan Murdoch to remain as a director of News Corp while clearly influencing Network Ten.
How about a Rupert tweet on Sir Rod’s surprise gong?
The fact that Rupert Murdoch has board approval to tweet away is surprising, if only because it is amazing that he still holds a leadership position at News Corp.
Mayne v Andrews: big parties awash with pokies cash
Pokies industry donations for 2010-11 got a brief mention in yesterday’s coverage and they certainly make for interesting reading when totalled up.
Mayne: now’s not the time for Rinehart to be be saying ‘look at me’
Journalists love nothing more than speculating about the future of media companies, so Gina Rinehart has created an avalanche of commentary with her high-profile raid on Fairfax Media.
Big compo for ALP’s pokie clubs, but industry declares no conflict
When Slippery Pete Slipper replaced Harry Jenkins as speaker in December, the most oft-heard observation was that it gave the PM some wiggle room to break her written agreement with Andrew Wilkie.
Sydney heavies finally step up on pokies reform
Julia Gillard and responsible minister Jenny Macklin, the two Victorian ladies of the Left, seemed genuinely committed to pokies reform before this week’s confusing antics.
Mayne: let’s have a pokies debate on maximum hourly losses
Why isn’t anyone in the pokies debate embracing the preferred simpler option in pushing for reductions in the maximum rate of hourly losses that pokies addicts can suffer?
The 2011 Crikeys: who went boom and bust in business
After another year of remarkable volatility caused by the unpredictable news flow coming out of the European debt crisis, Australian investors have every reason to be sitting on their hands. So who did capitalise?
Murdoch, Baillieu and Morgan: a story of old Melbourne families
Melbourne marked an interesting milestone last week.
Worlds collide as UK parliamentary committee comes to Oz
I’ll be dining next week with five members of the UK parliamentary committee probing phone hacking.
Super Thursday for AGMs with Gunns and Woolies in firing line
The AGM season formally finishes next Wednesday, November 30, and the final days will feature the traditional avalanche of penny dreadful gatherings, most of which will be missed by the media.
How KPMG legend David Crawford protected his old firm from questions
When it comes to the Melbourne business establishment, David Crawford is arguably the chief flag bearer.
How will Andrew Bolt respond to his GW profile?
After quite a delay, the Good Weekend cover story on Andrew Bolt will finally be distributed in more than 500,000 Fairfax broadsheet papers. How will he respond?
Mayne: Nasser, Murdoch sycophancy and the BHP-Billiton AGM
The BHP-Billiton AGM is the biggest event during the AGM season and only Telstra competes when it comes to serving up the lengthiest and craziest fare.
‘Imbecile’ pokies activist funds full-page newspaper ad
Despite the Baillieu government’s reluctance to tackle serious pokies reform, Victoria is central to the campaign for change and Paul Bendat’s full-page ad is a sign of what is to come for Victorian Liberals.
Media power shifts: watch for a Stokes move on Fairfax
Control of Fairfax Media’s sprawling newspaper, online and radio operations is suddenly available for as little as $500 million.
Mayne: Hartigan exit a classic Rupert power play
Without any need to consult Telstra, Kerry Stokes or James Packer, the trio that together own 75% of Foxtel, Rupert was able to poach the well-regarded Foxtel CEO Kim Williams to take News Ltd in a different direction.
Mayne: News Ltd launches pre-emptive attack on Finkelstein inquiry
News Ltd is working hard to discredit the Finkelstein media inquiry before it has even begun public hearings in Melbourne tomorrow.
How Clifford took the Qantas chair as a consolation prize
While Alan Joyce is copping most of the grief for the provocative Qantas lock-out on Saturday, no such decision can ever be taken without full board approval.
Mayne: Gunns believes pulp mill approval is inevitable — as it should be
Tasmanian forestry giant Gunns is working flat stick on its $2.3 billion pulp mill project. While the mainstream media has left the impression the project will fall over, there is a sense of inevitability on site that it will ultimately be delivered.
Record protests as News Corp shareholders get rankings dead right
The News Corporation votes are in and the record protest votes have duly been delivered. Records were smashed with as much as 80% of the independent shareholders voting to remove the Murdoch boys.
News Corp AGM: no doddery old men, or foam pies
Rupert Murdoch was pretty fast and combative, much better than the doddery old man at the parliamentary committee.
The most dramatic News Corp AGM since Maxwell came to town
For those Australians who like to rise early, set the alarm for 4am on Saturday and then go here to register for the webcast of what should be a cracking 2011 News Corporation AGM.
Hun comments reveal: News Corp 4th worst performer in ASX50
The short-term performance of News Corp might look OK, but a longer-term horizon tells a very different story.
