Murdoch’s News Australia has invited “a select group of local businesses” to a workshop hosted by “Australia’s most trusted media brands.” What’s the scam?
At first, we were excited to be invited, until we realised that behind the promise of “personalised 12-month marketing plan tailored to your business” was not the most trusted media brands at all.
Au contraire, it came from the Murdoch stable of media brands that garnered over 500,000 signatures in support of a Royal Commission into their influence and untrustworthiness a few years ago.
And as last week’s report into Digital News by University of Canberra showed, trust in traditional media continues to decline, and four of the five News’ mastheads mentioned make up the bottom of their trust ranking.
The Daily Terror takes out the wooden spoon, with less than half of its readers finding it trustworthy.
Source: Digital News Report 2026
So thanks for the invite, Rupert, but we’re a bit busy reporting actual news.
Budget hysteria. The Murdochification of Nine’s papers in full swing
Kim Wingerei is a businessman turned writer and commentator. He is passionate about free speech, human rights, democracy and the politics of change. Originally from Norway, Kim has lived in Australia for 30 years. Author of ‘Why Democracy is Broken – A Blueprint for Change’.