Murdoch expos documentary to be screened

Posted by CPBF news release

A documentary that shows how Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation took television news to new depths in the United States is to get a rare screening in Yorkshire. 'Outfoxed' Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism, a film by Robert Greenwald, will be screened as the highlight of an evening event at Wortley Hall near Barnsley in South Yorkshire at 6.00pm on Friday 1 April.

The event has been organised jointly by Wortley Hall and the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom and has been timed to coincide with the current controversy surrounding the Murdoch empires attempt to take total ownership of BSkyB. After the film, a discussion will be led by Granville Williams and Daily Mirror columnist Paul Routledge.

“As well as 2011 being the 25th anniversary of the Wapping dispute, where Rupert Murdoch tried to break the print unions with his new print works in east London the year has also seen his News International company pilloried over phone-hacking at the News of the World, questioned over its relationship with the Metropolitan Police and seen the resignation of former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as the Prime Ministers
top media adviser"; says Granville Williams.

“The implications of such a takeover for the media in this country could not be more serious," he added, “not least as it comes at exactly the same time as the BBC is facing cutbacks that could include the destruction of Radio Leeds and Radio Sheffield."

'Outfoxed' examines how media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, have been running a race to the bottom in television news, says Mr Greenwald. This film provides an in-depth look at Fox News and the dangers of ever-enlarging corporations taking control of the public's right to know.

Entry to the 'Outfoxed' event costs £6.50 per person, including a pie and peas supper. Bookings and further information  Wortley Hall 0114 288 2100 email info@wortleyhall.org.uk

Download the draft BSkyB submission