Finally beginning to bite back.

News Ltd (Rupert Murdoch) announced the closure of all it's suburban and country newspapers in Australia- 60 of them including some very powerful ones.

Total lack of advertising.

That won't return..will be snaffled by online outlets but although Murdoch is putting all his papers online behind a paywall..it's a massive shift in power.

Already happened to a small group of 3 I do occasional work for but they had already been sorting out digital only (at my insistence ).

Real estate auctions- favourite past time in Oz have been banned. Real estate advertising worth $$Millions..all gone.

Both Qantas & Virgin Australia (over 90% foreign owned) demanding $Billions in bail outs from government..but will probably be forced to hand over equity to Government for cash.

Expect a re-alignment in society as "Free Marketeers" & neoliberals who dominate Oz, US and UK are forced to use Socialism to save Capitalism.

The thing is of course..as all the lower orders receive government payments the economy will take ages to spring back.

Expect huge push for a Social wage.

As that Chinese proverb says..may you live in interesting times.

Yes Hedda and the Media overhype, which is out of control and killing much media, will kill humanity when a real, serious plague like Ebola hits and humanity goes "no problem; a few weeks self isolating will solve this". Oh no, it won't. Like the dinosaurs, humanity will be wiped out.

If it was me, I would remove paywalls for now, to attract new readers for later. Or is that bonkers?

I’m wondering why the Sun felt the need to apologise for publishing the Bill Gates hoax letter last week when many of the articles it publishes are from spoof sources. It’s odd, too, that attempts to trace the original poster have failed when authorities seem to have no major difficulties tracing other social media sources. The interesting thing about the letter was that unlike most hoax articles, it contained some pearls of insight and wisdom. It has inspired at least one CEO “to view life and the world differently”.

newsvoice.com/i/4346124

www.bbc.co.uk/news/52039642

leaderonomics.com/leadership/bill-gatess...e-lessons-still-take

Honey wrote:
If it was me, I would remove paywalls for now, to attract new readers for later. Or is that bonkers?

interesting you say that Honey but News Ltd has announced that for the next 3 months all their titles will be free to access.

I understand the marketing but I just don't see many flocking to pay eventually for something that is free at the present. Unless they really up the quality.

I actuality subscribe to a few online publications like Vanity Fair but I find their articles to be a 100 times more investigated and accurate than say..Rupert's trash titles.

Oddly there is one of Rupert's most valued publications- The Wentworth Courier which I did tons of work for before Murdoch took it over. It was originally owned by one family and dominated Sydney;'s more prestige suburbs with glossy real estate advertising.

## It's also the publication i worked for when I told Rupert at the opening of his Fox Studios and he said "oh fuck off". Then he went and bought it?!!!!

It got me into the most prestige events for all manner of fab people..Prince Albert of Monaco, princess Diana, dinner with prince Edward (boooring) and endless minor pop stars but alas..since Rupert took it over it;s gone downhill (but then so have I )

The real problem with paywalls is not that people will not pay but they demand superior content and Murdoch's modus operandi has been to present rubbish.

## I've already had one of Murdoch's most experienced photographers of over 20 years on the phone in a terrible state as they have basically been laid off for the next few months (wife-2 kids & mortgage) and doubt there will be a job to go back to.

It will be fascinating to see what happens in the UK!!!

This is weird. If they are in such great danger why continue publishing the multitude of health scare stories?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8176663...-50m-blocklists.html

The only newspaper I had legal trouble was The Guardian. Making up bullshit allegations against my old former business partner. Instead of retracting they settled out of court.

Then he became more wealthy by investing in Amazon stocks and shares, with the money he won from the rag. No wonder The Guardian hate Amazon as well.

Green Man wrote:
The only newspaper I had legal trouble was The Guardian. Making up bullshit allegations against my old former business partner. Instead of retracting they settled out of court.

Then he became more wealthy by investing in Amazon stocks and shares, with the money he won from the rag. No wonder The Guardian hate Amazon as well.

crikey..do tell more Green Man

Mixed feelings on The Guardian..both a friend and enemy at times. Also shielded by a fantastic Trust Fund unlike other publications that are only profit based.

We live in Interesting Times !!