Murdoch
Monday, 18 July 2011
I met Murdoch years ago in the Concorde departure lounge. I introduced myself as "Mr Murdoch - I write a column in one of your publications" to which he answered "The best thing in the whole damn paper".

How could I not like the man?

On the flight he moved from the seat next to his wife (the blonde novelist - Anna?) and sat next to me. We talked for three hours. I found him charming, intelligent, decent, ruthless, powerful and very amusing.

My opinion on him has not changed.

I do think he's lost the ability to make correct decisions - it showed when the Firewall went up and his handling of the current drama has been disastrous.

But I have never blamed him for the flaws in the media. They go much deeper and have gone on forever.