Murdoch Gathers Political, Cultural Elite this weekend

[villager]

Media Mogul Summons the Powerful to Expound

By Sallie Hofmeister, Times Staff Writer

July 28, 2006

When 250 News Corp. executives gather this weekend for a management retreat at a posh California seaside resort, they'll skip the typical team-building exercises that such confabs are known for. Why role-play when you can pick the brains of actual world leaders and rock stars?

Speakers at the Pebble Beach event will include such political powers as British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former President Clinton and Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres. Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton will opine on remaking complex organizations, former Vice President Al Gore will riff on climate change, and U2's Bono will deliver a keynote address titled "The Power of One." If there's one man with the power to summon the powerful, mogul watchers agree, it's Murdoch.

"It's his unique persona and his global reach that puts him in a special category," said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld of the Yale School of Management. "He is the fulfillment, although not ideologically, of what Ted Turner aspired to be, in terms of having influence not only culturally but socially. Unlike Sumner Redstone, Murdoch is interested in influence as much as affluence."

Call it the Rupert effect. The 75-year-old media maverick personally invited many of the luminaries who will make the five-day retreat an unusually high-powered blend of politics and business. Not only did they say yes, but at least one — Clinton — waived his usual $100,000 speaking fee.

<snip>

"Murdoch has created a global media market by successfully operating in very different regulatory and political environments," said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. The retreat's lineup of speakers, she said, "may tell you how he has learned about the broad base of business environments he operates in."

http://www.latimes.com/business/custom/cotown/la-fi-fox28jul28,1,5132828.story?coll=la-headlines-business-enter&ctrack=1&cset=true

[babylonsister]

1. To be on a bug on the wall somewhere and eavesdrop on what's

going on...

[CatholicEdHead]

2. Going after both sides

Smart business plan, to set both sides on each other and make lots of money in the process.

[villager]

3. or get breaks and kudos from both sides?

Either way, it's profitable for ol' Rupe!

[proud patriot]

4. It's going to be beautiful this weekend

We finally got a break from the intense heat ..

[villager]

5. are you at Pebble Beach, too?

;-)

[Doctor_J]

6. I suggest the "political and cultural elite"

spend an hour watching a power point presentation showing pics of the blood and gore in Iraq. In between their kelp baths and appletinis and $50 cigars of course.

[smirkymonkey]

8. If only!

Why can't they do something useful for once instead getting all hopped up on champagne to roll around in a self-congratulatory frenzy over the mess they have made of the world in the process of enriching themselves beyond what is necessary or decent.

[lapfog_1]

7. Well, it's not as if they had to travel far

it's a couple of hours drive from Marin (Bohemian Grove) to Pebble Beach.

[cosmicdot]

10. convenient, isn't it? n/m

[daleo]

9. I guess the Beatles were wrong

"Well I don't care too much for money,
'cause money can't buy me love."

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Murdoch set to back Blair - for a place in his boardroom

The media magnate Rupert Murdoch is expected to offer Tony Blair a senior role in his News Corporation empire when he stands down as Prime Minister.

Allies of Mr Blair insist he has made no decisions about his plans when he leaves Downing Street -- almost certainly next year. But some friends say a seat on the board of News Corp could tempt the outgoing Prime Minister, as it would dovetail neatly with the lucrative United States lecture circuit. Mr Blair's popularity at home may be waning, but he remains big box office in America. His close relationship with Mr Murdoch will be highlighted tomorrow when he addresses the annual gathering of News Corp's executives and senior journalists from around the world.
...
Mr Blair's appearance is seen as a mutual "thank you" as he enters the final phase of his premiership. Mr Murdoch admired Mr Blair's support for President Bush over the Iraq war, which his newspapers around the world endorsed.

Mr Murdoch has already rewarded Jose Maria Aznar, the former Spanish Prime Minister and another backer of the conflict, with a seat on his board. "Mr Aznar earned worldwide respect for his strong economic record and unflinching stand against domestic and international terrorism," the News Corp chairman and chief executive said when he announced the appointment last month. It is easy to imagine him uttering similar words about Mr Blair.

http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article1202848.ece

[NC_Nurse]

12. well, I remain optimistic

that he might learn something from these folks that will change his mind on a few issues. People can change, ya know! Let's send good vibes their way!
;-)

[Up2Late]

13. Well, I hope Clinton and Gore can have some effect...

...and get him to change direction, maybe to reporting some real news.