Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has apologized for a tweet sent Sunday that accused the “Jewish-owned press” of displaying an anti-Israel bias after the microblogging site post was deemed by many to be itself biased and anti-Semitic.
Rupert Murdoch’s sent the controversial tweet on November 17 as the situation on the ground in Israel intensified and turned deadly. While rockets volleyed in the region, Murdoch decried what he believed is media bias; however, in doing so, he revived and gave credence to old and damaging anti-Semitic stereotypes that “Jews control the media” and thus, the message being parlayed by international news outlets on any given situation.
Murdoch had said:
“Why Is Jewish owned press so consistently anti- Israel in every crisis?”
The comment made by Rupert Murdoch is a puzzling indictment as well, considering his own vast and wide-spanning stake in worldwide media outlets. News Corp., the company at which Murdoch is chair and CEO, owns several prominent news titles and properties including the Wall Street Journal and Fox News, which itself is the constant target of allegations of bias.
When contrasted with the fact Murdoch owns the second largest media conglomerate on the planet Earth, his comment seems even more offensive. The New York Times reported on the reaction to Murdoch’s original tweet, commenting:
“Twitter users instantly unleashed criticism calling Mr. Murdoch’s message anti-Semitic. Other Twitter users implied that the comment could taint coverage in Mr. Murdoch’s own newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal and The Times of London, which are reporting on the continuing Israel-Gaza conflict.”
After receiving a large amount of backlash, Murdoch offered up a half-sincere apology, saying:
“,Jewish owned press” have been sternly criticised, suggesting link to Jewish reporters.Don’t see this, but apologise unreservedly.
— Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) November 18, 2012
Here is Murdoch’s original tweet:
Why Is Jewish owned press so consistently anti- Israel in every crisis?
— Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) November 18, 2012
The controversy did not stop Rupert Murdoch from weighing in on the conflict in Israel, and he later commented on President Obama’s reaction to the Israel situation, noting it was “getting ugly.”
