Our last seminar of the academic year has broken into the study of tabloids in earnest. Their development in the United Kingdom is largely down to Lord Northcliffe, one of the country's very first newspaper barons, who accumulated his fortune through the assembly of several different national papers, such as The Daily Mirror and The Sunday Times, to form a vast empire that greatly resembles that of Rupert Murdoch today.
Chris Horrie's book, Tabloid Nation, covers this period of history in some detail. Indeed, Northcliffe included many similar features in his own tabloids that were present in those of Hearst, including new extras like competitions and far more visuals aimed at engaging more audiences. He went great distances to ensure his pursuit of a monopolised market would end in more success, recognising the potential to take advantage of a generally unexplored business venture. Modern journalism in the UK was fast accelerating; money was 'no object' to the wealthy baron as he continued to invest in his own gold mine. He justified his new brand of press as a product for the working man, on the way to his job in the mornings, or sitting down to lunch in the middle of the day; tabloids were newspapers that could 'occupy their minds without thinking'. It seems that, like his America-based counterpart, Lord Northcliffe possessed the business acumen and know-how to reap the rewards of a newly exposed market that continues to flourish in today's society.
On the subject of Hearst, I'd just like to present one more point of view regarding the film, Citizen Kane. The 1941 movie is widely regarded as one of, if not the, greatest picture presentations of all time. It follows the life and times of a very familiar journalist and politician, Kane, however, my point does not regard the success of the film. As was discussed in the seminar this week, it seems Orson Welles' portrayal of his protagonist greatly resembles that of Hearst himself. While Welles always denied the charcter was based upon the man, it seems evidently clear he at least took inspiration from the American baron, shown through the great similarity between each of their political lives, to the simple fact they both owned such grande and imposing mansions!
Regardless, it seems fitting that one of the greatest films to hit theatres, is so closely related to one who may be described as the 'kingpin' of media during the 20th century and still bears his impact on the tabloids currently sitting on our tables at home.
That's all I guess folks. Here's to a great summer!!!
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