Media Unmade: Australian Media's Most Disruptive Decade

(Paperback)

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Media Unmade presentsthe definitive story of the decade in which big media in Australia was cut down to size a decade that forever altered what had until then been perceived as the unbreachable foundations of the industry in this country. Drawing on insights from his ringside seat,independent journalist, commentator and Mumbrella founder Tim Burrowes knits together the big events and conversations withkey players then and now to reveal the drama and tell the storiesbehind the changes that every consumer of Australian media has witnessed over the past decade.

In this unprecedentedaccount, Tim considers how the newspaper rivers of gold evaporated, TV viewers turned to Netflix, and radio listeners started streaming instead. He covers how networks went broke, the ABC came under sustained attack, and how News Corporation'sphone hacking drama in the UK delivered Rupert Murdoch to the most humble day of his life.

Of course there is no drama without people and as much as Media Unmadeis the tale of the fluctuating fortunes of some of the country's best-known companies, it also presents the compelling stories of the powerful personalities who have shaped them from the Murdochs, to Antony Catalano and Greg Hywood, to Kim Williams and James Packer, Gina Rinehart, Alan Jones, Michelle Guthrie, Justin Milne and Kerry Stokes.

Againstthe existential threat embodied by Google and Facebook, Australia's media companies remade their broken business models and plotted takeovers in a battle for survival.And just when the worst seemed to be over, COVID-19 delivered the biggest advertising recession of all time, pushing every media companyto the brink.

Reviews

'The media industry is the most exciting, colourful and crazy in Australia and Media Unmade is a white-knuckle ride through the newsrooms, backrooms and boardrooms that have been battered by the global storms of disruption. With a pantheon of big personalities making even bigger gambles, Tim Burrowes has brought to light the legendary tales and seismic moments of the last decade in a fearless, forensic and often funny way. And, most importantly, he has made peace with Harto.' - Joe Hildebrand

'Media Unmadeis a ripping tale of Semtex, whiplash and tears. We were galvanised and digitised and right-sized and pulverised. Im still traumatised. Tim Burrowes is a canny narrator. He did not waste his front row seats on this insane ride.' - Joe Aston

'This book fizzes with sexy detail.' - Stephen Brook,Sydney Morning Herald

'a bracing account of the massive upheaval the media sector has gone through over the last 10 years, as reader and audience habits rapidly changed.' Michael Rowland, The Age
'This book fizzes with sexy detail.' -- Stephen Brook * Sydney Morning Herald *

Author Bio

Tim Burrowes is the award-winning founder of Mumbrella. Working on newspapers, magazines and online, he has been a journalist for more than 30 years and has worked in the UK, Middle East and Australia. Tim is a recognised commentator on media issues, including an occasional newspaper review slot on ABC TVs News Breakfast program.

Tim launched Mumbrella in 2008 after identifying an opportunity to disrupt the media industrys two traditional print titles with an analytically-led, digital-only product. In the decade since its launch, Mumbrella became one of the most respected authorities on the Australian media and marketing landscape. In 2017 Mumbrella was sold for a reported $8m to the US-owned Diversified Communications. You can find Tim on Twitter as @TheTimBurrowes and online at unmade.biz