House of Packer The Making of a Media Empire

9781865084107

1865084107

'Its scope is breathtaking...the volume of research is awesome...unquestionably a splendid achievement...' - Clem Lloyd, Foundation Professor of Journalism, University of Wollongong'...a remarkable account of the Packer family...painstakingly researched...will enthral anyone with an interest in the media'. - Kate de Brito, The Daily TelegraphAustralia's richest man, Kerry Packer, came to the helm of Australian Consolidated Press a quarter of a century agoin recent years his son, James, has begun taking over the reins of the group. But despite the legendary reputation of Kerry Packer and his father Sir Frank, and the popular fascination with young James, the story of the creation of the family dynasty has never been told.This compelling book unravels, for the first time, Frank Packer's Machiavellian deals that resulted in the launch of the Australian Women's Weeklyin 1933. From there it charts the production of the Dailyand Sunday Telegraphs, the Nine network, the Bulletinand Cleo.The House of Packermoves seamlessly from the bohemia of the newsroom to the intrigue of the boardroomfrom the rumbustious style of celebrated editors to the feudalism of Sir Frankfrom the bitter condemnation of political enemies to at times bizarre territorial disputes with the Fairfax and Murdoch dynasties.