Rupert Murdoch may be the most famous media baron alive today, and he may be the only one who has had an entire conference devoted to his study, in Sydney, Australia, in 1989. One observation that best summarized the mood at the conference, according to journalist Ben H. Bagdikian, was that Murdoch is "the Magellan of the Information Age, splashing ashore on one continent after another."

Described by journalist Wolfgang J. Koschnick as a "kind of ogre who debases and sensationalizes the press" through his print and broadcast holdings on three continents, Murdoch sparks controversy. His "Murdochian journalism"--a mixture of sensationalism, political bias, and half-truths in a high-gloss, hard-sell package--has faced constant criticism despite its ability to generate high circulation. However, Murdoch--less an enterprising journalist than a shrewd business magnate--has proven himself a fierce competitor and successful gambler in the U.S. media arena.

Murdoch was born on...