We first posted this article in July 2011. However since News International, Rebekah Brookes and Rupert Murdoch are back in the news, it is a timely reminder about the people who Michael Gove considers should be running our schools.
Also see Is Michael Gove in the Murdoch sewer too?
Michael Gove has had numerous meetings with Rupert Murdoch and other executives from News International in the last year.
Rupert Murdoch has grand designs for education. Murdoch believes that technology is central to the future development in education. His purchase of Wireless Generation an education technology company that seeks to develop hand held wireless technology to support classroom teachers illustrates his intent.
Rebekah Brookes, former Editor of the News of the World, was arrested in connection with phone hacking and corruption allegations. She is a Governor at Fullwood Academy. The sponsor is Charles Dunstone, chief executive of Carphone Warehouse. Rebekah Brookes has so far refused to resign as a governor.
Joel Klein is a former chancellor of New York City schools and now CEO of News Corp’s education division. While he was the chancellor of New York City schools he was responsible for pushing through an expansion of Charter School. these are profit making schools that Michael Gove admires which are similar to Academies.
An interesting review of his impact on New York can be read here – Schools chancellor Joel Klein won’t be missed – he lost the respect of teachers and parents alike
For more on the links between Michael Gove and the Murdoch Empire see Is Michael Gove in the Murdoch sewer too?
Below is the list of meetings between Gove and the Murdoch Empire. Hardly a month went by when he didn’t meet with one or other senior figure.
| 19-May-10 |
| Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), Rebekah Brooks (News International), plus more than ten others. |
| Dinner and general discussion |
10-Jun-10 |
| Rebekah Brooks (News International), plus several others |
| Dinner and general discussion |
17-Jun-10 |
| News International executives and senior editors, including Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Rebekah Brooks (News International) |
| Lunch and general discussion |
30-Sep-10 |
| Fraser Nelson (The Spectator), Joel Klein (now News Corporation, former Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education and Assistant Attorney General to President Clinton), plus more than ten others |
| General discussion |
3 – 6 October 2010 |
| George Parker (Financial Times), Patrick O’Flynn (Daily Express), James Harding (The Times), Roland Watson and team (The Times), Gary Gibbon (Channel 4 News), Cathy Newman (Channel 4 News), Nick Robinson (BBC), Colin Myler (News of the World), Victoria Newton (News of the World), David Wooding and team (News of the World), Dominic Mohan (The Sun), Tom Newton-Dunn (The Sun), Peter Wright (Mail on Sunday), Simon Walters (Mail on Sunday) |
| Party Conference meetings |
21-Oct-10 |
| Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), Rebekah Brooks (News International), James Harding (The Times), Dominic Mohan (The Sun), James Murdoch (News Corporation), Colin Myler (News of the World), John Witherow (Sunday Times) plus more than ten others |
| Dinner after Centre for Policy Studies lecture |
17-Nov-10 |
| Martin Ivens (Sunday Times) |
| Lunch and general discussion |
30-Nov-10 |
| Rebekah Brooks (News International), Will Lewis (News International), James Harding (The Times) |
| Academy visit |
17-Dec-10 |
| Rebekah Brooks (News International) plus several others |
| Social |
25 – 28 January 2011 |
| Joel Klein (now News Corporation, former Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education and Assistant Attorney General to President Clinton), visiting UK as guest of DfE to explain and discuss US education policy success, including large conference platform and assorted dinners with senior figures from education and the media, including Rupert Murdoch. |
| Including private and public events |
31-Jan-11 |
| Rebekah Brooks (News International), plus several others |
| Dinner hosted by Academy sponsor Charles Dunstone |
19-May-11 |
| James Harding (The Times), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), James Murdoch (News Corporation), Rebekah Brooks (News International) |
| Breakfast and general discussion |
16-Jun-11 |
| Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation) plus several others |
| Dinner and general discussion |
26-Jun-11 |
| Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), plus several others |
| Dinner and general discussion |
This list is taken from http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/michael%20gove%20media%20meetings%20may%202010%20to%20july%202011.pdf
