The award-winning author of Paper Emperors, Sally Young, discusses her newly released book, Media Monsters: The Transformation of Australia’s Newspaper Empires, with Melanie Kembrey. In the book, Sally uncovers the key players, their political connections and campaigns, and their corporate failures and triumphs.

Media Monsters reveals the transformation from the golden age of newspapers during World War II, through Menzies’ return and the rise of television, to Gough Whitlam’s ‘It’s Time’ victory in 1972. During this crucial period, 12 independent newspaper companies turned into a handful of multimedia giants. They controlled newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations. Their size and reach was unique in the western world.

Sally Young and Melanie Kembrey discuss how the newspaper industry was animated by friendships and rivalries, favours and deals, and backed by money and influence, including from mining companies, banks and the Catholic Church — and explore how these companies still influence the Australian media landscape today.

Sally Young is professor of political science at the University of Melbourne. She is the author of six previous books on Australian politics and media, including the award-winning Paper Emperors, plus works on political journalism (How Australia Decides), press photography (Shooting the Picture, with Fay Anderson) and political advertising (The Persuaders). Media Monsters: The Transformation of Australia’s Newspaper Empires is her latest book.

Melanie Kembrey has been a journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald for more than a decade and is currently editor of arts and culture publication Spectrum.

This initiative is proudly supported by the NSW Government through the Culture Up Late Program.