“Winging about the technology will bring you nowhere. The only way to deal with new technology that upends your job or your business model is to get out in front of it. Otherwise it will get out in front of you.”
“We do need to be contemporary and to comprehend the impact on our family and our society.”
“We are in an era of unprecedented creative destruction. But there is far more being created than there is being destroyed.”
“Technology is destroying the business models we have relied on for decades. That is especially true for those whose business models have been based on a one-size-fits-all approach to their customers. Think for example of the giant American television networks that are finding their mass audiences shrinking with every passing day. Why? Because people suddenly have a growing multitude of choices and they are rightly exercising those choices.”
“[But] I believe technology is ushering in a new golden age for mankind. I also believe that technology is making the human side of the business equation, skills and knowledge, more valuable than ever. And I believe that societies that want to prosper in this new age need to cultivate a spirit of learning and flexibility and achievement.”
“The barriers to entry have never been lower and the opportunities for the energetic and the creative have never been greater.”
“As technology levels the playing field the human factor becomes more important. In plain English: If you run a business you need good people more than ever.”
“If you want to keep your company in the lead, you need to invest in your people.”
“As technology advances, the premium for educated people with talent and judgement will increase.”
The Boyer Lecture 2008 was presented by Rupert Murdoch under the title “A Golden Age of Freedom”. Mr Rupert Murdoch is the chief Executive and chairman of News Cooperation who depicts the current issues of Education and various aspects of media in the changing society. In his six lectures, Mr Murdoch has mainly emphasised on the Australian Perspective comparing it with the global issues of education, rise of middle class and how spread of information through globalisation has brought change in the society. Thus this review will analytically asses Murdoch lectures leading to key ideas which he has presented .Then in this Review, I will also be discussing how these lectures are significant and I would be presenting an argument regarding any gaps or structural problems with the significant examples .In the End, the Review will lead to a conclusion by looking at arguments whether this reading should be listed in next time unit or not.
The Six lectures on “A Golden Age of Freedom” provides the reader with the critical analysis on the Murdoch view on Australia’s Proficiency. In his lectures, Murdoch clearly states that Australia could only overcome the problems of 21st century by adopting new ways of technology and study patterns. The main claim which Murdoch put in his lecture is the Rapid achievement and growth of third world countries such as India and China. Thus in comparing developing countries with a developed country like Australia Murdoch wants to highlight the main reason of success is the hard work and high expectations which has brought developing countries in a competitive context. In his argument Murdoch ,depicts how Australia should improve its literacy standards in the time of transformation .In, the end lecture Content clearly highlights how poor people without any support are rising their standards by studies whereas people of Australia who have all the support from government are still stagnant due to lack of education .
In the review of the above argument I, totally agree with Murdoch because as stated in his lecture, people of Australia are very much dependant on the government subsidiary and financial support .Seeing the scenario in developing countries the people need to work themselves to improve their living standards .So this dependency on the government is making people more lazy and creating gap between them and education. For Example: A person in Australia is aware that if he is not working or educating himself a hope of Centre Link is there to help him. Whereas in developing countries no financial Institution of government is available .Thus it is up to the person to starve and die or receive good education to get a good job.
Murdoch presents a clear argument that he is in strong favour of developing countries .Thus he explain that developed countries growth has been stagnant by stating an example of Europe which has lost the will to confront aggression .He also pointed out reckless nature of aggression of invasion on Georgia by Russia and Terrorist Bombings in Islamabad. During his assessment of Positive and Negative developments in the global world .Murdoch strongly believes that Australia should be part NATO which will enhance its chances to take part in global issues. Taking example of Global economy, Murdoch clearly defines that financial crisis around the world are the greatest challenges to the countries and explain that NATO should involve every country based on common values instead of specific geographical locations.
Another key point which Rupert Murdoch emphasis is migration of skilled immigrants to the country .In his lecture Murdoch praises the Australian immigration for opening doors for the skilled workers and explains how these workers add to the economic and technological prosperity of the country .To this point, I would like to raise a contradiction stating that more immigrants to Australia will definitely lead to a multicultural society. But what will be the future?
According to me, Murdoch fails to analyse the far reaching effects of migrants’ problems which create an imbalance in the domestic labour market .For an Example people coming from developing countries on skilled visa don’t work in the specific skilled field instead of that they do other casual jobs leading to taxi and working in farms .Thus the population of immigrants keeps on increasing whereas the position for skilled work remain stand still because nobody is ready to work .In the end Murdoch should widely think about the negative effects which migrants can bring to the country and how to overcome this problem by controlled migration.
The key flaw in the Murdoch article is the discussion about the human capital and education to the generation. He specially pinpoints Aboriginal generation as its key target to reform by the means of educating and giving them benefits. Considering Educational point of view I totally agree with educational reform because it is education which is going to create skills and develop the young generation .But Contradictory part is why more importance is levied on Aboriginal. I agree that they are the oldest settlers but in the developed world Australia has achieved a status of Multicultural Society where everybody is equal .Thus by giving special preference to Aboriginal people will create a level of difference in the society which can erupt riots or fights in future.
It is clear that Murdoch lecture is inspired by Era of Globalisation and Technological advancement .In his lecture which emphasis stress on how technological change had brought change in society and condition of working class which is specifically middle class in the developing countries. He has beautifully presented an example of his own life experience about how media has changed rapidly from papers to availability on the internet. He explains that technological change is for the betterment and creates new ideas for innovation and expression of freedom. According to Murdoch only way to defeat technology is to get ahead of it .To this I want to say that availability of free trade and global market is a Neo liberal view of Murdoch which gives an upper hand to developing world like India and china.
But in Relation to this I want to say that India and china are able to achieve progress due to growth of privatization of market socialism .Thus Privatisation of market has led to building up a strong relation between government and business which has resulted in the progress of the state.
CONCLUSION
After reading Murdoch Lectures, it is necessary that it is listed as a required reading next time this unit is taught .It is necessary because it allows readers to formulate their opinions regarding the lectures based on “A golden age of Freedom”. It makes people aware of the rising technological changes as well as informs them about different prospects of Education and global world. Another reason which, I would like to put forward in relation to these lectures is that these lectures gives a nice opportunity to the reader to form an argument because according to me Murdoch is forming one sided debate .Thus he lacks in Unfolding the alternatives and fails to discuss about the effect globally in accordance to the environment ,that how the new era of freedom changed the environment globally .In the end the lectures are great source to political science as it will help the political thinkers to review Murdoch argument carefully and make future modifications ranging from précising it into more qualitative than quantitative source.