Media baron

The term media baron implies the owner of a large number of media outlets (TV, radio, magazine, newspaper and web venues) who runs them in a more or less "feudal" manner. It is a parallel to an older term, railroad baron. As the railroad barons controlled transport, media barons control public opinion, either subtly or not.

A list of recent past or present media barons would include at least:

• Rupert Murdoch
• R. E. Ted Turner
• Conrad Black
• Leonard Asper

The prototype media baron is probably William Randolph Hearst, although Lord Beaverbrook is a close contender.

Relatedly:

• Herbert Allen