News Over Noise

Episode 310: News for Hire: How Billionaires Are Rewriting the Narrative

Jun 19, 2025
Eoin Higgins, a New England-based journalist at IT Brew, discusses his new book about tech billionaires' influence on the media. He dives into how billionaire funding shifts narratives in journalism, particularly from right-wing sources. The conversation reveals the complexities of media coverage post-2016, the role of Twitter in amplifying radical ideologies, and the dangers posed by anti-democratic sentiments in politics. Despite these challenges, Higgins expresses optimism for independent media's potential to foster informed public discourse.
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INSIGHT

Hidden Influence of Right-Wing Funding

  • Right-wing think tanks and wealthy backers fund established journalists to promote favorable narratives subtly.
  • This leads to news appearing legitimate but reinforcing anti-democratic views.
INSIGHT

Tech Billionaires and Media Shift

  • Tech billionaires like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk shape media and politics via their investments.
  • Journalists like Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi shifted right alongside these tech financiers' support.
INSIGHT

Decentralizing Media for Control

  • Tech industry sought to decentralize media to counteract critical coverage by traditional outlets.
  • This resulted in alternative platforms that dilute traditional journalism's influence.
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