For more than a century, the British press has been in the grip of a handful of powerful individuals—press barons whose influence stretches far beyond their editorial pages. These moguls don’t just shape the news; they shape public opinion, government policy, and even the very structure of our democracy. From the old Fleet Street titans to today’s Silicon Valley overlords, press barons have dictated what we read, what we believe, and ultimately, who holds power. That’s why we wrote The Little Black Book of Press Barons — to expose the power behind the headlines and to ask how we reclaim a media that truly serves the public.

Learn more and purchase the book here. 10% of sales generated from this unique link go to Hacked Off.

The Myth of a Free and Fair Press

The UK prides itself on having a free press, but in reality, much of it is neither free nor fair. A handful of billionaires control the majority of national newspapers, while silicon valley mega-billionaires have become the new gatekeepers of information. Even with this digital shift, the likes of Murdoch and Lebedev still remain synonymous with political influence and media manipulation. They are not journalists; they are power brokers, and their business interests often come at the expense of truth and accountability.

As the Leveson Inquiry revealed, sections of the press have been complicit in unethical, even criminal, practices—from phone hacking to political backroom deals. Yet meaningful press reform was ultimately blocked by the very people who stood to lose the most: those who control the news agenda. The public was promised independent press regulation, but instead, we got IPSO—a watchdog that is neither independent nor effective. Meanwhile, those who challenge the press barons face smear campaigns, intimidation, and legal threats.

The Rise of the Tech Barons

Today, the media landscape has evolved, but the problem remains the same: concentrated power in the hands of a few. Social media platforms, originally heralded as tools of democratic empowerment, have become the new propaganda machines. The likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk now hold as much—if not more—power over public discourse than traditional media moguls ever did. Algorithms decide which news we see, corporate interests dictate what gets amplified, and the line between journalism and manipulation has never been more blurred.

As we detail in The Little Black Book of Press Barons, the transition from print to digital hasn’t meant more accountability—it has meant more secrecy, less oversight, and an even greater risk of misinformation being spread at an industrial scale. When billionaires control both legacy media and the platforms that distribute news, democracy itself is at risk.

How We Take Back Control

Despite the bleak picture, we believe change is possible. There are ways to hold press barons and tech giants to account. We need genuinely independent press regulation, stronger legal protections against misinformation, and a media ecosystem that prioritises public interest journalism over corporate profit. Public funding for independent investigative reporting, greater transparency in media ownership, and fairer distribution of advertising revenue are just a few of the solutions that could help break the stranglehold of media monopolies.

But the fight for a better press isn’t just about policy—it’s about people. Readers, citizens, and journalists must work together to demand better. We must support independent media, challenge misinformation, and call out press abuse whenever we see it. The press barons may have the power, but they don’t have the last word.

Join the Movement

Britain deserves a press that serves the public, not the powerful. If you believe in a media that holds power to account rather than acting as its mouthpiece, then join us in demanding change. Read The Little Black Book of Press Barons, share its message, and support organisations like Hacked Off that fight for press accountability. The future of our democracy depends on it.

Buy the book using this unique link, and 10% of sales go to Hacked Off.