The recent News Corporation scandal has catapulted Murdoch and his global media empire into the public eye as perhaps never before. In the English-speaking world, and increasingly in ''untapped'' but potentially lucrative markets such as China, Murdoch wields an influence as political kingmaker second to none.

How did he do it? How did this empire, a loose ''archipelago'' of media islands large and small, come to be so successful and influential? How did it all come to the current, disastrous state? And will the empire survive the recent scandal that has outraged people around the world and rocked the media?

Building on many years'' research and featuring many previously undisclosed revelations, THE MURDOCH ARCHIPELAGO is the most up-to-date and definitive survey of Murdoch''s life and times; how power flows from influence; and whether this should (or if it can) be regulated.