Where Are Tech Billionaires Taking the News? — Following Larry Ellison's "Rightward Shift" Strategy

In the latter half of 2025, there is a growing perception that Oracle founder Larry Ellison's influence is accelerating the "rightward shift" of the news industry. The forefront of this movement is led by his eldest son, David, who heads Skydance. In August, Skydance completed its merger with Paramount, bringing a massive media group, including CBS, under its umbrella. As a commitment to regulatory authorities, promises have been made to establish an ombudsman for complaint review at CBS News and to reassess DEI, signaling a definite change in the editorial environment. Furthermore, Ellison is poised to penetrate the control of TikTok's U.S. operations as part of an investor consortium suggested by U.S. President Trump. Oracle is seen as a strong candidate to oversee the algorithm, raising concerns about the connection between 170 million U.S. users and politics. On social media, criticism of a "right-wing takeover of reporting" clashes intensely with praise for "correcting liberal bias." The fairness of the media has entered a phase where it will be tested more by governance and transparency than by the acquisition itself.