MAKING HEADLINES FIT THE AGENDA

Australian media outlets report that Ruport Murdoch has urged the Prime Minister to consider giving up the job. Here are representative headlines with excerpts:

PM should quit while on top: Murdoch – ABC News: News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch says Prime Minister John Howard should quit while he is ahead.

'Quit while you're ahead' – The Age: Media baron Rupert Murdoch says it might be time for Prime Minister John Howard to resign, while he is at the top of his game.

Murdoch to PM: go 'at top' – Australian Financial Review: Global media baron Rupert Murdoch says it may be time for Prime Minister John Howard to resign, while he is at the top of his game.

It might be time for PM to go: Murdoch – Sydney Morning Herald: Global media baron Rupert Murdoch says it might be time for Prime Minister John Howard to resign - while he's at the top of his game.

Gee, it certainly isn't very nice of Murdoch to put banana peels under Howard's feet like that. Then again that isn't what Murdoch was doing:

"I'd like to see him stay, but he's had 10 years there and it's a record," Mr Murdoch told ABC radio.

"He's on top of his form, and much better to go out that way than like Margaret Thatcher or losing an election."

It seems Murdoch is simply suggesting Howard might want to carefully consider his future.