TOM ROBERTS historian & Biographer

With a passion for research and a reputation for dogged delving in archives around the world, Dr Tom Roberts has helped journalists, broadcasters and publishers with dozens of projects. 

Tom is also a successful author in his own right. His first book BEFORE RUPERT: KEITH MURDOCH AND THE BIRTH OF A DYNASTY, published by UQP, won the 2017 NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY AWARD, Australia's richest prize for life writing. The judges commented: 'Before Rupert is deeply scholarly yet utterly accessible and enticing ... Roberts has crafted a masterful biography, full of remarkable insights.'

Co-written with Peter Oborne, HOW TRUMP THINKS: HIS TWEETS AND THE BIRTH OF A NEW POLITICAL LANGUAGE, was published by Head of Zeus in May 2017.

Tom's latest work, THE MAKING OF MURDOCH, was published in January 2020 by IB Tauris/Bloomsbury:

'For all the legend and myth that surrounds his name, it’s remarkable how little we know about Rupert Murdoch the man. To unpeel the layers of "the man who owns the media", it’s difficult to think of someone more qualified than Tom Roberts ... Roberts again applies his forensic approach and scholarly rigour to contextualise this most imperious of media magnates against his vast political influence' Spear's Magazine

Tom is currently writing the biography of JAMES POPE-HENNESSY, which will be published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2021.

RECENT PRESS

Murdoch Begins The Irish Times

Windsor & Murdoch The Independent

Murdoch Empire The New York Times

Book of the Day The Guardian

Trump's Tweets Evening Standard

Lethal Weapon The Daily Mail 

The Murdochs The Guardian

Late Night Live ABC Radio National 

Media Dynasty The Independent

Biography Award Sydney Morning Herald