In case you hadn’t noticed, this week marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of The Australian.

The newspaper has been congratulating itself for weeks. At the weekend Sky News ran a long and (of course) utterly uncritical interview with Rupert Murdoch by the Oz’s editor-at-large (and former editor-in-chief), Paul Kelly.

The great man told Kelly that he was well pleased with his creation. “I think the paper has settled down over many years under Chris Mitchell … I think the paper has never been better than it is now.”

Gratifying, no doubt, for editor-in-chief Chris Mitchell, though I doubt he would agree with his boss that the paper has “settled down”. Mitchell is a stirrer. As his new media editor, Sharri Markson, wrote in Monday’s Media section:

“When pushed on the way he chooses and then drives The Australian’s campaigns, and how as editor he seems to set out to shape not only the national debate but the future of the country, [Mitchell] reluctantly admits his leadership role … He executes campaigns and chases stories that other editors are too weak to pursue …”