The 10 businesspeople who received the most media attention in 2014

Controversial Qantas chief Alan Joyce

Together they run some of Australia’s largest companies, set the economic agenda and go after corporate scoundrels. They also receive their fair share of media attention.

Media monitoring agency iSentia has done the sums on the businesspeople who received the most media coverage in 2014 and casino mogul James Packer has topped the list.

While the chairman of Crown Resorts generated headlines with his charitable donations and sporting ventures, troubles with his Bangaroo casino project also landed Packer in the press, as did his public punch-up with head of Nine Entertainment Group David Gyngell, who was the fifth most mentioned businessperson in the Australian media last year.

In second place on this year’s list is Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce, who has been no stranger to media attention during his tenure at Qantas. In 2014, reports focused on parliamentary changes to the Qantas Sale Act, as well as continued cost-cutting and job losses at the airline.

When Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens talks, the business world and the media listens. In 2014, Stevens was the third most mentioned businessperson in the Australian media, thanks to his regular comments on the RBA’s actions, the Australian currency, the mining sector and the federal government’s budget.

Australia’s wealthiest person, Gina Rinehart, received her fair share of media mentions last year, landing at number five on the most mentioned list. The mining magnate’s political opinions landed her in the papers last year, as did the ongoing feud between members of her family and her decision to step down from the board of Network Ten.

Also among the most mentioned businesspeople last year were ABC boss Mark Scott, mining magnate and philanthropist Andrew Forrest and outgoing National Australia Bank chief Gail Kelly. The chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Rod Sims, was the seventh most mentioned due to his role in tackling claims of unconscionable conduct by the supermarket giants and his comments on the potential sale of Australia Post.

The 10 businesspeople who received the most media attention in 2014:

James Packer – 92,584 media mentions

Alan Joyce – 69,812 media mentions

Glenn Stevens – 54,081 media mentions

Gina Rinehart – 43,089 media mentions

David Gyngell – 35,226 media mentions

Mark Scott – 31,597 media mentions

Rod Sims – 30,872 media mentions

Andrew Forrest – 25,334 media mentions

Lachlan Murdoch – 24,963 media mentions

Gail Kelly – 20,150 media mentions