Not Even Rupert’s Son Is On Board With The Murdoch Empire’s Climate Denial
"Kathryn and James’ views on climate are well established and their frustration with some of the News Corp and Fox coverage of the topic is also well known."
Credit where credit is due — as the son of Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch could have lived the rest of his life quietly enjoying the billions of dollars his family has made from their right-wing media empire.
Instead he and his wife Kathryn have come out swinging against dear old dad, slamming the Murdoch press for its climate change coverage.
“Kathryn and James’ views on climate are well established and their frustration with some of the News Corp and Fox coverage of the topic is also well known,” a spokesperson first told The Daily Beast.
“They are particularly disappointed with the ongoing denial among the news outlets in Australia given obvious evidence to the contrary.”
So is Kathryn and James Murdoch going to do a Harry and Meghan?
— Guido Tresoldi (@GuidoTresoldi) January 15, 2020
Is this like a Luke – Vader situation?
— Adam Federer (@AdamFederer) January 14, 2020
James’ billionaire father Rupert Murdoch is the executive chairman of News Corp and Co-chairman of the Fox Corporation.
Their coverage of the bushfire crisis has been criticised around the world for the mental gymnastics they’ve pulled trying to downplay the role of climate change in the disaster.
Their outlets include The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Herald Sun, News.com.au and Sky News.
When it comes to Rupert Murdoch, few have done more harm to the entire planet, as well as #climatechange denial, it’s down his media that countries are so divided, his media propagates hate and division #MurdochMedia #bushfirecrisis #MediaBias
— Dave Dawson (@demon_dave) January 14, 2020
James is a bit of a black sheep in his family — he has criticised conservative media outlets in the past, and has distanced himself from the family’s conservative empire by setting up his own business that has reportedly bought stakes in more progressive outlets. He and Kathryn are also long-time climate advocates.
He is still on the board of News Corp, but is less involved than his brother Lachlan who is co-chairman of News Corp and chief executive of Fox.
Every time I read anything about the Murdocks I hear the Succession theme song in my head. 😐
— bonnie blue ♀ (@BonnieblueBlue) January 14, 2020
BREAKING: News Corp has denied there is a link between James Murdoch and the Murdoch family
— The Shovel (@TheShovel) January 14, 2020
How Has News Corp Reacted?
On Saturday The Australian published an editorial defending themselves, saying, “Australia has become a scapegoat for climate activists” who were frustrated that global emissions were not being cut.
Tbh I’m sure a lot of people would love to be just a scapegoat — that’d be nicer than the reality, which is we’re one of the most vulnerable countries when it comes to climate change and we’re now seeing proof of that.
The editorial goes on to make a bonkers claim that the reaction to the bushfires is a bid to replay the election and get a different result.
Lol, ok.
“In our coverage, The Australian’s journalists report facts about how to tackle bushfires and about how to deal with the impact of climate change. Second, we host debates reflecting the political division that exists in Australia about how to address climate change without destroying our economy.”
“However, our factual account of bushfires, climate change and the remedies, as well as our editorial commentary on these issues, have been wilfully and ineptly misrepresented by The New York Times and Guardian Australia as climate denial.”
