Rupert Murdoch’s Son Rebukes Fox News for Climate Change Denial

James Murdoch, the younger son of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, has criticized his father’s companies for denying the reality of man-made climate change. Murdoch and his wife Kathryn have attacked Fox News and News Corp for their coverage. Fox News is currently overseen by James’ older brother, Lachlan Murdoch.

‘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 for the couple told the Daily Beast.

“They are particularly disappointed with the ongoing denial among the news outlets in Australia given obvious evidence to the contrary,” the spokesperson said.

The intervention appears to have been prompted in part by the ongoing Australian wildfires. Murdoch’s News Corp dominates the media in Australia and has been very reluctant to discuss climate change as a contributing factor in the raging fires.

“They are pissing inside the tent and that’s unusual. It’s evidence of how high tensions are within the family over climate change. The majority of people who work here agree with James. We are hoping this may be the tipping point,” one anonymous News Corp executive told the Daily Beast. 

In the U.S., Fox News’ coverage of climate change has been extremely limited and the network has frequently hosted climate change deniers.

James Murdoch’s comments are part of an ongoing feud within the powerful media family that is likely to escalate as the future of their media empire comes into question.