James Murdoch steps down from the board of News Corp over ‘disagreements over editorial content’ 

James Murdoch has quit the board of News Corp as he blames ‘disagreements over certain editorial content published by the company’s news outlets’.

The 47-year-old, who is the younger son of media mogul Rupert, had been on the board of directors since 2013 and was the CEO of 21st Century Fox.

He said: ‘My resignation is due to disagreements over certain editorial content published by the Company’s news outlets and certain other strategic decisions.’

He did not go into detail about his differences with the company, but has been publicly critical of its news platforms in the past.

James Murdoch, the younger son of Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch (pictured together in 2013) announced he is resigning from the board of News Corp on Friday

In his resignation letter, James cited ‘disagreements over certain editorial content’ as the reason for his departure

James and older brother Lachlan (far left) had shared power at 21st Century Fox, but the sale of much of the Fox entertainment business to Disney in 2019 saw James depart as CEO. (Pictured: Rupert Murdoch with his sons in 2016) 

News Corp is one of the two major media conglomerates owned by the Murdochs, the other being Fox Corporation.

Fox is home to conservative news network Fox News, the Fox broadcast and sports networks and local TV stations.

In January, James and his wife Kathryn spoke out against the family business for promoting climate change ‘denials’ during the Australian bushfire crisis.

The pair released a statement saying they were ‘disappointed’ by the coverage of the fires by Fox News and other News Corp outlets. 

‘Kathryn and James’s 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. 

‘They are particularly disappointed with the ongoing denial among the news outlets in Australia given obvious evidence to the contrary,’ their statement read. 

The ‘denials’ were in reference to allegations arsonists and not climate change were to blame for the destructive wildfires.

His comments were perceived as ‘unprecedented’ and sparked speculation of a feud within the family since he rarely speaks publicly about his role in the business.  

James is known as the more liberal Murdoch brother, while older brother Lachlan’s views seem to be more aligned with those of his conservative father.

Rumors of a family rift have swirled over the years after eldest son Lachlan (pictured with James, father Rupert and mom Anna in 1987) became heir apparent of his dad’s media empire

In January, James, the more liberal of the Murdoch brothers, and his wife Kathryn spoke out against the family business for promoting climate change ‘denials’ during the Australian bushfire crisis

THE MURDOCH FAMILY MEDIA EMPIRE

RUPERT MURDOCH, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF NEWS CORP 

The Australian-born mogul began building his media empire in Australia by acquiring numerous publications in the 1950s, before entering the British newspaper market in 1969, and expanding to the US in 1974. 

He founded News Corporation in 1980, which quickly evolved into one of the largest media groups in the world owning assets in print, news, and television.

In 2013, News Corporation split into two sister companies, News Corp and 21st Century Fox. The latter was later rebranded as Fox Corporation after the majority of its assets were sold to The Walt Disney Company in 2019. 

Murdoch currently serves as the executive chairman of News Corp and the chairman of Fox Corporation. He is estimated to be worth $17billion. 

LACHLAN MURDOCH, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF FOX CORPORATION, CO-CHAIR OF NEWS CORP

Lachlan Murdoch, 48, the eldest of the Murdoch children, is the heir apparent to News Corp Executive Chairman Rupert and is co-chairman of News Corp. He was named executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corp in 2019, after 21st Century Fox was sold to Disney. 

Before the sale, younger brother James had been the CEO of the company and Lachlan was executive chairman. Lachlan is also chairman of Australian entertainment company NOVA Entertainment, which operates a number of radio stations across the country.

JAMES MURDOCH, FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF NEWS CORP

The younger son of Rupert Murdoch, James, 47, had been on the board of News Corp since 2013. He and brother Lachlan had shared power at 21st Century Fox, but the sale of much of the Fox entertainment business to Disney in 2019 saw James depart as CEO. 

Since then, he has worked at the helm of investment fund Lupa Systems. 

James is considered more liberal than his older brother who is CEO of Fox Corp, home to conservative news network Fox News, the Fox broadcast and sports networks and local TV stations. 

James has been critical of News Corp’s editorial decisions and has said he disagreed with Fox News coverage. He resigned from the board on July 31, 2020.

PRUDENCE MURDOCH, NON-EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER OF NEWS CORP

Prudence Murdoch, 62, is the eldest child of Rupert Murdoch through his first marriage with Patricia Booker. 

She formerly worked as journalist for now-defunct British tabloid, News of the World, which was owned by her father.

Prudence was once described in the media as the ‘only one of [Murdoch’s] children not directly competing for his business affections.’

ELISABETH MURDOCH, MEDIA EXECUTIVE AND FORMER CHAIRPERSON OF SHINE GROUP

Elisabeth is Rupert Murdoch’s daughter from his second marriage with Anna Maria Torv. Born in Sydney, she moved to London in 1990s where she worked on the operations side of BSkyB, ran by her father. 

She founded UK-based TV programming company Shine Limited in 2001, which was sold to News Corp ten years later. 

She currently serves as executive chairman of production company Sister.

GRACE AND CHLOE MURDOCH

The sisters, aged 19 and 17, are Rupert’s daughters from his third marriage to Wendi Deng.

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Lachlan, 48, currently serves as the co-chairman of News Corp after being appointed to the role by Rupert in 2014, in a move viewed as a succession plan for the 89-year-old mogul. He was also named executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corp in 2019. 

James, meanwhile, is a longtime environmental advocate. His wife Kathryn works at the Clinton Climate Initiative and the pair are known contributors to the Clinton Foundation.

The couple last month endorsed presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden by donating $615,000 each to his campaign after previously donating to former candidate Pete Buttigieg. 

Lachlan, pictured with wife Sarah, is executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corp, home to conservative news network Fox News, the Fox broadcast and sports networks and local TV stations

In a statement provided by a News Corp spokesman, Rupert and Lachlan said: ‘We’re grateful to James for his many years of service to the company. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.’

News Corp is one of the two major media conglomerates owned by the Murdochs, the other being Fox Corporation, which was established after The Walt Disney Company acquired the majority of 21st Century Fox last year.

The two sister companies were formed following the split of the original News Corporation, founded in 1980, in 2013.

James previously served as the CEO of 21st Century Fox but stepped down following the sale. Since then, he has worked at the helm of the investment fund Lupa Systems.

News Corp also publishes major papers in Australia and the UK and owns the HarperCollins book publisher.