The News Corporation Limited

News Corporation (often shortened to News Corp), managed by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, is the largest media conglomerate in the world. With major holdings in newspapers, books, television, film, and online services, News Corporation has become a media empire to be reckoned with. Highly notable brands under the News Corp umbrella include Fox TV, 20th Century Fox, MySpace, Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post.

Criticism

Political Influence

Following an advertising campaign directed towards Nielsen Media Research (cited further under Business Ethics), News Corp turned towards Capitol Hill to block a new rating system from lowering the value of advertising on News Corp owned television stations. News Corp funneled at least $144,650 in donations through their PAC’s and lobbyists to sponsors and co-sponsors of a bill that would impose stronger government oversight over Nielsen and their rating system. Source: An empire builder, Murdoch still playing tough, June 2007

Business Ethics

In August, 2008, a computer hacker testified to being hired by a News Corp unit to develop pirating software. Lawyers for DISH satellite network have alleged that the goal was to penetrate their system and obtain security information to create smart cards for the purpose of bringing in unauthorized premium channels. Source: Computer hacker testified on Wednesday that News Corp hired him to develop pirating software

In 2007, Judith Regan, former publisher for ReganBooks, filed a defamation lawsuit against News Corp for unlawfully firing her under fabricated pretenses. Regan claims that she was asked by a senior executive at News Corp to lie under oath regarding information she knew about ex-New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik. Her testimony had the potential of bringing harm to Rudolph Giuliani’s 2008 presidential campaign. She was later dismissed from ReganBooks under accusations of making anti-Semitic comments over a telephone conversation. Regan denied the accusations. Several months later the case was settled by News Corp who made an official statement that they were incorrect in their charges and that Regan was not anti-Semitic. Source: Ex-publisher Regan sues News Corp., November 2007

In August of 2006, Fox News Network agreed to a settlement of $225,000 from a 2005 sexual harassment suite involving Vice President Joe Chillemi. Among the charges were his use of sexually derogatory language towards women as well a verbal statements of a preference towards hiring men. Source: Fox News Agrees to Settlement of Sex Discrimination Suit

In early 2004, a change in the way Nielsen Media Research calculated television ratings and subsequent advertising value would have caused a sharp drop in many shows that were carried by stations owned by News Corp — particularly with minority audiences. Murdoch reacted by using the New York Post to wage a powerful advertising campaign against Nielsen. With headlines like, “Nailing Nielsen”, he charged that their new algorithm was flawed and miscounted minority groups. He was able to draw such an outcry from the public that Susan Whiting, Nielsen’s President/CEO, hired bodyguards and increased security at their corporate headquarters. Source: An empire builder, Murdoch still playing tough, June 2007

Praise

Human Rights

In 2005, Rupert Murdoch (net worth in 2008 valued at $8.3 billion) donated $500,000 to the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). The CGI describes itself as a non-partisan organization dedicated to solving challenges that are pressing to the international community. Sources: Clinton Global Initiative, Clinton Effort Reaps Pledges of $7.3 Billion in Global Aid, September 2006

Brands & Subsidiaries

Contents

Criticism

Political Influence

Business Ethics

Praise

Human Rights

Brands & Subsidiaries

Books

Newspapers

Magazines

Filmed Entertainment

Television

Cable

Satellite Television

Other Assets

Related Links/Organizations