News Corp comes through with $5m bushfire pledge

After copping flak for not contributing to bushfire relief, News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch has joined the growing list of celebrities and corporate leaders to stand behind the effort with a $5 million pledge.

The funds will be directed to Australian charities supporting local firefighters, providing emergency services to affected communities and assist with their long-term revival. It also comes after after US actress Bette Midler questioned why News Corp and its executive chairman had not as yet pledged its support of the bushfire effort.

It also comes as Murdoch’s younger son James and his wife Kathryn spoke out against News Corporation’s reporting of climate change with a joint statement saying they are  “particularly disappointed with the ongoing denial of the role of climate change among the news outlets in Australia, given obvious evidence to the contrary.”

The pledge is in an addition to a $2m from Murdoch and his wife Jerry Hall with another $2m from his son and daughter-in-law Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch.

Additionally all News Corp Australia metropolitan newspaper sales and advertising proceeds on January 21 will be donated to the relief effort with the goal to raise in excess of $1m.

The same deal applies to The Weekly Times will be published on January 22.

Previously News Corp Australia had donated $50,000 to the Salvation Army and Red Cross for bushfire relief.

Foxtel, majority owned by News Corp, will donate the proceeds from special advertising packages for its broadcast of bushfire charity events held by Cricket Australia, the AFL and NRL to assist people and communities affected.

This includes advertising from the Fire Fight concert planned for February.

“It is clear that confronting the bushfire disaster in Australia requires both an immediate response and an ongoing investment in rebuilding the lives a

nd livelihoods of those most affected by the fires across the country,” Murdoch said in a statement.

“As a company with roots in Australia and an abiding commitment to its people and communities, we are determined to help, both in this time of great need, and well into the future, as the hard work of restoration continues.”

News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson said: “Our journalists and editors around Australia have done an extraordinary job of tracking the tragic fires and their profound impact on individuals, communities and the environment.

“Our company also has an important role to play in supporting our firefighters and the long-term renewal of communities hardest hit by the tragedy. The funds allocated will be targeted at ensuring those communities and their people have material support as they begin the task of rebuilding after suffering unfathomable losses.”

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