News Corporation

News Corporation
source
Name	News Corporation
Type	Public
Traded as	NASDAQ: NWSA, NWS
Industry	Mass media
Founded	0 2013 (as new entity)
Founder	Rupert Murdoch
Hq location city	New York City
Hq location country	United States
Key people	Rupert Murdoch (Chairman Emeritus), Lachlan Murdoch (Executive Chairman & CEO)
Products	Publishing, Digital media, Real estate

News Corporation. The contemporary News Corp is a global media and information services company formed in 2013 following the split of the original News Corporation. It is focused primarily on newspapers, book publishing, and digital real estate services. The company holds a portfolio of iconic publishing brands and operates in multiple countries, maintaining significant influence in the English-speaking world.

History

The current entity was created on June 28, 2013, when the original News Corporation executed a corporate separation. This strategic move saw its more profitable entertainment assets, including Twentieth Century Fox and the Fox Broadcasting Company, spun off into the newly formed 21st Century Fox, later acquired by The Walt Disney Company. The remaining publishing and Australian broadcasting assets were reconstituted under the revived News Corporation name. This followed years of pressure from investors concerned about the valuation of print media assets and was precipitated by the phone hacking scandal at its News of the World tabloid in the United Kingdom. Key historical assets transferred included News UK, publisher of The Times and The Sun, and News Corp Australia, publisher of The Australian.

Corporate structure and divisions

The company is organized into several key operating segments. Its News UK division, headquartered in London, publishes national newspapers including the broadsheet The Times and the tabloid The Sun, alongside radio station talkSPORT. In Australia, News Corp Australia controls a vast network of metropolitan and regional newspapers such as the Herald Sun and The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). The Dow Jones & Company segment is a cornerstone of its financial and business information services, publishing The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and operating Factiva. Its Book publishing arm, HarperCollins, is one of the world's largest English-language publishers, with imprints like William Morrow and operations in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The Digital Real Estate Services segment, a major growth area, includes controlling stakes in REA Group, operator of realestate.com.au, and the Move network, which operates Realtor.com in the United States.

Leadership and governance

Executive leadership has long been associated with the Murdoch family. Rupert Murdoch served as Executive Chairman until September 2023, when he transitioned to the role of Chairman Emeritus. His son, Lachlan Murdoch, was appointed Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, solidifying family control. The Board of directors includes figures such as Ana Paula Pessoa and John N. Tonello. Key executives overseeing major divisions include Robert Thomson, who serves as the company's Chief Executive, and Almar Latour, publisher of The Wall Street Journal and CEO of Dow Jones. The company is incorporated in Delaware and maintains its corporate headquarters in New York City, with significant operational hubs in Sydney, London, and Los Angeles.

Controversies and criticism

The company and its outlets have frequently been central to major controversies. The News International phone hacking scandal, which led to the closure of the News of the World in 2011 and resulted in the Leveson Inquiry, involved illegal voicemail interception of celebrities, crime victims, and politicians. Its publications, particularly Fox News under the former corporate structure and tabloids like The Sun, have been accused of promoting biased reporting, climate change denial, and political agendas. Critics, including politicians like Nancy Pelosi and organizations such as Stop Funding Hate, have alleged the company's media holdings undermine democratic processes and spread misinformation. Legal battles have included high-profile defamation suits, such as those involving Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News.

Financial performance

As a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ under tickers NWSA and NWS, its financial health is driven by its diverse portfolio. The high-margin Digital Real Estate Services segment, led by investments in REA Group and Move, has often offset declines in traditional print advertising revenue. Revenue streams are derived from subscriptions for publications like The Wall Street Journal, book sales through HarperCollins, and listing fees on its real estate platforms. The company has engaged in strategic acquisitions, such as the purchase of Oil Price Information Service, and cost-cutting initiatives, including consolidation of printing plants in Australia, to improve profitability amid industry-wide challenges facing legacy media.

Political influence and lobbying

Through its influential media properties, the company wields considerable political sway in multiple countries. Its editorial stances, particularly in The Sun during UK elections and The Australian in federal politics, are seen as capable of shaping public opinion. In the United States, the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal is a powerful voice in conservative and business circles. The company actively engages in lobbying, reporting expenditures to influence policy on issues such as copyright law, media regulation, and competition policy in Washington, D.C., Canberra, and Westminster. Its close relationships with political leaders, including former UK Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, and various Australian Prime Ministers, have been widely documented and analyzed.

Category:Mass media companies of the United States Category:Companies listed on the NASDAQ Category:Publishing companies of the United States