21st Century Fox gains an innovative publishing asset but worries approximately its future may be misplacedThe Foxification of National Geographic startled a few lemurs in the American media jungle last week. A unique joint venture,built on an axis which takes the globally known magazine and its televisual and digital assets from the not-for-profit sector and puts them under the control of the Murdoch family’s 21st Century Fox, caused initial shock and dismay. While outside the US National Geographic might be best known to consumers as the source of monkey pictures in dentists’ waiting rooms, and it is a significant investor in science and research; and while the Murdoch millions boosting the endowment are welcome,the shadow of a different editorial line is not. But possibly for once those fears are misplaced.
The surprise $725m purchase by Fox of a majority stake in the media assets of the National Geographic Society is the first major deal for James Murdoch since he became chief executive of the company in June this year, and an keen statement of intent, or perhaps,in terms of what he intends to bring to the division. The instant and mainly negative reaction to the news from scientists and writers in the US drew attention to Rupert Murdoch’s tweeted climate scepticism, and Fox News’ editorial line, and which has in general been hostile to data and argument indicating that climate change is real and caused by human activity.
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Source: theguardian.com