In the week when HBO’s Succession TV series spotlights the renegade son of a fictitious media family, James Murdoch is in the news. The youngest son of Rupert Murdoch and Kathryn, James’ wife, are reported to be making an investment of “millions of dollars” jointly with Associated Press in a climate news service, via their non-profit Quadrivium Foundation, through which they have also spent some $100m on political causes. The AP Climate Hub will employ 20 journalists.
Incidentally, Vice News last month detailed the comprehensive ways in which News Corp and other Murdoch family-controlled businesses had been seriously addressing the issue of climate change for the past 15 years – even while its own Fox News and other outlets in Australia were continuing to rubbish the whole idea.
James and Kathryn Murdoch have made numerous investments through their foundation. He has also made commercial media investments through his Lupa Systems company, including in Vice Media, Morning Consult and the French online video firm Brut Media. Based in New York and Mumbai, Lupa has also invested in Indian startups Doubtnut and Harappa Education.
Murdoch has reportedly invested in startups variously in AI, education and news. He also has stakes in: MCH Group, owner of Art Basel; in New York’s Tribeca Film Festival; and in Tesla where he is a director.
Business Insider claimed this week that James Murdoch and his siblings each received $2bn from the $71.3bn sale to Disney of much of the family’s film and TV holdings.
