Rupert Murdoch watching match play at the US Open in Queens on Sept. 10, 2017. © Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
Rupert Murdoch
(New York, NY) – Rupert Murdoch has announced he’s stepping down as chairman of Fox News and News Corp. In a letter he sent to Fox colleagues, Murdoch said he plans to become chairman emeritus, effective in November. At 92-years-old, the Australian media mogul said the “time is right to take on different roles.”
Since its launch in 1996, Fox News has effectively challenged the American media landscape, providing a more right-leaning voice. The broader Fox network also challenged the so-called “Big Three” of ABC, NBC, and CBS.
Murdoch’s letter says “in my new role, I can guarantee you that I will be involved every day in the contest of ideas. Our companies are communities, and I will be an active member of our community. I will be watching our broadcasts with a critical eye, reading our newspapers and websites and books with much interest.”
Reports indicate Murdoch’s son Lachlan will become chairman of News Corp. (Fox’s parent company that also owns the New York Post and Wall Street Journal), and continue serving as CEO of Fox Corp.
