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Climate Change denial: Was James Murdoch's resignation from News Corp due to company's refusal to accept problem?

News Corp was James's last tie with his family when it comes to business as he had already left the Fox Corporation last year

James Murdoch, 47, the youngest son of Rupert Murdoch has reportedly left the family business, News Corp. The resignation letter, now online, showed James who was chief executive officer of 21st Century Fox from 2015 to 2019, explaining his decision to leave. As the news spread across media reports, many suspects that the possible Murdoch heir left because he disagreed when the company denied climate change.

The New York Times reported that James had resigned on from the News Corp board on Friday, July 31, 2020. James's resignation letter which the publication stated was disclosed by the company itself stated, “my resignation is due to disagreements over certain editorial content published by the Company’s news outlets and certain other strategic decisions."

Co-presenter of ABC News Breakfast Michael Rowland took to Twitter to tweet about the big news: "Big news: James Murdoch quits the News Corp Board, citing disagreements over certain editorial content. Earlier this year a spokesman for James Murdoch said he and wife Kathryn were particularly disappointed with climate change denial by News Corp’s Australian outlets." New York Times has further revealed that James's media moghul of a father has described himself to be a skeptic when it comes to climate change, while his son has always actively worked to help improve climate concerns. "Now he can go on to openly denounce the organization, it's really refreshing to see someone take a stand for what they believe in," wrote another user.

The publication further reported that James, a "political outlier" of his family, has worked on environmentalism independently and is publicly said to be against President Trump. "I hope James becomes ultra vocal against the "company"," wrote one user with others adding that they are glad to know that the apple hopefully had fallen "far away" from the tree, while others were wondering if this was a ploy of some sort. "Either cunning strategy or genuine example of the Apple, in fact, falling far from the tree," wrote another user. James's philanthropy when it comes to the environment has been appreciated on multiple occasions such as his one million dollar donation to a fund-raising committee for Joe Biden and as the publication reported, his "rebuke of his own family’s media properties" during the wildfires that were taking over Australia in February. 

Another supporter added, "I have always considered James Murdoch and his wife, people with a social conscience, ethical practices (hampered at times with Newscorps' platform), Congratulations on your stand."

News Corp was James's last tie with his family when it comes to business as he had already left the Fox Corporation last year. The publication reported that thought the younger Murdoch has cut business ties with his family empire, he is still a beneficiary of the financial profits that his father's assets earn. While many on Twitter applauded James's departure from News Corp, others were wondering what good that would do? "A message to James Murdoch: Don't just resign. Use your millions to start-up in opposition, taking whatever disgruntled but good staff there are with you, and use your knowledge of the industry to make your point.* *won't happen," wrote one user.