Today, the fast-growing cadre of corporate leaders pressing for climate action welcomes a new member: Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corporation, the media empire that encompasses Fox News, 20th Century Fox, HarperCollins, MySpace.com, and dozens of newspapers in Australia, the U.K., the U.S., and beyond.
In a webcast to all News Corp. employees, Murdoch announced "a company-wide plan to address climate change that includes not only a pledge to reduce the company's emissions (which has come to be expected at such biz-greening events) but also a vow to weave climate messaging into the content and programming of News Corp.'s many holdings."
"The challenge is to revolutionize the [climate change] message," Murdoch told the crowd. He emphasized the need to "make it dramatic, make it vivid, even sometimes make it fun. We want to inspire people to change their behavior."
News of the new direction is being publicized on some Fox news sites: http://www.myfoxkc.c... The full Murdoch statement is available at http://www.newscorp....
Why is he doing this? Apparently, advertisers are behind the push.
While he voiced concerns that "climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats," his emphasis was on opportunities to fatten the bottom line. "Our advertisers are asking us for ways to reach audiences on this issue," Murdoch said. He also argued that the new climate strategy would reduce energy costs, help the company recruit top talent, and provide "a chance to deepen our relationships with our viewers, readers, and web users."
I do not mind "selfishness" as an inspiration to do good. In the end, the business world must be persuaded that global warming is a real threat. I hope Murdoch carries through on his promise. And, deliciously, I wonder what it will mean for the likes of Sean Hannity, who bashes Gore as a hysteric?
Hannity said: "I travel on private planes, I have an SUV that I'm proud of. I think this global warming hysteria of his [Gore's] is ridiculous."http://thinkprogress...
P.Z. Myers suggests that we sign a petition to get one of Fox's "junk science" talking heads off the air, at http://www.desmogblo...