Bushfire relief: News Corp pledges $5m on top of $4m from Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch
News Corp has pledged $5m to Australian bushfire relief on top of personal donations of $4m by the Murdoch family.
News Corp has pledged $5 million to Australian bushfire relief in addition to a previously announced commercial commitment with the Murdoch family also personally donating $4m.
The media company, which publishes The Australian, The Wall Street Journal and The Times, said the funds will be given to charitable organisations benefiting local firefighters, providing emergency services to communities affected by the fires, and participating in the long-term revival of those communities.
“It is clear that confronting the bushfire disaster in Australia requires both an immediate response and an ongoing investment in rebuilding the lives and livelihoods of those most affected by the fires across the country,” executive chairman Rupert Murdoch said.
“As a company with roots in Australia and an abiding commitment to its people and communities, we are determined to help, both in this time of great need, and well into the future, as the hard work of restoration continues.”
Rupert and Jerry Murdoch have pledged $2 million, on top of News Corp co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch and his wife Sarah Murdoch who last week donated $2 million to rural relief and recovery efforts.
Chief executive Robert Thomson said the group's journalists and editors around the country have “done an extraordinary job of tracking the tragic fires and their profound impact on individuals, communities and the environment’’.
“Our company also has an important role to play in supporting our firefighters and the long-term renewal of communities hardest hit by the tragedy. The funds allocated will be targeted at ensuring those communities and their people have material support as they begin the task of rebuilding after suffering unfathomable losses,’’ he said.
On January 21, News Corp Australia will dedicate proceeds from the sale of every metropolitan newspaper and advertisements placed on that day, and on January 22 for The Weekly Times, to bushfire appeals, aimed at raised more than $1m as announced last week.
News Corp Australia has also previously donated $50,000 to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.
Foxtel, which is majority owned by News Corp, will donate the proceeds from special advertising packages for its broadcast of bushfire charity events held by Cricket Australia, the AFL and NRL to assist people and communities affected by the bushfires. This will include advertising associated with the Fire Fight concert in February.
The charity events and concert is expected to raise up to $500,000, which is in addition to Foxtel's $100,000 donation to the Red Cross.
Online property advertising giant REA Group, which is also majority owned by News Corp, has donated to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal, and announced a Bushfire Relief Support Package for REA Group customers.
In addition, News Corp is contributing $US50,000 to the American Australian Association’s Bushfire Relief Fund in conjunction with its 2020 Arts Awards on January 30 in New York.
Australia's unprecedented bush fires have led to generous donations by the public, companies and prominent business leaders, including mining billionaire Andrew Forrest, who has pledged $70m.
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