Bushfires: News Corp initiative aims to raise $1m for fire relief efforts

News Corp Australia will dedicate a day’s worth of metropolitan paper sales and advertising revenue to fire relief appeals.

Executive chairman Michael Miller Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller. Picture: Steve Pohlner

News Corp Australia will help bushfire-ravaged communities recover by dedicating a day’s worth of metropolitan paper sales and advertising revenue to fire relief appeals.

Executive chairman Michael Miller announced the initiative on Tuesday, saying News Corp Australia was dedicated to supporting communities “impacted by the bushfires and those persons who are providing valuable community assistance”.

“On January 21, we will be dedicating proceeds from the sale of every News Corp Australia metro newspaper and advertisements placed in the papers on this day,” he said.

News Corp Australia will split the proceeds between the Salvation Army, the World Wildlife Fund and Rural Aid Australia, with a goal to raise more than $1m on that one day.

The initiative comes after News Corp made a donation of $50,000 to the Red Cross and Salvation Army and Foxtel donated $100,000 to the Red Cross. Foxtel is owned by News Corp Australia and Telstra.

Mr Miller said News Corp titles would spend the week leading to Australia Day running special crisis support editions committed to helping those affected by the fires rebuild their communities.

All digital mastheads will run a special page displaying local relief efforts. “The page will act like a community bulletin board, informing our readers how they can support the many relief efforts in play,” Mr Miller said.