Senior employee slams News Corp’s bushfire ‘misinformation campaign’ in leaked email
A leaked email from a senior News Corp Australia employee has denounced the publisher’s ‘misinformation’ around the bushfire crisis and demanded action from the business.
The email, sent by Emily Townsend, a commercial finance manager, was in response to an all-staff email from CEO Michael Miller and distributed to the entire company. Reports say it has since been deleted from inboxes by News Corp.
I see that the champions of free speech over at News Corp have deleted an uncomfortable email from all the staff inboxes. It’s almost like they’re a bit worried about how people see their decades-long campaign of climate denialism
— Ben Eltham (@beneltham) January 10, 2020
The original email from Miller presented the leave arrangements available for staff and bushfire initiatives from the business. In response, the employee said the move was not enough to “offset the impact News Corp reporting has had”.
The email which was widely leaked to the media and onto social media [Click to enlarge]
News Corp's bushfire coverage is "sickening", "not only irresponsible, but dangerous and damaging to our communities and beautiful planet"
Not Twitter.
Not the Greens.
Not inner-city chattering classes.
A News Corp executive. https://t.co/jm8UrU81fT— Bernard Keane (@BernardKeane) January 10, 2020
“I find it unconscionable to continue working for this company, knowing I am contributing to the spread of climate change denial and lies. The reporting I have witnessed in the Australian, the Daily Telegraph and the Herald Sun is not only irresponsible, but dangerous and damaging to our communities and beautiful planet that needs us more than ever now to acknowledge the destruction we have caused and start doing something about it.”
In a statement to The Sydney Morning Herald after the email, the employee said she felt her work for the media business had tied her to their ‘deceptive’ work and that she had sent the email after being unable to sleep and feeling ‘sick’ about her role with the business and its provision of misinformation.
Just placing this here for the public record #righttoknow pic.twitter.com/db9hqhEC2T
— Victoria Fielding (@DrVicFielding) January 10, 2020
News Corp has come under fire for the actions of its publications, including The Australian, The Daily Telegraph and news.com.au and their role in the spread of reportedly false and climate-denying information amid the national bushfire crisis.
In particular, a story in The New York Times reported on the role of the Rupert Murdoch-owned press in presenting incorrect coverage of the causation of the fires. News Corp has rebuked the claims it denies climate change.
The publisher however has lashed out at outlets including the ABC and the Guardian for their ‘left leaning’ views and reporting, and regularly runs opinion pieces from media personalities who spruik climate change denial, including Andrew Bolt.
https://twitter.com/Joe_Hildebrand/status/1214471534816808960
Update Friday January 10, 3:53pm:
News Corp Australia has provided a statement from Miller –
Ms Townsend resigned in December and was due to leave News Corp shortly.
News Corp stands by its coverage of the bushfires. The dedication and professionalism of our journalists and photographers have kept the community – particularly those Australians affected directly – informed and supported.
We respect Ms Townsend’s right to hold her views but we do not agree with them.
Our coverage has recognised that Australia is having a serious conversation about climate change and how to respond to it. However, it has also reflected there are a variety of views and opinions about the current fire crisis. The role of arsonists and policies that may have contributed to the spread of fire are, therefore, legitimate stories to report in the public interest.
We will continue to cover the fires thoroughly and provide information that informs the community including how we as a nation can rebuild and better prepare in the future.
News Corp will also strongly support the impacted communities going forward and work with them to help these regional and rural Australians as their towns recover and they re-establish their lives. Supporting them in their time of need will remain our priority.
If you’d like to assist with bushfire recovery, relief and rescue efforts, please explore the options below:
- New South Wales Rural Fire Service
- Victorian Country Fire Authority
- South Australian Country Fire Service
- Queensland Rural Fire Service
- Salvation Army Disaster Appeal
- St Vincent de Paul Society Bushfire Appeal
- Australian Red Cross Disaster Recovery and Relief
- WIRES (Wildlife Rescue) Emergency Fund
- Koalas in Care
- Western Australia Volunteer Fire and Rescue
Perhaps it’s time for another advertising boycott…
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My new hero. Well done Emily!
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I am standing and applauding this email from my desk in South Australia. What a legend.
Just back from the UK. It’s on the front pages of all the papers overseas … go figure!?
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Hmmm … News Corp must have a very strange editorial structure if “a commercial finance manager” (ie well-paid bean counter) is “contributing to the spread of climate change denial” …
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This is frank deceit and ingenuousness, Mr Miller.
Having ‘opinions’ about climate change is both irrelevant and dangerous, and seeking to ‘reflect differing ones’ is irresponsible and ideologically motivated.
Science beats opinion 100% of the time and to advocate anything other than a fact-based narrative about climate change reveals your hand, despite your protestations. The science is in, Mr Miller and you consistently choose to dispute the overwhelming consensus that anthropomorphic climate change is a real and pressing danger.
Your news media has consistently promulgated a denialist view based on nothing but a native disdain for progressive politics (even the previous Liberal PM was too left-wing for your columnists tastes) and a naked pro-fossil fuel business position grounded on narrow self-interest.
You’re entitled to your opinions, but you can’t have your own facts.
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“…is a legitemate news story” -There is reportage, and there is editorial and comment. I think News has to learn to understand the difference between all three.
There is also false equivalence: Ill-informed people, and Dunning-Kruger needs to be taken into account.
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Serious question: Could a class action by the people of Australia see the meddlers at News Corp and the IPA et al, be taken to court?
If so what would the charge be?
Could individuals be held to account and possibly jailed?
Could News Corp or certain publucations be shut down?
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Fantastic work by Emily.
An unethical, climate change denying business in bed with ScoMo getting its just dues. The businesses response is woeful and what we as Australians have come to expect of Murdoch media.
Hopefully this impacts their revenue, Alan Jones style.
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Wonder if in a couple of years time, saying that you work for news corp would be like saying you work for BAT or PM today..
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ZERO COMMENTS? SERIOUSLY?
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Miller confirms the propaganda in his response. In effect, News is officially a peddlar of junk information. We can only assume that they are wedded to some expectation of favour from the tiny tribe of ex-furniture salesmen and Tasmanian faction warlords hanging onto these ideologies.
We always knew Lachlan was the least sharp in the Murdoch pencil case.
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Why are you saying their stories were “reportedly false” when even the police have said their stories were wrong? Just say they were false.
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“Our coverage has recognised that Australia is having a serious conversation about climate change and how to respond to it.” Miller
99% coverage of the conversation: “Climate change is crap & arsonists/greenies/1936*/SQUIRREL!!”
1% coverage of the conversation: “Climate change is real & we’re too small to do anything about it”
*
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/climate-change-is-not-the-eras-burning-issue/news-story/d4029911cb6b34392dc2255c5c1bd4c6
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Used to listen to McLaren until he became super boring and then found Tony Moclair and have loved his intelligence and wit. Big mistake Nine; Melbournians want Melbourne presenters !
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With Rupert not wanting to close down The Australian even though readership numbers are decreasing ten-fold, to supporting #climatechangedeniers views and overall no strategy where they want to go as a business in 2020 – they’re definitely not going to be around in 5-10 years time.
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Finally some scruples from a News Corp employee. What about the rest of you? The Australian and the Telegraph have made it their mission to keep the embers of climate denial alive. And you all know it. And we should all beware the latest plot of the deniers— where people like Scomo and Joe Hildebrand and the rest have started admitted climate change is happening but won’t declare its human caused. Massive difference. Sneaky.
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Read the press on this. The woman resigned in December. Nothing but grandstanding. #lame
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Are you trying to lose all your listeners, looks like you are Very bad decision making and I am an avid listener to 3AW or should I say was
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I’d rather be unemployed and on the dole than sell my soul by working for Murdoch. I hope more people at News Corp grow a consciense and take a stand.
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The more Murdoch pushes back, the further away he stands from the world view on climate change. He’s on the wrong side of history and is looking quite pathetic.
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The most despised company in media has finally become the most hated business in Australia (with very valid reasoning).
Shame on any business that supports News via ad revenue… and of course, bravo Emily!!!!
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Rudd called Murdoch a cancer on Australian politics. And Murdochs Fox News is the only reason the appalling Trump is still in office. But the campaign of client denial by The Australian and The Telegraph is an all time Murdoch low.
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Not sure I’d call a finance manager senior nor an executive.
Where was her protest in the other five years she worked at News? Happy making bank from News until she wasn’t.
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You state that ‘Science beats opinion 100% of the time’. But that statement is not scientific. If two people disagree on their favourite colour, for example, there is no science that will decide if, say, red is better than blue. Given the single result of two competing claims about something as trivial as colours, your statement about 100% dominance of science over opinions is false.
In addition, why would you then claim that one is ‘entitled to your opinions’ if opinions matter 0% of the time, as opposed to science? If science does really trump opinions 100% of the time, then opinions don’t even enter into it – and ‘overwhelming consensus’ amongst scientists backtracks upon the absoluteness that you claim initially. Although I genuinely think there is an environmental problem, your argument is logically unsound.
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We have listened to 3AW for 30 years , but NO MORE. What you have done to Tony Moclair and Bianca is a disgrace.
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ENJOYED LISTENING TO MICHAEL MCCLAREN ON 3AW WHEN I WOKE UP HE IS GREAT.
I WILL ALWAYS LISTEN TO 3AW.
LISTENERS WON’T NEED TO WORRY BECAUSE RED SYMONS WILL REPLACE JOHN BURNS. WHEN JOHN BIRNS RETURES FROM 3AW BREAKFAST.
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Its already like that!
If I hadn’t worked there for 2 years, I would remove it from my CV.
I don’t understand how any intelligent, ethically conscious person can proudly tell people that they work for News.
Whats more baffling is that there are a ton of Millenials / Gen Z’s working there (they pay poorly and their culture is awful – so constant churn) and I can only assume that they view it as ‘doing their time’ vs a desirable company to work for.
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Being ex ABC, I’ll forgive you for not knowing how a commercial media network works.
Here’s a very basic analysis of how media companies function. Sales people bring in revenue from advertising because without money, the content can’t get out. All this money has to be collected, analysed and tracked. This is what a commercial finance manager does (and whole lot more but I’m keeping it basic for you). So whilst they aren’t writing the article themselves, they ARE contributing to an organisation by doing a job to benefit the company and getting the story out.
This might shock you, but there is a lot more to a media organisation than editorial…
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Within the article that you linked yourself, there is no denial on the existence of climate change. The discourse seems more focused on the zeitgeist of discouraging discourse itself by not allowing for evidence based discussions?
There is however an expert cited saying that there is no correlation between climate change and drought. Is that denying climate change to you?
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The way to combat this is to go into the Australian and comment within the circle jerk that is their loyal followers comments section.
They are not exposed to outside opinions and most articles get thousands of climate denying comments. The progressive Australia needs to educate them because writing an article outside of the Australian won’t even get read.
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The avg rainfall increases with climate change. It buckets one day and then 5 days over 40 degrees sucks every ounce and makes the land bone dry. It’s climate CHANGE not global warming, that was a term used to describe only the temperature averages.
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She resigned, gave the notice period, then couldn’t bare to actually work it through without telling the truth. Obviously didn’t work through her notice period.
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Yes! Go Emily! What an absolute hero standing up to the leaders of News and calling them out for what is wrong. We back you Emily! Newcorp is a disgrace. The biased and incorrect “coverage” is a disgrace. We NEED people like Emily, with integrity and morals to call out on the “leaders” of such companies from within. This gives me some hope as someone in the Media & Advertising world who feels like these organisations do not align with my own value system. But it takes people like us to make change from within. Newcorp – your days are numbered, people are opening their eyes to your biased reporting and spreading of misinformation. I take pleasure in seeing people turn away from your lies.
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I also did a few (too many) years at News Crap. I used to answer the where do you work question with ‘News Corp, but don’t judge me as I don’t agree with their editorial views’. I can attest that it’s a terrible place to work, wouldn’t walk back in those doors for double my current salary.
No one I know who left that place is proud of their time there. Most were bullied or treated unfairly, underpaid or driven out because they dared to speak up. I saw many people who were great their job and good people completely lose their confidence and question their abilities in that place.
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“Noisy Australian” – the name says it all. I guess it’s synonymous with “Greens voter” or “Still disgruntled about the 2019 federal election result”.
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Yes, exactly the same here regarding the caveat / extended explanation of where you work and no positive experiences from previous workmates (we all endured together).
I’d post something very relevant on Glassdoor regarding all the bullying and 80’s-esque culture… but I’m guessing its already a bonfire on there.
Plus their future recruiting prospects are going to be shot to hell after this.
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Umm … actually worked more years in commercial media than ABC, so it’s always better not to try sarcasm on an expert … but the point still stands – a bean counter can do their job, but by doing so they are not “contributing to the spread of climate change denial” and her departure (and her fifteen minutes of fame) will change nothing …
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When have I referred to global warming?
Don’t you think your comment contradicts the argument so far that climate change is responsible for the long drought that we had?
What scientific evidence, theory have you got to support your thesis that it will bucket one day and then 5 days of sweltering heat will continue? Wild assumptions galore.
There is no doubt that climate is changing, and undoubtedly there is a need for direct action, but there is not one single person presenting realistic & tangible action steps.
Why doesn’t the industry band together to try and achieve more meaningful results – how about we all band together to have Quarterly Plant a Tree Day or something to create & replace the carbon stores lost as a consequence of these fires?
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Science beats opinion in matters of science. You are asking science to proof your personal preference. Where is the logic in that?
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The most precise and telling comment on here. Well done sir!
#itsapitytheloonyleftarehappynottoletthefactsgetinthewayofagoodstory
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Dear god please don’t ever let me sit next to Harry at a dinner party
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It’s ok, I doubt he gets invited to dinner parties with that smugness
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I was the first commentator I should have waited. Oh boy did this deliver!
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Emily, I think its fair to say that NewsCorp’s values don’t align with the entire industries value system.
Agree – they are a large foe, but I would enjoy seeing them burnt at the stake!
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The fact that they mark their own homework and don’t read anything but their own stuff screams there is no hope
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The article was sourcing one of the many, many distractions used by News Ltd regarding CC….but you knew that already.
If you want examples of News Ltd’s directly denying the existence of CC please search for articles published by Ian Plimer, Miranda Devine, Maurice Newman, Bolt, Jones, Graham Lloyd & many more
Here is expert feedback from a Nov 22, 2019 Plimer article.
“This article will mislead readers. It uses nonsense logic, is clueless about the science, and says things which are wrong. Some of these false statements have been obviously wrong for years.”
https://climatefeedback.org/evaluation/ian-plimer-op-ed-in-the-australian-again-presents-long-list-of-false-claims-about-climate/
& thanks for reminding me of News Ltd’s love for Professor Pitman https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/pitman/11601084
Kenny features throughout….
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Good call – although I think Australia would benefit more from The Australian being completely shutdown.
These people would have nowhere to learn and discuss their conservative crap, bar the odd ‘Ban The Burqa’ style FB group.
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You are quite correct. In matters of science, when the evidentiary burden is satisfied, opinion is and should be discarded. That is not the statement I took objection to in my first sentence. To wit, the absoluteness claim of 100%.
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You might be surprised at how much you might enjoy it, good sir! Have a lovely day 🙂
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Not one single person presenting tangible steps? Do you read anything outside of Murdoch media? Literally everywhere outside of it there are direct action points. Here’s just one linked from quartz:
https://www.psychology.org.au/getmedia/88ee1716-2604-44ce-b87a-ca0408dfaa12/Climate-change-empowerment-handbook.pdf
This is from the Australian Psychological Society who felt the need to come up with tangible solutions to fixing this growing mental decline in Australia, especially in Murdoch press readers.
It’s hard on my phone to post the other hundreds of examples, I’m wasting my energy with you.
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Why ,Why,Why? I am so upset.Tony so smart witted and intelligent,and Bianca so kind and funny.Pray to the Carmelites for this show to be returned.Another one gone to the ABC. Boycott anything NINE.
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