NPR

Former Murdoch Executive Says He Quit Over Fox's Anti-Muslim Rhetoric

A former top executive for Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. tells NPR he left his job because of relentlessly harsh depictions of Muslims and immigrants in Murdoch's media properties, especially Fox News.
Joseph Azam says he left his senior post at News Corp. in late 2017 over the coverage of Muslims, immigrants and race by Fox News and other Murdoch news outlets.

In recent days, Rupert Murdoch's Fox News Channel and some of its corporate siblings have faced renewed and withering criticism for how they depict Muslims and immigrants. Calls for boycotts of shows and pressure campaigns on advertisers ensued.

Last weekend, a Muslim news producer said she quit Fox's corporate cousin, Sky News Australia, over its coverage of Muslims in the wake of the massacre at two New Zealand mosques. Her post went viral.

Now, add the voice of one of Murdoch's former senior executives, who says he left his job in late 2017 over the coverage of Muslims, immigrants and race by Fox News and other Murdoch news outlets.

"Scaring people. Demonizing immigrants. Creating, like, a fervor — or an anxiety about what was happening in our country," former News Corp. Senior Vice President Joseph Azam tells NPR in his first public comments on his former employer.

"It fundamentally bothered me on a lot of days and I think I probably wasn't the

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
There's Still A Chance To See The Northern Lights From Lower Latitudes
The solar storm that's pushing sightings of the Northern Lights to lower latitudes is forecast to continue into the coming days, but its impact has likely peaked.
NPR4 min read
Israel Expands Evacuation Orders In Rafah As Aid Groups Struggle To Prepare
Israel's military issued new evacuation orders in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, forcing even more Palestinians to relocate on Saturday ahead of a likely expanded ground operation there.
NPR5 min read
The Met Gala Has Fueled Backlash Against Stars Who Are Silent About The Gaza Conflict
A fast-growing social media campaign to block stars for not speaking out escalated this week after the star-studded New York event.

Related Books & Audiobooks