MEDIA NEWS:

US-based News Corp International says it is taking “decisive action” in the wake of the release of internal emails showing its American cable network Fox News prioritised its commercial performance over the truth in the wake of the 2020 presidential election.

The company released a statement following the exposure of internal Fox News emails showing some of its high-profile far-right-wing commentators did not believe former President Donald Trump’s claims to have had the 2020 presidential election stolen from him yet tailored their coverage and commentary to ensure the network did not shed viewers and subscribers who did believe it.

The revelations have sparked an avalanche of criticism of the Murdoch family-controlled Fox News for putting its commercial interests ahead of delivering news and its preferences for inflammatory commentary ahead of the facts.

But the News Corp International statement said its co-chairs, Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch (main picture), had moved to address the issue.

“As co-chairs of the company both Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch have taken decisive action following the release of the internal emails,” the statement said.

“They have acknowledged the criticism by a range of individuals about the adherence of the network to accepted standards of news gathering and delivery.

“In light of that, Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch have decided that Fox News will immediately change its name to Fox Views to better reflect its output and the avoid any future misunderstandings – and lawsuits – about its content.”

The statement said the Sky News pay TV network in Australia would also undergo a name-change to become Sky Views “just in case”.