…and this is a 
A good start
Category: Media
Posted on: May 11, 2007 8:30 AM, by PZ Myers
Rupert Murdoch has openly admitted that global warming is a real problem.
At an event held this morning in midtown Manhattan and webcast to all News Corp. employees, Murdoch launched a company-wide plan to address climate change that includes not only a pledge to reduce the company's emissions (which has come to be expected at such biz-greening events) but also a vow to weave climate messaging into the content and programming of News Corp.'s many holdings.
Ironically, though, Murdoch still employs that ignorant junk science guy, Steve Milloy, as a Fox News columnist. Here's a suggestion to Murdoch for a good start: stop disseminating lies about science, and fire Steve Milloy. Sign the petition and give Rupert Murdoch a hint.
Comments
Rupert Murdoch? But he owns... Fox... *experiencing severe cognitive dissonance*
Posted by: forsen | May 11, 2007 9:09 AM
Ahhh...but some will miss all that fair and balanced coverage
Posted by: Sir Oolius | May 11, 2007 9:16 AM
I've read bits and pieces from the website Milloy is featured on, Junkscience.com, along with some of his Fox News articles. There is an unsubtle trend in the positions he takes on science policy. His views
are consistently GOP--chastising environmentalists, questioning anthropogenic global climate change and downplaying research on embryonic stem cells. During the 2004 prez race, he consistently applauded Bush's environmental record while bashing Kerry's. While I applaud counter-establishment skepticism, in his case it doesn't seem sincere, in fact, it seems more like a machination or a front by which he subjects readers to a political view under the guise of unbiased science writing. Science research should be transparent, but he's binding it up in manufactured controversy.
Posted by: Jameson | May 11, 2007 9:19 AM
Here in Australia we have a Murdoch columnist who misrepresents science and scientists about global warming and tags it a global conspiracy and new religion. Although scientists are human and all that goes with it, the scientific method is self correcting enough and not gonna be turned into an exercise in faith. But, I guess these guys just figure that if they repeat the same drivel often and as loud as they can it'll seem real.....
Posted by: Brian | May 11, 2007 9:30 AM
So maybe Faux-news will begin to change its tune on global warming? A welcome -if likely insincere change. I suspect enough of their corporate sponsers have switched sides on this issue, that he felt it was the right (business) decision.
Posted by: bigTom | May 11, 2007 9:44 AM
The challenge is to revolutionize the [climate change] message," Murdoch told the crowd. He emphasized the need to "make it dramatic, make it vivid, even sometimes make it fun. We want to inspire people to change their behavior."
Make it fun?
[very long string of expletives]
Posted by: CalGeorge | May 11, 2007 10:00 AM
It's Rupert's son James, who currently owns Sky and might someday take over, who likely convinced Rupert to take this step. Sky had so much pressure put on it that they already changed their tune.
Posted by: Sir Oolius | May 11, 2007 10:03 AM
He has to balance being the propaganda arm of the GOP with trying to not look like a total idiot by ignoring or denying the problem. The only businesses that want to ignore it are big oil and coal companies. They don't buy alot of advertising.
Posted by: Steve_C (Secular Elitist) FCD | May 11, 2007 10:35 AM
Looks like a new PR campaign to take over who gets to
control how global warming issues are communicated to the
public. Maybe you've seen the news about evangelicals getting
into the act also.
"A good start" would be seeing Murdoch and the rest of his
media propagandist ilk driven into bankruptcy so they can't
cause any more damage. We already have enough to deal with.
Don't trust these people.
Posted by: Dark Matter | May 11, 2007 10:54 AM
Does anyone know of a direct debunking of this article at junkscience
Posted by: Gary Bohn | May 11, 2007 11:55 AM
In Canada we have Sun Media, which runs our local rag the London Free Press. They've been going after global warming hammer and tongs in their editorials, claiming it's a hoax, quoting the usual contrarian suspects. These sorts of pieces can only influence people who don't know any better and aren't going to bother to find out more. Unfortunately, their votes count just as much as those who are informed about the issues involved.
Posted by: Your Name's Not Bruce? | May 11, 2007 12:02 PM
Does anyone know of a direct debunking of this article at junkscience
Posted by: Gary Bohn | May 11, 2007 12:27 PM
http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/may/11/breaking_romney_doesnt_pander_to_right_on_intelligent_design#comment_form
And in related news, at TPM Cafe/Talking Points Memo people are fawning over Mitt Romney because he believes in evolution .... after God created the human body that is.
At least he spoke out against I.D. seems to be the tone.
Sigh.
Posted by: Desert Donkey | May 11, 2007 5:51 PM
Actually, I think Rupert Murdoch should take a hands-off approach to his reporters.
Murdoch should work at higher levels in the organization. It would be better if instead the managing editors (or equivalents) he hires did a proper job, and not peddle crap. If they don't, he should fire those people, and hire ones who will ensure that their reporters report the facts and the conclusions science derives from them.
Posted by: crf | May 11, 2007 5:54 PM
Hmm. I went searching for right-wing reactions to this, and over at Hot Air there are people who will STOP watching Fox News because of this.
Posted by: daenku32 | May 11, 2007 6:09 PM