Better Health for All

News Corp faced significant criticism for spreading COVID misinformation, with MPs urging News Corp Australia to reject ads amplifying such content in August 2021,

and an open letter in April 2020 accusing Fox News of downplaying the pandemic's severity, which endangered public health. This indicates poor risk transparency and an inadequate response during a global health crisis. The company's media products have both negative impacts from misinformation and positive impacts from public health campaigns like the 'Health of the Nation' and Coles Health Hub initiatives, which offer free workouts, meal plans, and heart-healthy recipes. The News Health Network also reaches 5.7 million health-conscious individuals monthly. While the company was criticized for health-harming misinformation, it also commits to reducing operational carbon emissions by 65% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, aiming to promote public health by reducing pollution risks. News Corp revamped its global health equity strategy to focus on equitable healthcare access for its workforce, setting global minimum standards for healthcare benefits and emphasizing employee resource groups for those with disabilities. Additionally, News Corp provides comprehensive health benefits, telemedicine services, and wellness programs for its employees.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

News Corp operates primarily within the media and publishing industry, and its core business does not involve providing lending, deposit, or other consumer financial services.

Consequently, the company does not have APRs, fee structures, or financial products to evaluate against the 'Fair Money & Economic Opportunity' criteria. The provided articles confirm no direct involvement in initiatives promoting equitable financial services, microloans, or small business support. While News Corp engages in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and general philanthropy, these do not directly align with the specific financial inclusion and economic opportunity metrics of this rubric. ,

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

News Corp was cited by the New York City Commission on Human Rights in February 2024 for violating pay transparency laws by posting job listings without specified salary ranges or with excessively broad ranges.

Additionally, its subsidiary, Fox News Media, paid a $1 million fine in June 2021 following an investigation by the same commission that uncovered patterns of sexual harassment and retaliation. These incidents represent two substantiated labor-law or human-rights violations within the past three years.

Honest & Fair Business

News Corp has a comprehensive whistleblower policy, communicated to all staff through regular training on its Standards of Business Conduct.

The policy includes a 24/7 anonymous Alertline accessible via a secure website and international freephone numbers, and explicitly prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports in good faith, including for communications with government agencies. News Corp's financial statements do not reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements, indicating zero restatements. News Corp maintains a Global Anti-Bribery & Anti-Corruption Policy, which is FCPA-compliant and prohibits bribes and kickbacks. This policy is supported by regular training for all employees and directors, and includes third-party due diligence for suppliers. For third-party verification, the company's carbon footprint is independently verified to a limited assurance level, and independent third-party firms conduct periodic cybersecurity assessments. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP UK performed independent verification procedures on Dow Jones average daily subscriptions. However, the company also states that certain metrics, such as subscriptions and unique users, are calculated using third-party or internal data that have not been independently verified.

Kind to Animals

News Corp, as a global media and information services company, does not engage in practices involving animal testing or farming.

Its business model does not involve animal-derived products or direct animal operations. Therefore, KPIs related to cruelty-free certification, alternative testing, humane certifications, ethical input substitution, cage-free sourcing, animal testing policies, animal testing volume, innovation investment in animal-free technologies, animal agriculture ethics, and animal-free R&D collaboration are not applicable. While the company has policies and certifications related to sustainable paper sourcing and deforestation prevention, the provided evidence does not offer measurable data for wildlife conservation impact as defined by the rubric.

No War, No Weapons

News Corp A is not involved in arms manufacturing, military contracts, or conflict facilitation.

As a media and entertainment company, it derives no revenue from arms or defense contracts , has no exposure to controversial weapons , and possesses no defense assets requiring divestment. Its platforms can influence public opinion on peace through responsible journalism and content dissemination.

Planet-Friendly Business

News Corp's commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by fiscal 2050 was validated against the Science Based Targets initiative's Corporate Net-Zero Standard in 2023, making it the first North America-based media company to receive this validation.

The company has defined near-term targets to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 65% by fiscal 2030 from a fiscal 2016 base year, and absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 25% by fiscal 2030 from a fiscal 2021 base year. As of fiscal year 2023, News Corp achieved a 62% reduction in operational carbon emissions from its fiscal 2016 base year. The company has invested in renewable energy projects, including solar and wind farms, and implemented a corporate power purchase agreement for renewable energy.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

In June 2024, News Corp faced criticism for using an image of Indigenous dancers from Miriki Performing Arts in a child abuse article without consent

. Sky News Australia, The Australian, and the Daily Telegraph subsequently issued apologies for this unauthorized use , though the affected families were further disappointed .

Safe & Smart Tech

News Corp experienced a critical failure in vulnerability management, as evidenced by a cyberattack that remained undetected for two years (February 2020 to January 2022), allowing unauthorized access to business documents and emails containing sensitive employee information.

Despite this, the company demonstrates strong regulatory compliance, adhering to an extensive list of global and US state privacy regulations, and proactively preparing for new requirements. News Corp also provides users with comprehensive control over their personal data, offering rights to access, correct, update, delete, and port information. Furthermore, News Corp Australia has established an AI ethics board with six key pillars for AI utilization, indicating a formal approach to ethical AI. The company also employs standard security measures such as annual cybersecurity training, phishing exercises, encryption, authentication, and periodic security testing.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

In fiscal 2023, News Corp achieved a 91% waste diversion rate across 22 sites.

The company has set a goal to achieve zero waste across its major sites, defined as diverting 90% or more of all discarded resources from landfills and incinerators. Additionally, its subsidiary, News UK, removed 800 tonnes of single-use plastic from its products by replacing polybagging with compostable alternatives and introducing paper bands.