James Murdoch In Talks to Buy New York Magazine
Key Points:
- James Murdoch is reportedly in talks to acquire New York magazine and Vox Media's podcast division, potentially marking his return to the media industry after exiting his family's News Corp and Fox empires.
- The deal, reported by The Wall Street Journal, would place Murdoch among billionaire owners of influential news outlets, similar to Jeff Bezos and Laurene Powell Jobs, though the transaction is not yet finalized.
- Murdoch has distanced himself politically from his family's conservative media legacy, positioning as a centrist and focusing on ventures through his company Lupa Systems, which invests in cultural enterprises like Art Basel and the Tribeca Film Festival.
- New York magazine, owned by Vox Media since 2019, remains a significant print and digital brand with nearly 10 million monthly visitors, and Vox is reportedly considering separating its publishing assets from its podcast division.
- The potential acquisition would reconnect Murdoch with a publication once owned by his father and expand his media influence beyond his previous roles, following a $1.1 billion settlement that ended his family business disputes.