NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Promising a commitment to “ambitious journalism and agenda-setting conversations,鈥� media scion James Murdoch has struck a deal with the Vox Media digital company to acquire New York magazine, the Vox Media Podcast Network and the Vox editorial brand.
The deal with Vox, widely seen as liberal-leaning, represents a major move toward his own media empire for the 53-year-old younger son of who himself owned New York Magazine from 1976 until 1991. And it comes less than a year after the Murdoch family after his death, ensuring no change in direction at Fox 草莓传媒, the most popular network for conservatives, under Rupert’s chosen heir, Lachlan Murdoch.
Under the new deal, expected to close within weeks, Lupa Systems, James Murdoch鈥檚 media company, acquires the three divisions 鈥� about half of Vox Media. Neither Vox Media nor Lupa was disclosing the sum. The New York Times cited people familiar with the matter saying it was more than $300 million. The acquired divisions will operate, according to a statement, as a subsidiary of Lupa 鈥� called Vox Media.
Lots included and some excluded
Not included in the deal are the Vox brands Eater, Popsugar, SB Nation, The Dodo, and The Verge. But the deal does include, along with New York magazine, its verticals The Cut, Vulture, Intelligencer, The Strategist, Curbed, and Grub Street.
It also includes the Vox Media Podcast Network. which features wildly popular shows like 鈥淐riminal鈥� and 鈥淧ivot鈥� with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway. The network 鈥渉as been the fastest growing business within Vox Media and will immediately put Lupa at the top of the podcast field,鈥� said the Vox statement.
James Murdoch, a former CEO of 21st Century Fox who resigned from the board of 草莓传媒 Corporation in 2020 over differences about content and direction, is known to hold less conservative views than his father. In the deal reached last year, James and his two older sisters. Prudence MacLeod and Elisabeth Murdoch, gave up any claims to control of Fox in exchange for stock valued at the time at $3.3 billion.
That deal created a trust establishing control of the Fox Corp. for , along with his younger sisters, Grace and Chloe.
In his own remarks about the Vox deal, James Murdoch said the acquisition 鈥渁ligns well with our existing holdings and investments and reflects both our interest in the forward edge of culture and our deep commitment to ambitious journalism and agenda-setting conversations.
It will allow us to apply new tools across the businesses we are building, adding substantial production, distribution, and editorial capability to our group,” Murdoch said.
Continuity in leadership expected
Current Vox chairman and CEO Jim Bankoff will lead the new Vox Media, becoming CEO of the new company upon closing.
鈥淲e are incredibly proud to have built and scaled several of the leading media properties of this generation,鈥� Bankoff said. 鈥淭ogether under Lupa鈥檚 stewardship we are primed to be the best home for talent and the most dynamic media company of this new era.鈥�
David Haskell, New York magazine’s editor-in-chief, noted in an email to subscribers that Lupa now becomes the magazine’s sixth owner since 1968.
Haskell promised that the magazine would continue with 鈥渢he fearless, independent journalism that you expect from us.”
鈥淲e will continue to create news cycles, start conversations, contribute to the most important debates in politics and society, identify and explore what鈥檚 most interesting in contemporary culture, and always do our best to challenge our readers, surprise them, and help them make sense of the modern world,鈥� Haskell said.
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Jocelyn Noveck covers the intersection of media and entertainment for The Associated Press.
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