TOWNSEND, Emily: "I have been severely impacted by the coverage of News Corp publications in relation to the fires, in particular the misinformation campaign that has tried to divert attention away from the real issue which is climate change to rather focus on arson (including misrepresenting facts)."

Emily Townsend (commercial finance manager who has worked for News Corp Australia for five years) in an e-mail to executive chairman Michael Miller, and copied to NewsCorp staff(and delated by NewsCorp after an hour) (2020): “I have been severely impacted by the coverage of News Corp publications in relation to the fires, in particular the misinformation campaign that has tried to divert attention away from the real issue which is climate change to rather focus on arson (including misrepresenting facts). I find it unconscionable to continue working for this company, knowing I am contributing to the spread of climate change denial and lies. The reporting I have witnessed in The Australian, The Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun is not only irresponsible, but dangerous and damaging to our communities and beautiful planet that needs us more than ever to acknowledge the destruction we have caused and start doing something about it” (Emily Townsend quoted in Zoe Samios and Andrew Hornery, “”Dangerous, misinformation: NewsCorp employee’s fire coverage e-mail”, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 January 2020: https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/dangerous-misinformation-news-corp-employee-s-fire-coverage-email-20200110-p53qel.html ; “Rupert Murdoch’s son James criticises NewsCorp , Fox for climate change and bushfire coverage”, ABC News, 15 January 2020: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-15/james-murdoch-criticises-news-corp-fox-climate-change-coverage/11868544 ).