Investors, including activist John Chevedden, have filed a shareholder resolution calling on Fox Corp to study using on-air branding to distinguish its news and opinion programming. The resolution cites the company’s recent $787.5 million settlement of a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems over Fox’s coverage of false vote-rigging claims in the 2020 U.S. election.
The resolution calls for Fox’s board to report on the risks of blurred lines between news and opinion, and to consider “providing public differentiation” between news and non-news shows. For instance Fox could include a “Fox Opinion!” label on broadcasts by popular host Sean Hannity.
Chevedden has been one of the most prolific filers of shareholder resolutions for corporate annual meetings and traditionally focused on governance topics such as splitting the chairman and CEO titles. Fox Chairman Rupert Murdoch and family members own about 42% of the company’s voting shares, making it unlikely the advisory proposal would gain a majority of support.
However, even a strong showing can lead to changes. After a resolution at Fox calling for more lobbying disclosure received support from 43% of votes cast in 2021, the company published a “political activities report” detailing much of its spending.