Washington: Securing Lachlan Murdoch as the successor to the News Corp media empire is hardly the dawn of a new era, but it does clear the way for Rupert Murdoch’s elder son to steer the ship unencumbered.

On board that ship is valuable cargo, especially here in the United States – even if, like most media brands, the company faces economic headwinds amid changing consumer behaviour.

Lachlan Murdoch is regarded as the most conservative of his father’s children.Credit: Marija Ercegovac

News Corp products are central in the political discourse, especially under President Donald Trump, who keenly watches Fox News and regularly appears on it, as do his cabinet secretaries and close aides.

It was Fox News’ strident conservatism that particularly aggrieved Lachlan’s brother, James, who publicly slammed News Corp and Fox’s coverage of climate change in 2020. This settlement, which buys out siblings James, Elisabeth and Prudence MacLeod for about $5 billion in total, effectively ends their potential bid to challenge Lachlan for control after Rupert’s death.

“It may have been an option until this point, but with the decision today … that kind of closes the........

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