As News Corp posts solid Q3 earnings, CEO Robert Thomson warns that Trump-era tariffs and unchecked AI pose long-term risks to journalism and the global economy.
At a Glance
- News Corp’s Q3 2025 revenue rose 1% to $2.01 billion
- Net income from continuing operations jumped 67% to $107 million
- Trump-era tariffs seen as disruptive and economically misguided
- News Corp criticizes AI firms for copyright infringement
- Digital-only subscriptions for The Wall Street Journal grew 5% to 3.91 million
Strong Quarter Masks Deep Concerns
News Corp reported third-quarter revenue of $2.01 billion, a 1% increase over the prior year, alongside a 67% surge in net income to $107 million. Dow Jones led the way with a 6% boost to $575 million, thanks to gains in professional information services and digital subscriptions.
But behind the numbers, CEO Robert Thomson expressed discontent with the lingering effects of Donald Trump’s tariffs, calling them economically disruptive and ultimately “temporary.” Thomson’s tone suggested the company views such trade policies as political maneuvers with little long-term business logic.
Watch a report: News Corp Q3 Earnings Recap – YouTube
Despite political headwinds, News Corp’s digital segments showed resilience. Digital real estate services grew 5% to $406 million, while HarperCollins reported a 2% uptick in book publishing revenue.
Thomson Warns of AI’s “Credibility Crisis”
Thomson used the earnings call to address a broader threat: artificial intelligence. He emphasized the growing challenge AI poses to content integrity and copyright protections. The company has launched legal action against AI firms like Perplexity AI, accusing them of scraping News Corp content without permission.
“The currency of credibility will become even more crucial as AI continues its exponential growth and inevitably blurs the lines between the actual and the anthropomorphic,” Thomson stated. His comments reinforced News Corp’s effort to position journalism as a bulwark against synthetic content in an era of disinformation.
Embracing Innovation With Guardrails
Though wary of misuse, News Corp is not anti-AI. The company has partnered with OpenAI in a deal designed to respect IP while harnessing technology to enrich content delivery. At the same time, Thomson called for regulatory clarity and economic deregulation, suggesting that unnecessary government interference—both foreign and domestic—was hindering innovation and business growth.
The strategy appears to be working. Digital-only subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal rose 5% to 3.91 million, affirming the strength of premium journalism in a fragmented media landscape.
Strategic Future
News Corp’s Q3 results reflect a company adapting quickly to digital demands while standing its ground on issues of intellectual property and trade policy. Thomson’s remarks make clear that News Corp intends to lead not only through content, but also in shaping the rules that govern global digital competition.
In the face of political pressure and technological change, News Corp is betting that credibility and adaptation—not tariffs or algorithmic content—will define the future of journalism.
