The younger son and daughter-in-law of News Corp executive chairman and Fox Corporation co-chairman Rupert Murdoch have taken aim at both organisations' coverage of climate change, widely viewed as a contributing factor to the Australian bushfires, in a statement to US-based news outlet The Daily Beast.

Key points: Kathryn and James Murdoch are disappointed with News Corp and Fox's ongoing coverage of climate change

Kathryn and James Murdoch are disappointed with News Corp and Fox's ongoing coverage of climate change News Corp's critics say the organisation has participated in the spread of misinformation and downplayed the impact of climate change on bushfires

News Corp's critics say the organisation has participated in the spread of misinformation and downplayed the impact of climate change on bushfires A News Corp spokesperson declined to comment on James and Kathryn Murdoch's statement

"Kathryn and James' views on climate are well established and their frustration with some of News Corp and Fox's coverage of the topic is also well known," a spokesperson for the couple told The Daily Beast, and later confirmed the statement's accuracy to Reuters.

"They are particularly disappointed with the ongoing denial of the role of climate change among the news outlets in Australia, given obvious evidence to the contrary."

Bushfires have raged in Australia since September, claiming the lives of 28 people, destroying more than 2,500 homes and wiping out bush and farmland the size of Bulgaria.

Critics of News Corp, the largest media company in Australia, said it had participated in the spread of misinformation about the fires and has downplayed the impact of climate change on them.

James Murdoch sits on News Corp's board and is chief executive of private investment company Lupa Systems.

His older brother Lachlan is co-chairman of News Corp and chief executive of Fox Corporation.

Kathryn Murdoch has, in the past months, become more vocal about her decade-plus work as a climate activist.

Kathryn Murdoch has become more vocal about her decade-plus work as a climate activist. ( Reuters: Neil Hall )

A News Corp spokesman declined to comment on James and Kathryn Murdoch's statement to The Daily Beast.

Addressing News Corp's coverage of the bushfires, he directed Reuters to a January 11 editorial in The Australian newspaper, which said: "In our coverage, The Australian's journalists report facts about how to tackle bushfires and about how to deal with the impact of climate change. Second, we host debates reflecting the political division that exists in Australia about how to address climate change without destroying our economy.

"However, our factual account of bushfires, climate change and the remedies, as well as our editorial commentary on these issues, have been wilfully and ineptly misrepresented by The New York Times and Guardian Australia as climate denial."

Last week News Corp commercial finance manager Emily Townsend accused the company of spreading "misinformation" about climate change in an email sent to all staff after she resigned in December.

The email, which was written in reply to a company-wide email from News Corp executive chairman Michael Miller, was leaked to The Guardian.

"I find it unconscionable to continue working for this company, knowing I am contributing to the spread of climate change denial and lies," the email said.

"The reporting I have witnessed in The Australian, the Daily Telegraph and the Herald Sun is not only irresponsible, but dangerous and damaging to our communities and beautiful planet that needs us more than ever now to acknowledge the destruction we have caused and start doing something about it."

News Corp executive chairman Michael Miller said Australia was having a "serious conversation about climate change". ( AAP : Rohan Thomson )

Mr Miller on Friday published a statement saying he stood by the mastheads' climate coverage.

"Our coverage has recognised that Australia is having a serious conversation about climate change and how to respond to it," he said.

"However, it has also reflected there are a variety of views and opinions about the current fire crisis."

Other News Corp journalists have defended the company, with Sharri Markson saying it was an "outright lie" to say News Corp's reporting denied climate change.

ABC/Reuters