News Corp. CEO Plugs California Post As “Desert Flower” In A News Desert

News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson promoted the company's new Los Angeles newspaper, the California Post, at the Morgan Stanley media conference, highlighting its strong performance since launching last month as a 'desert flower' in California's news landscape. Thompson, known for his entertaining presentations, emphatically told investors, 'If you haven't been reading the California Post, you're out of touch, you're out of date. So download the app.' He revealed that the app's download numbers have already 'twice what we thought' they'd be, promising to share more detailed initial metrics during the company's next earnings call. The California Post represents News Corp.'s expansion of the New York Post brand onto the West Coast. The launch of the California Post comes amid significant changes in California's media landscape, with traditional newspapers facing challenges in the digital age. By positioning the new publication as a 'desert flower,' Thomson suggests it's thriving in an environment where other news sources may be struggling. This expansion represents News Corp.'s continued investment in local journalism despite broader industry challenges, and signals confidence in the appetite for conservative-leaning news content in the California market.