News Corp’s Chief Executive, Robert Thomson, had some choice words for the staff over at BuzzFeed during the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference on Tuesday.
“There is so much rubbish that is passed off as journalism,” Thomson told the audience during a Q&A session. “There’s a numerical limit to numerical headlines like: ’17 Ways to Keep Your Cat Happy.'”
Thomson is clearly not a fan of BuzzFeed, known for it’s “listicles.” “We’re going through a phase of popularization of so-called journalism.”
Thomson promised to invest more money in real journalism, giving people more quality and less quantity, “because advertisers will ask themselves, ‘Do I really want to be seen next to THAT story? It’s pretty garish. You go on to Buzzfeed and you’re in a strange place. It’s a really strange place.”
During the Q&A session Thomson touched on the company’s move to become “a more digital company and more global company,” since its split in two in June of last year.
“People are saying what are you doing with the money? Why haven’t you bought companies?” Thomson told the audience. “Had we gone about a frenzy rush and acquired five companies in six months, we’d be having a much more different and difficult conversation right now.”
Last year, News Corp divided its assets, with most of its television and film scooped up into a new company, 21st Century Fox. About 130 newspapers (including the Wall Street Journal), formed the other new company, which kept the old name of News Corp.
In August, there was one company that 21st Century Fox was interested in buying: Time Warner. Ultimately the company withdrew its $75 billion offer after Time Warner’s board refused to engage in talks.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article mistakenly identified News Corp as the company bidding for Time Warner. TheWrap regret the error.
Emmys Red Carpet: The Executive Arrivals (Photos)
ABC News President Ben Sherwood
Getty Images
AMC Networks President and CEO Josh Sapan
Getty Images
Chairman, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group Bonnie Hammer (R) and TV personality Padma Lakshmi
Getty Images
Linda Gersh (L) and Bob Gersh, The Gersh Agency Co-President
Getty Images
Paris Barclay, President of the Directors Guild of America
Getty Images
David Madden, President at Fox Television Studios (R) and wife Marci Pool
Getty Images
Executive Vice President, ABC Studios Patrick Moran (R) and TV writer and playwright Jordan Budde
Getty Images
MGM Chairman and CEO Gary Barber (R), Kevin Ulrich (L), and Nadine Barber (C)
Getty Images
President of ABC Entertainment Group Paul Lee (R) and Danny Lee
Getty Images
Lifetime Executive Vice President and General Manager Rob Sharenow (R) with Stacey Creem
Getty Images
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos (R) and Nicole Sarandos
Getty Images
Netflix Vice President of Original Content Cindy Holland (R) and a guest
Getty Images
Executive Vice President, Original Programming USA Network Jackie de Crinis (R) and a guest
Getty Images
MGM President, Television Group and Digital Roma Khanna (L) and MGM Chairman and CEO Gary Barber
Getty Images
Chief Executive Officer of Lions Gate Entertainment Jon Feltheimer (R) and his daughter Maya
Getty Images
Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, CBS Entertainment Chris Castallo (L) and a guest
Getty Images
Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment (L) and Lauren Telegdy
Getty Images
President and Chief Content Officer, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Jeff Wachtel (L) and Cheryl Wachtel
Getty Images
David Janollari (L) and Bob Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment
Getty Images
Senior Vice President, Drama Development, ABC Studios Nne Ebong (L) and Executive Vice President, Drama Development, Movies & Miniseries, ABC Entertainment Group Channing Dungey
Getty Images
Executive Vice President, Comedy Programming for NBC Entertainment Vernon Sanders (R) and Andrew Margolis (L)
Getty Images
HBO Chairman & CEO Richard Plepler (L) and HBO Programming President Michael Lombardo
Getty Images
Fox Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy (L) and Rosie Abernethy
Getty Images
Executive Vice President ABC Howard Davine (R) and Francee Davine
Getty Images
President of AMC Charlie Collier (L) and AMC Executive Vice President Original Programming, Production & Digital Content Joel Stillerman
Getty Images
President, Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions Nick Grad (L) and Executive Vice President, Scripted Programming for SHINE Carolyn G. Bernstein
Getty Images
HBO Films president Len Amato (L) and HBO Miniseries president Kary Antholis
Getty Images
1 of 27
Executives and network chiefs mingle with the stars at the 66th Annual Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre