VIDEO: 99 Percent Protesters Explain Why They Are Picketing News Corp’s Shareholder Meeting

Last week, about 150 demonstrators gathered outside of the News Corporation annual shareholder meeting to protest. The event was organized by a number of groups, including Occupy Los Angeles, Common Cause, and Good Jobs L.A., and coincided with an inside effort by shareholders of the corporation working to reshape the company, particularly after widespread allegations of phone-hacking and bribery in the United Kingdom.

The event demonstrated the broad disgust at the conduct of News Corporation and its many subsidiaries, particularly Fox News. A wide array of participants aired their complaints, ranging from concerns about the concentration of ownership in the media and the company’s long history of misrepresenting the news. ThinkProgress spoke to several attendees, and put together a short video with regular demonstrators, and organizers from Free Press, Avaaz, and Good Jobs LA.

Watch it here:

Despite attempts by activist shareholders, News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch and his board were reelected. The New York Times gained access to the event, and reported that a number of proposals to reign in abuses at the company were shot down. According to the Times, one failed proposal came from the assistant director of socially responsible investing for Christian Brothers Investment Services. “This pervasive and value-destroying scandal requires stronger independent leadership on the board,” said Julie Tanner, announcing her effort.