The amendment proposed by Rupert Murdoch would reportedly block any interference from three of his eldest son Lachlan's brothers, who are more politically moderate.
A battle for control of Rupert Murdoch's global television and publishing empire begins Monday in a Reno, Nevada, courtroom, where a judge will consider the contentious issue of succession.
Murdoch, 93, is seeking to change the terms of the family trust, which holds significant stakes in News Corp, the parent company of Fox News and owner of the Wall Street Journal. The billionaire is seeking to ensure that after his death, the media companies remain under the control of his eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, according to the New York Times, which obtained a sealed court document detailing the succession drama.
A hearing to determine whether Murdoch is acting in good faith will be held in probate court, where proceedings will be closed to the public.
A Nevada judge on Thursday rejected an appeal by Reuters and other news organizations to open the hearings to the public.
The news organizations had said the fate of the culturally and politically influential media outlets was a matter of public interest, but the judge cited the need to prevent disclosure of sensitive personal and financial information. Most of the documents also remain under seal.
The Murdoch trust was formed around the time of Rupert Murdoch's divorce from his second wife, Anna, in 1999. The trust is the vehicle through which Murdoch Sr. controls News Corp and Fox, with about a 40 percent voting share stake in each company.
Following Rupert Murdoch's death, voting shares in News Corp and Fox will be transferred to his four eldest children: Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan and James. It is possible that three of the heirs could outvote a fourth, triggering a battle over the future of the companies, even though Lachlan Murdoch runs Fox and is News Corp's sole chairman.
Members of the Murdoch family arrived in Reno on Monday morning for the hearing. James, Elisabeth and Prudence appeared first, with Rupert and Lachlan arriving later. The hearing was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. local time (16:00 GMT).
The amendment proposed by Rupert Murdoch would block any interference from Lachlan's three brothers, who are more politically moderate, the New York Times reported, citing a sealed court document.
Lachlan Murdoch is widely seen as ideologically aligned with his conservative father. James Murdoch, who has donated to progressive political groups, resigned from News Corp's board in 2020, citing disagreements over editorial content.
