July 12: Veteran Fox News Channel host Neil Cavuto publishes a defense of Ailes in the Business Insider website, describing the accusations against him as “sick”.
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Roger Ailes has officially resigned as CEO and Chairman of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, and Chairman of Fox Television Stations.
Today, 21st Century Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch released a statement about Ailes’ resignation, and he sounds pretty bummed about it. “Roger Ailes has made a remarkable contribution to our company and our country”, the statement says, nearly as if this isn’t happening because of those allegations.
Within two weeks of the court filing, Carlson’s lawyers also said more than 20 women had contacted the firm with stories of alleged harassment by Ailes either against themselves or someone they knew.
Ailes has always denied the claims.
A former consultant to Republican presidents, Mr Ailes, 76, had been a key figure in the media empire and a longtime Murdoch ally.
He has run Fox News since it launched in 1996 and is credited with reshaping the American media and political landscape.
Bruce Haynes of SC, a media strategist with Purple Strategies in Washington, said this is a big moment for Fox, not necessarily because of Ailes leaving, but because it comes at a time when news delivery and consumption is changing. 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch, the elder son of Murdoch, is pushing the whole company to step up its game in digital distribution and advertising technology.
Things are rarely simple in the world of huge corporate scandals, especially when the scandal involves an organization that’s as good at controlling the message as Fox News.
Fox isn’t likely to tamper too much with Ailes’s formula.
All week, Fox News stars covering the convention have dodged questions from journalists amid more revelations and signs pointing to Ailes’ imminent ouster. The network regularly invited anti-LGBT guests listed on GLAAD’s Commentator Accountability Project, and some are hired as Fox News contributors.
At the time of her leaving her post, 50-year-old Carlson announced her exit via social media, writing, “As you may have heard, I am no longer with Fox News”, she shared via Twitter and Facebook.
For any of these candidates, accepting the job as Ailes’ replacement could potentially be pretty damn awkward, as Politico reports all had “close relationship [s]” with the former CEO.
The move represents tremendous turmoil at Fox, built by Mr Ailes and Mr Murdoch two decades ago into the leading cable news channel, drawing praise especially from conservatives and criticism from the political left. “To lead a flourishing news channel, and to build Fox Business, Roger has defied the odds”.
The Murdoch sons may also seek to make a statement by reaching outside the current Fox News culture. “I am heartbroken he is gone”.
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A Trump spokeswoman told CNN Money that the GOP nominee had no comment on Ailes’ departure. “Sometimes I am really stunned by what the media thinks is a big deal, yes I understand he fundamentally changed the way news is delivered but people aren’t as attached to him as you guys think we are”, she said.
