In an email to staff, Murdoch praised Shine. “We will miss him”.
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Suzanne Scott, who has been with Fox News since 1996 and was most recently executive vice president, steps up to become president of Programming for Fox News Channel. Scott and Wallace have both been with Fox News since 1996, serving in multiple production and creative areas, a Fox News rep said. “And, most immediately, this means that Fox News, that constant irritant in James’ view of himself as a progressive and visionary television executive, will begin to change”. “I am sure we can do even better”.
Another day, another natural disaster in the executive suite at Fox News.
Andrea Tantaros, a former Fox host, claimed in a lawsuit that Shine knew of former network chairman Ailes’s alleged misconduct and ignored it. Shine has denied the claim.
With the departure of former Fox prime-time anchors Megyn Kelly, Greta Van Susteren and O’Reilly, Hannity is arguably the most powerful person at the news organization.
The 86-year-old Rupert Murdoch has actively led the network as acting CEO since Ailes’ departure. Sean Hannity, another Ailes stalwart, declared last week that Fox News would be irreparably damaged if Shine were forced to resign.
After former host Bill O’Reilly was ousted in the wake of a sexual-harassment scandal, pressure had mounted on Shine and the network’s other president, Jack Abernethy.
Shine’s familiarity with high-profile Fox News figures was said to be invaluable, yet damaging revelations kept coming, not just about Ailes but about host Bill O’Reilly, too. Shine’s name was also included in other lawsuits against the network. Among the claims are that Shine ignored or downplayed complaints and concealed Ailes’ behavior. Shine had been with Fox since its inception more than 20 years ago.
He did not respond to requests for comment on yesterday. Shine was known for his ability to identify the hot button issues that appeal to the conservative viewers who flock to the network.
He got an unusually public endorsement on Thursday from Hannity, now Fox’s biggest star.
Media reporter Gabriel Sherman, whose previous reporting indicates a number of well-placed sources at the network, tweeted Hannity has a “key man clause” allowing him to terminate his contract with the network if certain people were fired.
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In an interview on KFAQ in April, Debbie Schlussel said Hannity made that request while he was on a trip to Detroit with Shine.
