Tag: Rupert Murdoch

James Murdoch exits News Corp. board

Axios logoFormer 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch filed a letter of resignation from the board of News Corp. on Friday in light of disagreements over editorial content published by the company-owned news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and New York Post.

What he’s saying: “My resignation is due to disagreements over certain editorial content published by the Company’s news outlets and certain other strategic decisions,” Murdoch’s letter reads.

News Corp. is one of two media companies operated by the Murdoch family, the other being Fox Corp., the parent company of Fox News and the Fox broadcast network. Continue reading.

Shepard Smith, Fox News veteran anchor and frequent Trump target, abruptly resigns from the network

Washington Post logoShepard Smith, one of Fox News’s leading anchors and a frequent target of President Trump, abruptly stepped down from the network on Friday, departing with little explanation after 23 years on the air.

Smith, Fox News’s chief news anchor and host of its afternoon news program “Shepard Smith Reporting,” said the decision to leave was his own but gave no further reason for his resignation. He signed off with a brief statement, surprising even his colleagues. Fox News said Friday’s program would be Smith’s last.

Smith has been at Fox News since its founding in 1996 and is one of its signature figures. He was among the first people hired by Fox News’s co-founder, the late Roger Ailes, for the network’s launch. His recent tenure, however, has been marked by conflict and criticism, not just from President Trump but from within the network itself.

View the complete October 11 article by Paul Fahi and Sarah Ellison on The Washington Post website here.

Shep Smith steps down at Fox News

Axios logoLongtime Fox News anchor Shep Smith announced on Friday that he is stepping down from his position as Fox News’ chief news anchor, managing editor of the network’s breaking news unit and anchor of his weekday news show, Shepard Smith Reporting. Smith has been with the network for 23 years.

Why it matters: His departure comes as a rift grows wider between daytime news anchors and primetime opinion hosts at Fox.

Details: Smith’s last broadcast was Friday. The network sent a press release ahead of his final remarks about his departure on his show.

    • “Recently I asked the company to allow me to leave Fox News and begin a new chapter. After requesting that I stay, they graciously obliged,” he said in a statement.
    • In his final broadcast remarks, Smith thanked the network, and said he appreciated the opportunities that afforded him to “travel the country and the world gathering the facts for you.”

View the complete October 11 article by Sara Fischer on the Axios website here.

Trump Lashes Out at Fox News Poll as Barr Meets With Murdoch

New York Times logoAttorney General William P. Barr met privately Wednesday evening with Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul who is one of President Trump’s frequent confidants but whose Fox News is viewed by the president as more hostile toward him than it used to be.

The meeting was held at Mr. Murdoch’s home in New York, according to someone familiar with it. It was unclear if anyone else attended or what was discussed. Aides to both Mr. Murdoch and Mr. Barr declined requests for comment on the meeting.

The visit took place as the impeachment inquiry into Mr. Trump by House Democrats has gathered momentum. Mr. Barr has emerged as a key defender of the president’s concerns about the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Mr. Barr was criticized in the spring for his handling of the report by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, before it was released publicly.

View the complete October 10 article by Maggie Haberman and Katie Benner on The New York Times website here.