Fox's Kurtz Reports Bill Shine’s Promotion At FNC, Omits That He Reportedly Helped Cover Up Ailes' Sexual Harassment

Written by Media Matters Staff

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Fox News media analyst Howard Kurtz reported that 21st Century Fox head Rupert Murdoch has named Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy the new co-presidents of Fox News after former CEO Roger Ailes was ousted following a sexual harassment lawsuit. Shine reportedly “played an integral role in the cover up” of sexual harassment allegations against Ailes during his tenure and has been described as Ailes’ “foot soldier” and “right-hand man.” From the August 14 edition of Fox News' MediaBuzz:

HOWARD KURTZ (HOST): And closer to home, Rupert Murdoch, who took over as chairman of Fox News after Roger Ailes' resignation, has just announced his new management team. The network will have two co-presidents. One is Bill Shine, a 20-year veteran who had been in charge of all programming for FNC and Fox Business Network. He'll now be overseeing all content at both channels. The other co-president, Jack Abernethy, who is now CEO of Fox television stations and will oversee the business side. Now, since Ailes' negotiated departure in the wake of a sexual harassment lawsuit, there's been plenty of reporting and speculation in the media, not just about the Gretchen Carlson suit and other allegations that have surfaced, but about the impact on Fox. The promotion of these two insiders and the deputies right under them shows that Murdoch wants to bring stability to the place after this major upheaval and that the network isn't changing its direction.