This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/01/business/media/fox-news-bill-shine.html

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Fox News Executive, Bill Shine, Departs Amid Turmoil Fox News Executive, Bill Shine, Departs Amid Turmoil
(about 2 hours later)
Fox News announced on Monday the exit of one of its co-presidents, Bill Shine, removing a holdover from the Roger Ailes era and signaling that the network is prepared to shake up its executive ranks as it tries to move past a season of turmoil that has engulfed it since last summer. Fox News on Monday removed one of its most powerful executives, Bill Shine, another seismic shake-up at a network that remains in crisis mode as its owner, Rupert Murdoch, moves to steer it past the sexual harassment scandal that first engulfed it last summer.
Mr. Shine is a veteran newsman and a longtime lieutenant to Mr. Ailes, the former chairman who was forced out amid a sexual harassment scandal in July. Although Mr. Shine was seen as a source of stability in the news division at a turbulent time, his presence was viewed by some employees as a sign that Fox News’s parent, 21st Century Fox, was not serious about its stated commitment to overhaul the culture of the network. Mr. Shine, a network co-president and a longtime lieutenant to its disgraced former chairman, Roger Ailes, was viewed by some employees as a symbol of Fox News’s old-guard leadership even as its parent, 21st Century Fox, pledged reforms to the company culture and a new era of civility in the newsroom.
Mr. Shine had been cited in several lawsuits as someone who enabled and concealed Mr. Ailes’s behavior and dismissed concerns from women who complained about it. He has denied all wrongdoing. But there were signs that the pressure on 21st Century Fox might not let up soon. One veteran executive who was promoted on Monday, Suzanne Scott, has, like Mr. Shine, been cited in lawsuits as a figure who enabled and concealed Mr. Ailes’s harassing behavior toward women.
His departure is sure to roil some of Fox News’s most recognizable stars, with whom Mr. Shine had close relationships. Sean Hannity, the channel’s 10 p.m. mainstay, is particularly close with Mr. Shine, and he publicly defended his friend last week on Twitter, saying that removing Mr. Shine would be “the total end of the FNC as we know it. Done.” The departure of Mr. Shine — who was selected by Mr. Murdoch, the executive chairman of 21st Century Fox, for his job last summer — is also likely to roil some of Fox News’s most recognizable stars, including Sean Hannity, a close friend of the ousted co-president. Mr. Hannity defended his friend last week on Twitter, saying that removing Mr. Shine would be “the total end of the FNC as we know it,” but he has been silent about the matter on Monday.
In a memo to the staff Monday afternoon, Rupert Murdoch, who controls the Fox media empire, said that Suzanne Scott would become president of programming and Jay Wallace would become president of news. Jack Abernethy, who was a co-president with Mr. Shine, remains in his current position. Mr. Shine’s exit comes 10 months after Mr. Ailes was toppled by a sexual harassment scandal, and less than two weeks since the departure of Bill O’Reilly, the one-time king of cable news whose reign abruptly ended after revelations in The New York Times that he and Fox News paid millions of dollars to five women who accused Mr. O’Reilly of harassment.
“I know Bill was respected and liked by everyone at Fox News,” Mr. Murdoch wrote. “We will all miss him.” Mr. Murdoch is often reluctant to make major personnel changes. But he is facing public and corporate pressures, including his desire to acquire the British satellite and television company Sky. That bid requires the approval of a British regulatory agency, which must determine if 21st Century Fox can act as a “fit and proper” owner.
For months, Mr. Shine’s position seemed safe. He was promoted to lead Fox News alongside Mr. Abernethy in the wake of Mr. Ailes’s departure, at the behest of Mr. Murdoch, who built the sprawling Fox entertainment empire and is the news channel’s executive chairman. “They’re definitely ‘cleaning house,’” said Andrew Gilman, the chief executive of the crisis communications firm CommCore Consulting Group. “And it sounds like the younger Murdochs are saying we’re willing to sacrifice some revenue and talent for a longer term view.” He was referring to Mr. Murdoch’s sons, Lachlan and James, who run 21st Century Fox.
But the dismissal of Bill O’Reilly, the prime-time host who faced his own sexual harassment allegations, brought new scrutiny to the company. Some women’s groups called for Mr. Shine to be fired. Asked if this was effective strategy, Mr. Gilman said: “We won’t know if it’s effective until we watch ratings, revenue and profits over time. Fox is big enough and diverse enough that I think they can withstand the economic impact. Longer term, they’re saying, what do we want to stand for?”
Mr. Murdoch is often reluctant to make major personnel changes — particularly at a lucrative asset like Fox News, which is a giant and reliable moneymaker for 21st Century Fox. In announcing Mr. Shine’s departure, Mr. Murdoch praised the executive as “respected and liked by everyone at Fox News,” adding in a news release, “His contribution to our channel and our country will resonate for many years.”
But Mr. Murdoch is weighing a number of corporate factors, including his desire to acquire the British satellite and television company Sky, a long-coveted prize. The sale of Sky is being reviewed by a British regulatory agency, which must determine whether 21st Century Fox would be a “fit and proper” owner. Mr. Murdoch also announced that Ms. Scott would become president for programming and Jay Wallace would become president for news. Jack Abernethy, who was a co-president with Mr. Shine, remains in his current position.
For months, Mr. Shine’s position seemed safe. He was promoted to lead Fox News with Mr. Abernethy after Mr. Ailes’s departure, and was seen as a source of stability in the news division at a turbulent time.
But the dismissal of Mr. O’Reilly brought new scrutiny to the company, and some women’s groups called for Mr. Shine to be fired. Mr. Shine has denied all wrongdoing, as have Ms. Scott and Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Ailes and Mr. O’Reilly have also denied the allegations against them.
News of Mr. Shine’s departure was reported earlier by Gabriel Sherman of New York Magazine.News of Mr. Shine’s departure was reported earlier by Gabriel Sherman of New York Magazine.
Mr. Ailes and Mr. O’Reilly have denied the allegations against them.