It seems that Donald Trump beloved Fox News Network may be falling apart on the inside as producers, reporters, executives, and hosts are all at odds over the Trumpian direction the network is falling in.
According to Vanity Fair‘s Gabriel Sherman, Fox Corp’s CEO Lachlan Murdoch is desperately grappling to keep everyone happy and defuse the long-running feud between the network’s journalists and prime-time hosts while still managing to pacify advertisers and their number one fan, President Trump.
A senior Fox staffer told Vanity Fair Magazine, “Reporters are telling management that we’re being defined by the worst people on our air.”
Reporters and producers alike have condemned Fox News hosts in the past for their loud and biased support of President Trump. But prime-time anchors, as well as management personnel, seem to believe that they “make the money” and reflect their audience’s worldviews.
Fox’s president of ad sales, Marianne Gambelli tried to diffuse the concern over ad sales saying, “Advertisers know the value of our loyal and engaged audience and we expect no change in our business going forward.”
However, that doesn’t change the fact that there have been ad issues in the past when prime-time hosts such as Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson have instigated boycotts of the network with their vile and outlandish comments on air.
“Executives are very worried ‘Fox & Friends’ will be next. If advertisers start bailing on them, they’re screwed,” one insider stated.
The tension puts Murdoch in an impossible situation trying to satisfy advertisers, employees, and their most important viewer, Donald Trump — who has recently been showing more and more distaste for the network as he feels they’re not covering his as favorably as he would prefer.
One source who heard the conversation said, “Hannity told Trump last year that the Murdochs hate Trump, and Hannity is the only one holding Fox together.”
While Trump and Hannity seem to be getting on well lately, two sources close to the matter are reported that the network’s highest-rated host intends to resign when his contract is up in 2021.
“Sean doesn’t feel supported,” a staffer close to Hannity stated. “He has no relationship with Lachlan. Sean thinks, ‘Wait a second, I was hired to get ratings and I get ratings, but now people are embarrassed about me?’ He feels Fox spends a lot of time supporting Shepard Smith but his show makes no money. That’s annoying to him.”
It looks like Trump’s dearest news network may soon be falling apart if they don’t get their act together.
Featured image via DC Tribune galleryÂ
