Editing Roger Ailes (section)

=== 20th Television/Fox News ===
Ailes was hired by [[News Corp]] chairman [[Rupert Murdoch]] in 1996 to become the CEO of [[Fox News]], effective on October 7.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/1996/10/07_mpp.html |title=Marketplace: News Archives|first=David|last=Brancaccio|date=October 7, 1996|magazine=Marketplace |access-date=March 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041209005431/http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/1996/10/07_mpp.html |archive-date=December 9, 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the departure of [[Lachlan Murdoch]] from [[News Corporation]], Ailes was named [[Chairman]] of the [[Fox Television Stations]] Group on August 15, 2005. Following his newest assignment, one of his first acts was canceling ''[[A Current Affair (U.S. TV series)|A Current Affair]]'' in September 2005 and replacing it with a new [[Geraldo Rivera]] show, ''[[Geraldo at Large]]'', which debuted on [[Halloween]], 2005. Rivera's show drew about the same ratings as ''A Current Affair''<ref name="wsj1">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115983508097280609?mod=googlenews_wsj |title=After Riding High With Fox News, Murdoch Aide Has Harder Slog|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=November 15, 2007|first=Julia|last=Angwin|author-link=Julia Angwin|date=October 3, 2006}}</ref> in January 2007.

Ailes hired former [[Viacom (1971-2005)|Viacom]] executive Dennis Swanson in October 2005 to be president of the Fox Television Stations Group. Additionally, there were changes in affiliates' news programs with the standardization of Fox News Channel-like graphics, redesigned studios, news-format changes, and the announcement of a new [[Breakfast television|morning television show]] called ''[[The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet]]'' to be produced by Fox News Channel.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html |title=Coming in January, A Fox Morning Show|last=Steinberg|first=Jacques|date=July 19, 2006|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 16, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In January 2011, 400 rabbis, including leaders from various branches of Judaism in the United States, published an open letter in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' on the UN-designated [[International Holocaust Remembrance Day|Holocaust Remembrance Day]]. They called on Rupert Murdoch to sanction Fox News commentator [[Glenn Beck]] for his use of [[the Holocaust]] to "discredit any individual or organization you disagree with."<ref name=Guardian /> An executive at Fox News rejected the letter, calling it the work of a "[[George Soros]]-backed [[left wing]] political organization."<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jan/27/rabbis-murdoch-fox-glenn-beck-holocaust|work=[[The Guardian]]|first=Ed|last=Pilkington |title=Rabbis warn Rupert Murdoch: Fox News and Glenn Beck 'using' Holocaust|date=January 27, 2011}}</ref> Ailes is also said to have once referred to Jewish critics of his as "left-wing rabbis."<ref>{{cite web|last=Pinkas|first=Alon |url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=205466&R=R4 |title=US rabbis pen letter criticizing Beck's Holocaust usage |website=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=January 27, 2011 |access-date=April 7, 2011}}</ref>

Also in 2011, Ailes was criticized for referring to executives of the public radio network [[NPR]] as "[[Nazism|Nazis]]" for firing a news analyst, [[Juan Williams]], after Williams had made remarks considered by NPR to be offensive. Ailes apologized to a Jewish group, but not to NPR, for using the expression, writing to the [[Anti-Defamation League]] (ADL): "I was of course ad-libbing and should not have chosen that word, but I was angry at the time because of NPR's willingness to censor Juan Williams for not being liberal enough&nbsp;... My now considered opinion 'nasty, inflexible bigot' would have worked better."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/11/17/fox-news-chief-roger-ailes-blasts-national-public-radio-brass-as-nazis.html |title=Fox News Chief Blasts NPR 'Nazis'|first=Howard|last=Kurtz |website=[[Daily Beast]]|date=November 17, 2010}}</ref> The ADL welcomed and accepted the apology through its National Director, [[Abraham Foxman]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adl.org/press-center/press-releases/holocaust-nazis/adl-accepts-apology-from-fox.html |title=ADL Accepts Apology From Fox News CEO Roger Ailes For Inappropriate 'Nazi' Remark |website=Anti-Defamation League |access-date=May 18, 2017}}</ref> in a subsequent letter to ''The Wall Street Journal'' Foxman said that both Ailes and Beck were "pro-Israel stalwarts."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703956604576110392474830956|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|department=Letters to the Editor |title=The Good Rabbis Were Certainly Not Speaking for Us|date=February 1, 2011|first=Abraham H.|last=Foxman |authorlink=Abraham Foxman}}</ref>

In October 2012, Ailes's contract with Fox News was renewed for four years, through 2016. If completed, he would have served as head of Fox News Channel for 20 years. Salary terms were not made public, although his earnings for the 2012 fiscal year were $21 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=21000000|start_year=2012}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) inclusive of bonuses.<ref name="auto">{{cite magazine|first=Jeff|last=Bercovici |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2012/10/19/roger-ailes-signs-deal-to-stay-at-fox-news-through-2016 |title=Roger Ailes Signs Deal To Stay At Fox News Through 2016|magazine=[[Forbes]]|date=October 19, 2012 |access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref> In addition to heading Fox News and chairing Fox Television Stations, Ailes also chaired [[20th Television]], [[MyNetworkTV]] and [[Fox Business Network]].<ref name="auto" />

==== Sexual harassment cases ====
In a book published in 2014, [[Gabriel Sherman]] alleged that, in the 1980s, Ailes offered a television producer a raise if she would sleep with him.<ref name=shermanbook /><ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/08/book-roger-ailes-_n_4558577.html |title=Shocking New Claims About Fox News Chief|first=Joanna|last=Zelman|date=January 7, 2014|work=[[Huffington Post]]}}</ref> Fox News denied the allegation and rejected the authenticity of Sherman's book.<ref name=":0" />

On July 6, 2016, former Fox News anchor [[Gretchen Carlson]] filed a [[sexual harassment]] lawsuit against Ailes; Carlson's allegations were the impetus for more than a dozen female employees at 21st Century Fox to step forward regarding their own experiences with Ailes's behaviour. Carlson alleged that she had been fired for rebuffing Ailes's advances.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/09/business/media/roger-ailes-arguing-gretchen-carlson-breached-contract-presses-for-arbitration.html |title=Roger Ailes, Arguing Gretchen Carlson Breached Contract, Presses for Arbitration|last=Koblin|first=John|date=July 8, 2016|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|issn=0362-4331 |access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/07/gretchen-carlson-files-lawsuit-against-roger-ailes-alleging-sexual-harassment-225162 |title=21st Century Fox launching 'internal review' at Fox News following Gretchen Carlson lawsuit|last=Gold|first=Hadas |author-link=Hadas Gold|date=July 6, 2016 |website=[[Politico]] |access-date=July 6, 2016}}</ref> Ailes, through his attorney, [[Susan Estrich]], denied the charges.<ref>{{Cite news|first =Erik|last=Wemple |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2016/11/14/roger-ailes-issues-grand-denial-of-sexual-harassment-charges-in-megyn-kellys-new-book |title=Roger Ailes issues grand denial of sexual harassment charges in Megyn Kelly's new book|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|date=November 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Paul |last=Farhi |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/feminist-hero-susan-estrich-fought-sexual-harassment-but-now-represents-roger-ailes-is-she-selling-out-or-standing-up/2016/08/04/904c22ce-5810-11e6-9aee-8075993d73a2_story.html |title=What is feminist hero Susan Estrich doing representing Roger Ailes?|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> Three days later, Sherman reported accounts from six women (two publicly and four anonymously) who alleged sexual harassment by Ailes.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |url=http://www.nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/six-more-women-allege-ailes-sexual-harassment.html |title=Six More Women Allege That Roger Ailes Sexually Harassed Them|last=Sherman|first=Gabriel |author-link=Gabriel Sherman|date=July 9, 2016|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |access-date=July 9, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710005437/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/six-more-women-allege-ailes-sexual-harassment.html |archive-date=July 10, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In response, Ailes's counsel released a statement: "It has become obvious that Ms. Carlson and her lawyer are desperately attempting to litigate this in the press because they have no legal case to argue."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramirez |first1=Christina Dugan |title=6 More Women Accuse Roger Ailes of Sexual Harassment as His Lawyers Say Claims Are 'False' |url=https://people.com/tv/roger-ailes-and-gretchen-carlson-more-women-accuse-ailes-of-harassment/ |website=People |publisher=Dotdash Meredith |access-date=26 January 2023}}</ref>

==== Resignation ====
Ten days later, ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine reported that an internal review into Carlson's claims had expanded into a broader review of Ailes's stewardship. It also claimed Rupert Murdoch and his sons, [[Lachlan Murdoch|Lachlan]] and [[James Murdoch|James]], had seen enough information in the preliminary review to conclude that Ailes had to go. They disagreed on the timing, however; James wanted Ailes out immediately, while Rupert and Lachlan wanted to wait until after the [[2016 Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/murdochs-have-decided-to-remove-roger-ailes.html |title=Murdochs Have Decided to Remove Roger Ailes — the Only Question Now Is When|magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|first=Gabriel|last=Sherman |author-link=Gabriel Sherman|date=July 18, 2016 |access-date=August 2, 2016}}</ref> On July 19, ''New York'' reported that [[Megyn Kelly]] told investigators Ailes made "unwanted sexual advances toward her" at the start of her career. The magazine also reported that the Murdochs had given Ailes an ultimatum—resign by August 1 or be fired.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/sources-kelly-said-ailes-sexually-harassed-her.html |title=Sources: Megyn Kelly Told Murdoch Investigators That Roger Ailes Sexually Harassed Her |website=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|first=Gabriel|last=Sherman |author-link=Gabriel Sherman|date=July 19, 2016 |access-date=July 19, 2016}}</ref>

On July 21, 2016, Ailes resigned from Fox News, receiving about $40 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=40000000|start_year=2016}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}})<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yu |first=Roger |title=Roger Ailes steps down as Fox News CEO |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/07/21/ailes-steps-down-fox-news-ceo-after-sexual-harassment-lawsuit/87402864/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> from 21st Century Fox (the then-parent company of [[20th Century Fox]] and Fox News) in an exit agreement. Rupert Murdoch succeeded him as chairman, and as interim CEO until the naming of a permanent replacement.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/4413767/roger-ailes-fox-news-resigns-rupert-murdoch/?xid=homepage |title=Roger Ailes Resigns From Fox News Amid Sexual Harassment Accusations|date=July 21, 2016|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Molly|last=Redden |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/21/roger-ailes-leaves-fox-news-sexual-harassment-claims |title=Roger Ailes leaves Fox News in wake of sexual harassment claims|work=The Guardian|date=July 21, 2016}}</ref> In a letter to Murdoch,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/21/fox-news-confirms-that-roger-ailes-is-leaving-company.html |title=Roger Ailes resigns as CEO of Fox News |website=CNBC|first1=Anita|last1=Balakrishnan|first2=Michelle|last2=Castillo|date=July 21, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2016}} Article with text of Ailes's resignation letter.</ref> Ailes wrote: "I will not allow my presence to become a distraction from the work that must be done every day to ensure that Fox News and Fox Business continue to lead our industry." Ailes was thanked for his work, without mention of the allegations. He continued to advise Murdoch and [[21st Century Fox]] through 2017 until his death.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-21/rupert-murdoch-to-succeed-ailes-as-head-of-fox-news-channel |title=Rupert Murdoch to Succeed Ailes as Head of Fox News Channel|agency=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|first=Lucas|last=Shaw|website=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=July 21, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>