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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 21 april 2017

Without O’Reilly, Fox News faces its toughest test

DAVID BAUDER director of media analysis lion Ailes was paid when he
AP Television Writer at the conservative watch- exited last summer.
NEW YORK (AP) — Fox dog Media Research Cen- Fox had its largest audi-
News Channel has thrived ter. “The real question is ence on the renamed
despite losing founding what happens next. If they “The Factor” Wednesday
leader Roger Ailes and offer the same generic night since O’Reilly left for
next generation star Megyn product, then it will be for- what became a perma-
Kelly within the past nine give and forget.” nent vacation, with the
months. Wednesday’s firing Announcing a new lineup Dana Perino-hosted show
of defining personality Bill at the same time as the seen by 3.34 million people,
O’Reilly will be its toughest O’Reilly firing was smart, the Nielsen company said
test yet. Graham said, because it Thursday.
Fox moved quickly to in- enabled some viewers to Rupert Murdoch and his
stall a new lineup after an- say, “Oh, that’s not bad. I sons James and Lachlan,
nouncing O’Reilly’s exit due can live with that.” who run Fox News par-
to several harassment alle- Fox News has consistently ent 21st Century Fox, have
gations by women, which been the most-watched talked about building an
he continues to deny. network in all of cable tele- In this Jan. 18, 2007 file photo, Fox News commentator Bill atmosphere of respect for
Outside pressure isn’t leav- vision, not just news, over O’Reilly appears on the Fox News show, “The O’Reilly Factor,” women at the workplace
ing with him; members of the past few months. The in New York. now that the network’s top
the National Organization ouster of Ailes due to sexual Associated Press executive and top per-
for Women demonstrated harassment allegations last seek a younger audience liberal trying to hold his own sonality have both been
outside Fox’s headquarters summer may have been by reaching out to the alt- with four conservatives. The drummed out for their be-
Thursday, saying the com- disturbing, but meant little right community, said An- panelists are familiar to Fox havior.
pany’s workplace culture to viewers because it was gelo Carusone, president viewers, and O’Reilly pro- Ailes’ former top aide, Bill
won’t really change unless off the air. of the liberal Media Mat- tege Jesse Watters is being Shine, is now Fox’s co-pres-
management cleans house Most of his management ters for America. Eric Bol- added to the mix. ident.
of other high-ranking ex- team remained, and the ling begins his own show “The Five” it faces strong He hasn’t been accused of
ecutives who knew about network’s approach didn’t at 5 p.m. and the current competition with MSNBC’s any harassment, but many
the sexual harassment but change. late-afternoon panel show, Rachel Maddow in that inside and outside of Fox
didn’t do anything. O’Reilly’s brand of middle- “The Five,” moves into the 9 hour, and CNN is about have wondered how much
For most of Fox’s existence, class populism, delivered p.m. hour. to give Jake Tapper a test he and other executives still
O’Reilly had been the linch- with a mix of humor and “It’s not like they brought in drive in the time slot. in place knew about Ailes’
pin of its success as the most outrage, predated and Shep Smith or a news an- Trump’s most ardent de- and O’Reilly’s behavior.
visible and most watched reflected the appeal of chor,” Carusone said. fender on Fox, Sean Han- Fox even signed O’Reilly to
host. Fox’s viewership at 9 President Donald Trump. Carlson scored the high- nity, remains at 10 p.m. ET. a contract extension know-
p.m. went up when Tucker O’Reilly wasn’t always pre- est ratings ever for Fox in Fox plainly hopes that the ing that The New York Times
Carlson replaced Kelly in dictable in his opinions. Joe the 9 p.m. time slot early brand and point of view it was investigating harass-
January — her battles with Pollak of the right wing Bre- for the first three months has developed is stronger ment allegations against
Donald Trump cost her itbart.com web site wrote a of 2017, but there remains than any single personal- him — the story that led to
support among many Fox column on Thursday head- some question about how ity, even one as outsized as O’Reilly’s ouster.
viewers — but don’t expect lined, “Bill O’Reilly’s secret: much that was a result of O’Reilly. “There were a lot of people
Carlson to repeat the feat he was a centrist, not a following O’Reilly in the Meanwhile on Thursday, a at Fox who really hoped
when he moves an hour conservative.” lineup. With him moving up handful of media outlets re- things would change after
earlier on Monday. Arguably, the lineup in- an hour, 9 p.m. likely rep- ported that O’Reilly could Roger left and they didn’t,”
“There’s going to be some stalled in his stead is more resents Fox’s biggest chal- be receiving a payout of said Margaret Hoover, a
dismay among the Fox au- reliably conservative. Carl- lenge. “The Five” is set up up to $25 million for leaving former Fox political contrib-
dience,” said Tim Graham, son has made it a point to as a panel show with one Fox — less than the $40 mil- utor, on CNN Thursday. q

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren launches book tour

BY HILLEL ITALIE progressives, read a few many had attended one
AP National Writer pages and responded to of the women’s marches
NEW YORK (AP) — She written questions, most of held the day after Trump’s
wasn’t in her home state, them focused on issues inauguration, dozens
but U.S. Sen. Elizabeth War- such as health care, the raised their hands. Warren
ren couldn’t have asked environment and the role also jokingly referred to her
for a friendlier audience to of unions. “nerdiness” whenever she
launch her book tour. The appearance felt as cited statistics, and noted
The Massachusetts Demo- much like a political rally that when she offered
crat entered and left to as an author reading, with “facts,” she didn’t mean
warm ovations Tuesday Warren pacing about the “alternative facts.”
night at the Barnes & No- stage instead of standing “I never thought I’d have
ble in Manhattan’s Union behind the lectern. Many to start using a modifier for
Square, where she spoke cheered as she called for ‘facts,’” she said.
about “This Fight is Our ongoing resistance to Pres- “This Fight is Our Fight” is In this Feb. 8, 2017 file photo, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Fight: The Battle to Save ident Donald Trump and Warren’s 11th book and is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington.
America’s Middle Class.” condemned Republicans ranked No. 42 on Amazon. Associated Press
More than 200 people for caring only about the com as of late Tuesday. The
gathered as Warren, one wealthy. book, like her talk at Barnes blame for the Democrats’ emphasized the struggles
of the country’s leading When Warren asked how & Noble, didn’t place any loss in 2016 and instead of the middle class.q