The New York Times carried an interesting piece on Roger Ailes, the head of Fox News, this weekend but the article would probably be fading into the news cycle by now except for the astounding quote from Matthew Freud, the British public relations executive.
Mr Freud, who is married to Elisabeth Murdoch and is an adviser to James Murdoch, is extremely well-placed to reflect the Murdoch children’s view of Mr Ailes. Being head of a public relations firm, he also knows how to say what he means.
This is what he said:
“I am by no means alone within the family or the company in being ashamed and sickened by Roger Ailes’s horrendous and sustained disregard of the journalistic standards that News Corporation, its founder and every other global media business aspires to.”
That is a statement to be savoured indeed. Not only is Mr Freud contemptuous of Fox News and Mr Ailes but he is “by no means alone within the family” in those views.
Mr Freud’s opinions, even if they reflect those of his wife (and perhaps James Murdoch) will not unduly worry Mr Ailes, since Fox News contributed an estimated $700m in operating profit to News Corp last year, which makes him unsackable.
Nonetheless, it makes one wonder what would happen to 69-year-old Mr Ailes, assuming he is still there, if Rupert Murdoch were to cede control of News Corp to his children.
More broadly, it indicates that the political split within News Corp between the right-wing Mr Ailes and more liberal figures – notably the Murdoch children – has not gone away.
Recently, it seemed as though the liberal forces – mostly based in London and Los Angeles were in retreat. Peter Chernin, a Democrat, stepped down as News Corp’s president last year and Gary Ginsberg, who was head of corporate affairs and is close to the Kennedy family, has just left.
Mr Freud’s statement, however, raises the stakes again in the ideological struggle. Ultimately, News Corp remains an institution governed by one man – Rupert Murdoch – but the intrigues around him remain a wonderful spectacle.
