Veteran media reporter Howard Kurtz is heading to Fox News Channel, where he will host a new weekend program starting July 1, according to the blog Zap2It.
Kurtz, who has hosted CNN's weekly media-criticism "Reliable Sources" program since 1998, recently left his job as The Daily Beast's Washington bureau chief amid controversy of an article he published that suggested that NBA player Jason Collins didn't tell the whole truth when he came out as gay in a Sports Illustrated Story.
"Howie is the most accomplished media reporter in the country," Michael Clemente, FNC's EVP of news, said in a statement reported by blog Zap2It. "He's also a master of social media trends, information good and bad, and a veteran political reporter. Altogether, he will add even greater depth to a very accomplished team of reporters and anchors.”
Zap2It reports the move to Fox is thanks to Fox News President Roger Ailes, a powerful figure in television journalism. The channel also renewed the contract of right-wing political lightning rod and former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who often blasts what she refers to as the "lamestream media."
In an email response to Zap2It reporter Kate O'Hare, Palin wrote, "Well, no one can accuse a brilliant boss like Roger Ailes of shying away from diversity and debate! Sounds like this guy Kurtz would be another interesting one to chat with at the water cooler. I look forward to meeting him. Hope he'll visit Alaska soon."
In addition to public embarrassment over Collins, reports surfaced regarding Kurtz having too many projects going on at once, including a media-criticism site called The Daily Download.
Kurtz apparently has a good working relationship with Ailes, interviewing him twice in the past few years.
In addition to serving as an on-air analyst across the network, Kurtz will anchor a new version of what is now called "Fox News Watch." The new format will continue to focus on the media and air during the weekends. The deal also has Kurtz writing a regular column for FoxNews.com.
"I'm excited to bring my independent brand of media criticism to Fox News," Kurtz said in a statement. "I want to thank CNN for giving me such a prime opportunity over the years and was tempted to continue, but the chance to create a revamped program and establish a strong online presence was too good to pass up."
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