Former Fox News executive Ken LaCorte criticized the network’s coverage of allegations involving Kimberly Guilfoyle. However, a Fox News source disputed his suggestion that senior leadership dictates digital editorial decisions.
What We Know: LaCorte served as Fox News Digital’s vice president for a decade before departing in 2016. He recently criticized the network for what he described as a lack of coverage surrounding Guilfoyle. A former Fox News employee, Guilfoyle reportedly asked donors for money to pay her credit card debts, among other issues.
However, Fox News did cover the allegations on television. Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich reported on the situation during Thursday’s edition of Special Report with Bret Baier last week. Following LaCorte’s criticism, the network also published a story on its website. Chief Washington Correspondent Mike Emanuel subsequently reported on the allegations during Monday morning’s edition of America’s Newsroom.
What They Said: “The network has served America well, and I have defended it against hyperbolic charges for nearly 30 years. And to be clear, this isn’t a simple ‘mistake’ by Fox. It’s not a biased headline or muddled article. It’s a conscious choice to ignore a major story that has been reported worldwide by every major news outlet. President Trump has spoken about it, as has VP Vance and Marco Rubio. It’s journalistic malpractice. I don’t have knowledge of the details of Fox’s action, yet I doubt that there’s been an order from up top to ignore it. I suspect it’s instead a product of fear and inaction by middle management. Whatever the reason, though, it’s an increasing pattern I’ve seen at the network.
“To those of you at Fox with any power — from Lachlan on down — know that things like this only harm the company’s reputation. Not among your enemies, who will hate you no matter what, but among your supporters, like me, who get pained when the hyperbolic attacks turn out to be true.” -Ken LaCorte
What Remains Unclear: LaCorte acknowledged he didn’t know the details behind Fox News’ editorial decisions. The network source told Barrett Media, “Editorial decisions on whether to cover a story on digital are not decided at the top of the network.” Neither the precise reasoning behind the timing of the website’s coverage nor whether internal discussions influenced the decision has been established.
What It Means: LaCorte’s criticism raises questions about how Fox News determines which stories receive digital attention and when. However, the network’s television reporting and subsequent online coverage complicate the claim that Fox News ignored the allegations entirely. The dispute also highlights the distinction between editorial decisions made by digital teams and broader leadership at the network.
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