The Fox News group of networks hosts programs in two categories:
- news
- opinion
News was once lead by Shepard Smith—who recently resigned from Fox for undisclosed reasons—and by people like Neil Cavuto at Fox Business.
Their reports always dealt in verifiable facts.
Opinion is lead by shows like Fox & Friends and personalities like Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson. The opinion division at Fox has increasingly been populated with conspiracy theories and easily disproven misinformation or outright lies.
People have long wondered how the two divisions reconcile.
While Smith gave no reasons for his abrupt departure many speculated it was related to the opinion division not clearly identified as opinion, tainting the integrity and reputation of the news division journalists. Now another member of the Fox News team resigned and it seems that division is, in a word, divisive.
Veteran journalist Catherine Herridge called it quits with statements released by Fox News and CBS News—where she will begin working as an investigative correspondent.
The reason?
While Fox News released a statement where Herridge thanked founder Rupert Murdoch and the network...
"...for the opportunity to cover the most impactful stories of the last 23 years, most recently the Special Counsel report and impeachment inquiry."
"I have received great personal satisfaction from mentoring the next generation of reporters and producers and sharing my journalistic values — that facts matter and enterprise reporting will always win the day."
...CBS' statement was a different variation on the same tune.
In another major defection from the newsroom of Fox News, Catherine Herridge is joining CBS News as a senior invest… https://t.co/G7dyAnqR7W— CNN (@CNN) 1572526205.0
CBS quoted Herridge stating:
"CBS News has always placed a premium on enterprise journalism and powerful investigations. I feel privileged to join a team where facts and storytelling will always matter."
Veteran journalist Catherine Herridge joins @CBSNews as a Senior Investigative Correspondent based in D.C. In her… https://t.co/WXWLYtppKb— CBS News PR (@CBS News PR) 1572520287.0
JUST IN - Fox News’ Catherine Herridge is joining CBS news as senior investigative correspondent. Herridge is a hi… https://t.co/7AvnBnVxz6— Hadas Gold (@Hadas Gold) 1572520113.0
The repeated reference to "facts matter" was not lost on people.
Catherine Herridge, a founding employee of Fox News and chief intelligence reporter, follows Shep Smith in leaving… https://t.co/sLuvwSjeWe— David Jolly (@David Jolly) 1572552136.0
@karsie41 @Hadas_Gold I always trusted her to report accurately. She’s one of several reporters on the planet I sti… https://t.co/PxrAAqbQnJ— CNN (@CNN) 1572542809.0
@DrDathanPaterno @Hadas_Gold @2Twitte39301335 I predict Fox will have more folks jumping ship due to its new direction.— 🇺🇸KFred M.Ed.🇺🇸 #MAGA #ProLife⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@🇺🇸KFred M.Ed.🇺🇸 #MAGA #ProLife⭐️⭐️⭐️) 1572531043.0
@2old2kare @Hadas_Gold @2Twitte39301335 I don't care one iota. FOX is done. The conservatives there need to jump sh… https://t.co/jeXxxdRu5M— Dr. Dathan Paterno (@Dr. Dathan Paterno) 1572531164.0
@Hadas_Gold She is one of the most accurate reporters in the business. Whenever she reported on something..almost 1… https://t.co/5y1ruL5oA4— Spoatie Beaudreau (@Spoatie Beaudreau) 1572522849.0
@BurtronPearson @Hadas_Gold @FoxNews Wonder why @FoxNews didn't FIGHT to keep her? Have they not ever heard of the term "counter-offer"?— Juanita Outlaw (@Juanita Outlaw) 1572528537.0
@bristei @CBSNews I wonder which really comes first with her: facts, or storytelling. If she cares about facts, why did she work for Fox?— XX RRLL (@XX RRLL) 1572532176.0
People who didn't know Fox pundits were part of a non-news opinion only division were confused.
@NonTrotski @Hadas_Gold Opinion. All the networks, and newspapers, have news and opinion. Bias is a problem when t… https://t.co/zGyOweNQBe— Vivienne Jane (@Vivienne Jane) 1572532258.0
Details of Catherine Herridge's exit: Her Fox contract expired over the summer. Fox wanted her to renew, but knew h… https://t.co/O9uJuPkqak— Brian Stelter (@Brian Stelter) 1572526323.0
Others simply had congratulations.
Congrats to my friend #CatherineHerridge for her move to @CBSNews — you will be great! https://t.co/VHRelAYXXG— Gretchen Carlson (@Gretchen Carlson) 1572522627.0
Wow, this is amazing. Welcome to @CBSNews #CatherineHerridge. https://t.co/xEYz3AuFX3— Kristine Johnson (@Kristine Johnson) 1572524491.0
We warmly welcome you back to true journalism and reality. https://t.co/acK12orTv7— Mark Ruffalo (@Mark Ruffalo) 1572545045.0
Herridge was with Fox News for 23 years.
Herridge's book The Next Wave: On the Hunt for Al Qaeda's American Recruits is available here.