WaPo: ‘Tension’ at Fox News over Glenn Beck?

In his latest column, WaPo’s Howie Kurtz examines Glenn Beck‘s standing within the Fox News organization, writing of a division within the network regarding the controversial host:

With his celebrity fueled by a Time cover story, best-selling books, cheerleading role at protest rallies and steady stream of divisive remarks, Beck is drawing big ratings. But there is a deep split within Fox between those — led by Chairman Roger Ailes — who are supportive, and many journalists who are worried about the prospect that Beck is becoming the face of the network.

While Kurtz reports that “internal tensions are fueled by two views of Beck’s success,” the execs who spoke on the record indicate that Fox News had extended its full support to Beck. Chris Balfe, president of Beck’s Mercury Radio Arts, tells Kurtz that Ailes regularly gives Beck advice, and FNC’s EVP of programming, Bill Shine, told Kurtz that a VP had been assigned to review the content of Beck’s show ahead of time. “We see Glenn as an investment and we wanted to help him out even more,” Shine tells Kurtz.

A Fox News spokesperson tells TVNewser, “Howie’s use of anonymous sources is stunning from a paper with the reputation of the Washington Post’s. Glenn Beck has the 100% support of Fox News management.”

Read the column here.

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