Fox News Drops Roger Ailes Name From Apprentice Program

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Fox News is dropping former chairman and CEO Roger Ailes’ name from the network’s apprentice program.

The Ailes Apprentice Program will now be called the Fox News Apprentice Program. Ailes, who stepped down amid a sexual harassment investigation, started the program and named it after himself back in 2003.

The program recruits and develops diverse talent who are given a salary and training for their careers. Several past graduates have gone on to work at Fox News. The minority journalist program is in its 12^th class and the current group is scheduled to finish in November.

Also Read: Rupert Murdoch Thanks Fox News Staff in Memo, No Mention of Roger Ailes Drama

“These graduates are going to change the world. They are the best hope for this country. They understand what it means to work, contribute, communicate and lead,” Ailes said at last year’s ceremony.

Earlier this week, Putnam County News and Recorder in the Hudson Valley area of New York reported the Ailes family intended to donate $500,000 for a local senior center, but 400 residents have rejected it by signing a petition objecting to naming the senior center after Ailes.

“Let’s go back to the beginning. We don’t have to accept his money after all,” legislator Dini LoBue said, according to the paper. One women reportedly said, “The name of Roger Ailes is not appropriate or acceptable for a senior center.” He was also called a “carpetbagger” and one woman said he was trying to “buy his way to heaven” during the nearly 4-hour meeting, the paper said.

The Evolution of Roger Ailes, From 'The Mike Douglas Show' to Fox News Innovator (Photos)

The television executive has evolved from producing a talk-variety show to running one of the biggest satellite news television channel in the U.S.
Fox News
Born and raised in Ohio, Roger Ailes attended Ohio University as a young man, majoring in radio and television. During his time there, he served as station manager for the university's WOUB radio for two years.
Ohio University
Ailes worked his way up to executive producer on the syndicated daytime talk show "The Mike Douglas Show," which began as a local program in Cleveland before expanding nationwide.
Westinghouse Broadcasting Company
In 1968, Ailes got an Emmy nod when "The Mike Douglas Show" was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Daytime Programming, ultimately losing to NBC's "Today" show.
After first meeting Richard Nixon on the set of "The Mike Douglas Show," Ailes was hired by the then-presidential candidate to be his media advisor during the campaign, which marked his first professional foray into politics.
Ailes continued consulting on presidential campaigns, serving as media consultant for three successful Republicans: Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Ailes produced the famous "revolving door" ad for Bush, which painted Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis as soft on crime. The piece was widely regarded as the most influential ad of the political cycle.
In 1988, Ailes co-authored a self-help book with Jon Kraushar. "You Are the Message" shared Ailes' tips for effective communication and public performances.
Simon and Schuster
In 1992, Ailes served as executive producer on a syndicated late-night talk show hosted by right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh, which ran for four years before coming to an end in 1996.
Ailes Productions
Ailes was named president of CNBC in 1993, where he launched the new cable network America's Talking, which was shut down and replaced with future Fox News competitor MSNBC.
America's Talking
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch hired Ailes to serve as founding CEO and Chariman of the Fox News Channel in 1996, which soon grew to become the most popular cable news network in the country.
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In 2016, Ailes was accused of sexual harassment by ousted Fox News host Gretchen Carlson. In July, Carlson filed a lawsuit against Ailes, claiming years of inappropriate behavior and sexual advances.
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On July 20, 2016, Ailes was forced to resign from Fox News amid the growing outcry over the sexual harassment allegations.
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Ailes died on May 18, 2017 at age 77.