Roger Ailes Apology
This story is about the time Roger Ailes apologized to me
I tell stories from the front and backlines of newsrooms. This story is about the time Roger Ailes apologized to me.
My first job after journalism school was working the overnight desk at Fox News Channel. My shift was 11 pm to 8 am, Sunday to Thursday.
On Sundays, I worked a split shift, which (to the uninitiated) was 8 am to 3 pm. I went home to sleep for a few hours. And then back in for my regular overnights. I told one civilian dentist this shift, and he asked if it was legal.
It should be illegal. But nobody else at Fox News wanted to work on Sundays.
One Sunday morning, Ailes called. It was standard practice for assignment editors to transfer Mr. Ailes directly to the studio. I’m not a standard assignment editor. I wanted to talk to Roger Ailes.
📞 “Hello, Fox News. This is Molly.” Ailes asked me to transfer him to the studio.
📞 “Hello, Fox News. This is Molly.” Ailes asked me to transfer him to the studio.
📞 “Hello, Fox News. This is Molly.” Ailes asked me to transfer him to the studio.
After the third call, Mr. Ailes called yet again.
📞 “Hello, Fox News. This is Molly.”
📞 Ailes said, “Hi, Molly. This is Roger. I’m sorry. Can you transfer me to the studio again?”
I told my boss this story the next day, and he told me I didn’t understand.
“Ailes doesn’t apologize to anyone.”
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