New York magazine’s resident Fox News observer, Gabriel Sherman, may be putting the finishing touches on the text of his forthcoming book about the cable news channel and its head, Roger Ailes.
But in the meantime, as Sherman tends to his book-writing and editing duties, the reporter who has obsessively covered Fox may be losing ground to others who have been breaking stories missed by the man likely to be dubbed the premier Fox News “expert” by the mainstream media over the coming months.
That trend could have an impact on how his book, “The Loudest Voice in the Room: Fox News and the Making of America” is received more broadly when it is released on May 21.
Last month, Real Clear Politics’ Scott Conroy broke the news that Sarah Palin would be departing Fox News, with the New York Times getting a statement from Fox News executive vice president Bill Shine regarding her exit. This website booked an exclusive interview with Palin regarding her post-Fox future.
Sherman was also beaten to the punch where Fox News’ hiring of RedState’s Erick Erickson was concerned.
And while Sherman had reported the post-election “benching” of Dick Morris, other media, including Politico’s Mike Allen, broke the news this month that Fox would not be renewing Morris’ contract.
The New Republic‘s Eliza Gray, meanwhile, authored this piece, which caught the attention of Fox News obsessives. In it, Ailes discusses marketing to Latinos (by Fox and the GOP), and is quoted as declaring, “I don’t have any problem with a path to citizenship.” For that piece, Gray seems to have landed an actual interview with Ailes, something Sherman apparently has not — though his forthcoming book is often dubbed an “unofficial biography” of Ailes himself.
Various individuals connected to Fox News and/or close to Ailes have already raised questions about Sherman’s expertise when it comes to his chosen subject matter, as well as his research methods – something this string of news-breaking stories reported by other media figures could exacerbate.
Late last year, a source close to Fox News told this website that Sherman was “Jayson Blair on steroids.” That source added, “The person who has the least insight into Roger’s opinions is Gabe Sherman. Roger has never consented to an interview with Sherman, and never will. And nobody who really knows Roger is talking to Sherman.”
Also last year, Fox News contributor and co-host of “The Five” Andrea Tantaros suggested that Sherman was harrassing his desired “sources” as part of his research into his book, tweeting:
“The ‘harasser’ @gabrielsherman of NY Mag stoops 2 new low going after Roger Ailes’ wife. What do u expect from a Soros puppet?”
And:
“Fox News CEO is one thing, his family – private citizens- is another But not to the harasser @gabrielsherman, aka stalker media.”
When criticized, Sherman has consistently maintained that his reporting is accurate and his sourcing sound. New York magazine and his book publisher clearly have confidence in him.
But even so, as he finalizes his text and his book goes to print, it appears that others are besting him on some choice scoops related to his claimed area of expertise. That could impact the reception his book receives when its launch date arrives.