Explosive Revelations Await: Unveiling the Untold Secrets of Fox News in Michael Wolff's Sensational Book

On Wednesday evening, Michael Wolff will celebrate his upcoming book, "The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty," at a glamorous party in a townhouse in New York's Greenwich Village. This highly anticipated 320-page book is set to be released next week and is expected to generate extensive discussion and media coverage, leaving newsrooms with a dilemma.

In the upcoming book, which CNN obtained in advance, Wolff presents a series of shocking and sensational claims. According to Wolff, Rupert Murdoch holds a strong contempt for Sean Hannity, even using derogatory language to describe the primetime host, and even considered the possibility of firing him. Additionally, Murdoch initially believed that he could resolve the significant Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit with a payment of only $50 million, but ultimately settled for $787.5 million. Suzanne Scott, the chief executive of Fox News, reportedly feared losing her job due to the Dominion lawsuit. These are just a few examples of the revelations in the book.

However, it is important for journalists and the general public to approach Wolff's account with caution. Simply put, Wolff may not be the most trustworthy narrator.

Wolff has a track record of publishing controversial claims that are often vehemently disputed by the people involved. In the past, he has faced criticism for his careless and unethical reporting practices. Additionally, his bestselling book "Fire & Fury" even contained blatant factual errors.

However, it would be incorrect to assume that everything Wolff publishes is untrue. Undeniably, a significant number of the anecdotes and claims presented in "The Fall" are likely to be reliable. It is highly probable that most of them will ultimately prove to be entirely accurate. Nonetheless, it is important to approach the allegations, especially the most sensational ones, with a skeptical mindset. It would be prudent to wait for other news outlets to verify and report on them before drawing conclusions.

Many books do not undergo the same rigorous fact-checking process as stories published by established news organizations. Often, the author collaborates with an editor before submitting the manuscript for publication. However, this lack of an additional layer of scrutiny can sometimes lead to errors being published.

Even the highly regarded author Walter Isaacson had to retract a significant claim he made in his recently published biography on Elon Musk. Isaacson stated that Musk had abruptly cut off Ukraine's access to his Starlink satellite internet system last year, while the country was launching a drone attack on a Russian fleet in Crimea. This action allegedly deprived Ukraine's armed forces of communication, resulting in the failure of the assault.

However, Musk quickly challenged the claim made by an esteemed author, causing Isaacson to issue a correction. Consequently, both CNN and The Washington Post had to revise their published articles and include editor's notes. On close examination of the version of "The Fall" obtained by CNN, it becomes evident that Wolff made careless errors, even misspelling the names of prominent Fox News anchors such as Bret Baier and Jesse Watters. Sources from Fox also state that Wolff did not verify the facts in his book with either Fox News or its parent company, Fox Corporation.

Contacted on Tuesday night for comment, Wolff admitted that he did not reach out to Fox's public relations team for fact-checking. He expressed doubt in their honesty when responding to his inquiries. However, Wolff emphasized that he did contact "every principal character in the book," including Murdoch. According to Wolff, Murdoch's response was a simple "No thank you."

When reporting on any subject, it is crucial to undertake basic fact-checking measures. This becomes especially significant when dealing with Fox News, where authors may base major claims on unreliable sources. The risks involved are heightened, making diligent reporting efforts even more essential. Some sources may have their own agendas, and it requires minimal effort or risk for them to share information without revealing their identities.

Fox News has decided not to address the specific allegations made by Wolff in his book. Instead, a spokesperson from the network issued a brief statement, stating that the fact that these books are parodied by Saturday Night Live provides sufficient insight.