Here's a thread about how media sausage is made, pegged to my forthcoming book, HoaxTheBook.com.
For years, there have been rumors inside Fox about Sean Hannity's personal life. Now that I'm fact-checking the book, the info is trickling out... (1/6)
For years, there have been rumors inside Fox about Sean Hannity's personal life. Now that I'm fact-checking the book, the info is trickling out... (1/6)
A TV host's personal life is not automatically newsworthy. But a relationship between two of Fox's biggest stars? That's newsworthy. Whispers about Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt have been widespread inside Fox for years, but never reported publicly. (2/6)
Last year, a source for my book mentioned Hannity was separated from his wife, assuming I already knew. Other sources confirmed it. Some said the gossip about Hannity & Earhardt was an "open secret," so much so that "Fox & Friends" staffers wondered whether I'd report on it (3/6)
I'm in book fact-checking mode, so last Tuesday I spoke with Fox News PR about Hannity's separation and the Earhardt whispers. I expected the info to leak in a way favorable to Hannity. Sure enough, Page Six ran a story revealing Hannity's divorce the next day. (4/6)
The timing might have seemed odd to readers -- "they have been legally divorced for more than a year," so why is it reported now? Well now you know. I think it also explains today's @gabrielsherman story saying Hannity is dating Earhardt. It's a fact-checking domino effect. (5/6)
Per Page Six, "sources close to both Hannity and Earhardt deny they are a couple." All this info is just a paragraph in my book "HOAX: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth," coming August 25. BuyHoax.com. Now back to my fact-checking... (6/6)
