CNN President Jeff Zucker slammed cable news rival Fox News on Thursday and said the network is “a complete propaganda machine.”
Fox News “is really state-run TV,” Zucker said during the Financial Times “Future of News” conference, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “It is a pure propaganda machine, and I think does incredible disservice to this country.”
Zucker said the network has changed in the wake of founder Roger Ailes’ departure in 2016. Ailes resigned as Fox News’ CEO after facing sexual harassment allegations.
Since President Trump was elected, Fox News has been condemned and mocked for going easy on the president.
At the event, Zucker acknowledged that Fox News does have strong reporters, but their work is often overshadowed. The CNN president equated Fox News to TASS, a state-run news agency in Russia that has “nothing on them.”
“There are a handful of good journalists there, but I think they are lost in what is a complete propaganda machine,” he said.
“The idea that it’s a news channel, I think, is really not the case at all,” the CNN president added.
Zucker said cable news has thrived in the current environment, Fox included.
“This is the heyday of cable news, there’s no question. All the cable news channels are doing incredibly well as different forms of TV decline,” he said. “Those that have live sports and news have thrived. There’s no question: live news and cable is probably one of the only genres that’s grown. Everybody’s doing well, including Fox News.”
