Kurtz: ‘Out of bounds’ for Fox & Friends to have provided questions in advance to ex-EPA chief
Fox News media analyst Howard Kurtz said it was “out of bounds” for his network to have provided interview questions and a script to former EPA head Scott Pruitt before appearances on “Fox & Friends.”
“Look, it’s not unusual for producers to discuss pitches, but providing scripts in advance is journalistic breach and out of bounds,” Kurtz said during his Sunday media affairs program “Media Buzz.”
{mosads}”Fox News says it has disciplined the staffers involved but is not disclosing what action was taken,” Kurtz stated, before quoting a network spokesperson saying the act “is not standard practice whatsoever,” and that “the matter is being addressed internally with those involved.”
Kurtz called it a “journalistic breach” that was “absolutely out of bounds.”
The Daily Beast initially disclosed the story that Pruitt was given questions in advance, and his team sometimes suggested topics for his appearances. The news outlet had emails backing up its story.
“In one instance, a year-and-a-half ago, a producer asked for talking points on the three top EPA priorities that Pruitt would like to discuss, and even provided the introductory script for approval,” Kurtz said.
” ‘Perfect,’ the Pruitt aide replied [in the email],” Kurtz shared before playing a clip from the May 2017 interview.
Pruitt resigned as EPA chief in July amid several ethics scandals involving alleged unauthorized spending of taxpayer money.
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