Bill Shine

American government official (born 1963)

Bill Shine
White House Communications Director
In office
July 5, 2018 – March 8, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyMercedes Schlapp
Preceded byHope Hicks
Succeeded byStephanie Grisham
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications
In office
July 5, 2018 – March 8, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byDan Scavino
Personal details
Born
William Shine

(1963-07-04) July 4, 1963 (age 60)
Farmingville, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationState University of New York at Oswego (BA)

William Shine (born July 4, 1963) is a former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.[1][2][3] He spent most of his career as a producer and executive at Fox News. Most recently, he was co-president of Fox News, a position he held for 9 months before he was forced out on May 1, 2017.[4][5][6] On March 8, 2019, the White House announced that Shine was resigning to advise President Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.[7]

Early life and education

A twin, Shine grew up in East Northport, Long Island, New York;[8][9] his father was a New York City police officer.[10][11] The family were Irish Catholic.[12] He received a B.A. in communications from the State University of New York at Oswego.[13] After college, he worked as a producer for local TV stations on Long Island[9] beginning in 1985 with WLIG-TV.[13]

Career with Fox News

Shine began working for Fox News as the senior producer of Hannity & Colmes.[14]

By 1999, Shine was the senior prime-time producer for Fox News.[15] The following year Shine was the executive producer of Fox News Channel's prime-time programs.[16]

In 2001, on Fox News Channel's The Edge, psychic Sylvia Browne said that she knew where the body of Chandra Levy was located.[17] On Fox News Channel's Judith Regan Tonight, psychic James Van Praagh discussed Chandra Levy.[17] Shine responded to questions about having psychics appear on Fox News Channel by saying that it was "part of the story" because the Levy family had consulted some psychics . Shine said that the psychics provided "another opinion, another side of the story".[17]

By 2004, Shine was the vice president of production for Fox News Channel.[18] The following year, Shine was Fox News Channel's senior vice president of programming.[19]

In 2005, when asked why the U.S. media carried many stories about missing white women (missing white woman syndrome) and disproportionately few about missing black women, Shine commented that "the stories that go national have a twist or an emotional aspect to them that make them interesting".[20]

In 2007, after Bill O'Reilly dined at Sylvia's soul-food restaurant in Harlem, he found his naive preconceptions challenged. O'Reilly admitted he "couldn't get over the fact" that eating at the restaurant "was like going into an all-white suburb in the sense of people were sitting there, and they were ordering and having fun. And there wasn't any kind of craziness at all." Responding to criticism of O'Reilly's statement, Shine said, "This is nothing more than left-wing outlets stirring up false racism accusations for ratings."[21]

In 2009, Fox News host Glenn Beck said that President Barack Obama "has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture" and "is racist",[22] after President Obama said that Cambridge police officers acted "stupidly" by arresting Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. for breaking into his own home.[23][24] Responding to Beck's comment, Shine said that Beck had "expressed a personal opinion which represented his own views, not those of the Fox News Channel. And as with all commentators in the cable news arena, he is given the freedom to express his opinions."[22] When Fox News Channel's journalists complained that Beck's show was undermining their work, Shine admitted that Beck was controversial and that the Fox News Channel had assigned a vice president the full-time job of overseeing Beck's show and to review its content in advance.[25]

In 2014, Shine was promoted to FNC's senior executive vice president of programming.[26]

Shine worked alongside of FNC chairman and chief executive officer Roger Ailes for two decades. After Ailes left Fox, the new executive chairman, Rupert Murdoch named Shine and Jack Abernethy as co-presidents of Fox News in August 2016.[27][28] Shine headed the network's news and programming operations.

Shine was named in at least four lawsuits against FNC alleging sexual harassment or racial discrimination by the company.[29] In April 2017, New York magazine reported that Shine was uncertain about his future at Fox and that he did not think that Rupert Murdoch had been supportive enough of him. A Fox spokesperson denied that the conversations described in the report took place.[30] Fox host Sean Hannity supported Shine, saying that it would be "the total end of the FNC as we know it" if Shine were fired.[31]

On May 1, 2017, Shine was forced out of Fox News.[6] Suzanne Scott, who had served as the organization's senior vice president of programming and development since 2009, was promoted to co-president to take his place.[6]

It was later reported that Shine had been questioned by federal prosecutors, presumably about his role and actions at FNC.[32]

Trump administration

Shine accepted an offer in June 2018 taking a position within the Trump administration as a Deputy White House Chief of Staff overseeing communication within the White House.[33] On July 5, 2018, Shine's controversial appointment became official, despite its criticism personified by those such as Bill Kristol and underscored by protests including from Larry Klayman of Judicial Watch, airing on conservative websites such as Newsmax. In particular, those objecting cited Shine's awareness at the time of the channel's hiring private detectives to intimidate alleged victims of Roger Ailes.[34] Later it was reported Shine's compensation upon leaving Fox was in the neighborhood of $15 million.[35]

On March 8, 2019, it was announced by the White House that Shine was resigning from his position to serve as an advisor to President Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.[36] Shine said in a statement about his resignation that he is "looking forward to working on President Trump's re-election campaign and spending more time with family."[36] In May 2019, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told Politico that he did not intend to replace Shine with a new communications director.[37]

Transition after White House

In March 2021, the New York Times reported that Mr. Shine had been working with the (then new) cable news network, NewsNation based out of WGN in Chicago. "The unrest at the channel’s flagship newscast started in earnest last month, when an industry publication reported that Bill Shine, a former Fox News co-president and Trump administration official, had been working since June as a “NewsNation” consultant. Until the article appeared, the staff did not know about his involvement, the six people said." [38]

Personal life

Shine is married to Darla (née Seneck) Shine, a former TV producer and also from Fox News.[9][10][39]

See also

References

  1. ^ Jennifer Jacobs and Toluse Olorunnipa, "Ex-Fox Chief Bill Shine to Join Trump Communication Team, Sources Say," 'Bloomberg News,' June 29, 2018
  2. ^ Haberman, Maggie; Shear, Michael D.; Rogers, Katie. "Bill Shine Likely as Next White House Communications Director". The New York Times. June 27, 2018.
  3. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Senior Staff Appointment" (press release). Office of the Press Secretary. The White House. July 5, 2018.
  4. ^ Koblin, John (August 13, 2016). "Fox News Names 2 Insiders to Top Posts". The New York Times. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  5. ^ "Corporate Information". Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Grynbaum, Michael M.; Steel, Emily. "Fox News Executive Departs Amid Turmoil". The New York Times. May 1, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  7. ^ CNBC (March 8, 2019). "Bill Shine resigns from The White House to advise Trump's 2020 campaign". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  8. ^ Ketcham, Diane (March 1, 1998). "Liberal or Conservative, Both Are From L.I." The New York Times. p. LI3.
  9. ^ a b c Grynbaumaug, Michael M. (August 15, 2016). "Bill Shine Steps Out From Behind the Scenes to Lead Fox News". The New York Times.
  10. ^ a b Higgins, John M. (December 5, 2004). "Shine Makes Fox News Glow - Executive producer keeps FNC's prime time lineup hot". Broadcasting & Cable.
  11. ^ Bucher, Chris (August 1, 2017). "Bill Shine: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  12. ^ "Bill Shine's Hiring Makes Fox News' and Trump's Unholy Matrimony Official". The New York Observer. July 6, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Communication Studies Alumni Reunion". SUNY Oswego. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  14. ^ "Liz Shooting Starr Now: As Pundit, She Trashes Probe Policy She Helped Create". New York Daily News. December 3, 1998.
  15. ^ Kurtz, Howard (April 23, 1999). "Whistle-Stops Candidates Flock to the Talk Shows". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  16. ^ Farhi, Paul (May 25, 2000). "The New Face Of the Talking Head; Heather Nauert's Fast Path to Punditry". p. C1.
  17. ^ a b c Kurtz, Howard (July 30, 2001). "The Slow Start Of Something Big; From Marvin Kalb, a Reminder Of Cautious Scandal Coverage". The Washington Post.
  18. ^ Carter, Bill; Steinberg, Jacques. "To Portray The Horror, News Media Agonize". The New York Times. April 1, 2004. p. A12.
  19. ^ Gold, Matea. "Straight from Van Susteren; The former defense attorney's no- nonsense attitude gains viewers for Fox News Channel". The Los Angeles Times. July 20, 2005. p. E1.
  20. ^ Wheeler, Ericka C. (August 12, 2005). "Untold stories of Black missing persons". Indianapolis Recorder. p. A1.
  21. ^ David Bauder, Group Points Out O'Reilly Race Comments, Associated Press (September 25, 2007).
  22. ^ a b Rhodes, E Washington. "Right-wing attacks on Obama growing". Philadelphia Tribune. August 7, 2009. p. 4A.
  23. ^ "Charge dropped against Harvard scholar", The Washington Times, July 22, 2009.
  24. ^ Neary, Lynn. "Black And Blue: Police And Minorities". Talk of the Nation. National Public Radio. July 23, 2009.
  25. ^ Kurtz, Howard. "The Beck Factor at Fox; Some news staffers say his comments undermine their work". The Washington Post. March 15, 2010:. p. C1.
  26. ^ Ariens, Chris. "Roger Ailes Promotes Bill Shine and Brian Jones at Fox Business". Adweek. August 14, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  27. ^ Battaglio, Stephen. "Fox News announces new leadership: Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy will take over Roger Ailes' role". The Los Angeles Times. August 13, 2016. p. C2.
  28. ^ Flint, Joe. "Fox Settles Harassment Lawsuit". Wall Street Journal. September 7, 2016. p. B1.
  29. ^ Byers, Dylan. "Fox News' critics ask: Is Bill Shine the Man Who Knew Too Much?" CNN. April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  30. ^ "Fox News Co-President Bill Shine Uncertain About Future at Network (Report)". Variety. April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  31. ^ Farhi, Paul. "Fox News exec resigns amid ongoing scandal". The Washington Post. May 2, 2017. p. C3.
  32. ^ Williamson, Elizabeth; Steel, Emily (July 20, 2018). "Bill Shine, Trump's Top Communicator, Was Questioned by Federal Prosecutors". The New York Times. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  33. ^ Ballhaus, Rebecca. "Ex-Fox News Executive Bill Shine Expected to Take Senior White House Post". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  34. ^ Haberman, Maggie (July 5, 2018). "Bill Shine, Ousted From Fox News in Scandal, Joins White House Communications Team". The New York Times. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  35. ^ Cupp, S.E. "WH communications chief got $15M payout from Fox". CNN. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  36. ^ a b Pramuk, Jacob (March 8, 2019). "Bill Shine resigns from the White House to advise Trump's 2020 campaign". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  37. ^ Cook, Nancy (May 6, 2019). "Mulvaney aims for 'more proactive, less reactive' Trump message". Politico. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  38. ^ Robertson, Katie (March 7, 2021). "Journalists Rebel at NewsNation, a Newcomer in Cable News". The New York Times.
  39. ^ "Arthur Seneck". Newsday. September 5, 2016.
Political offices
Preceded by White House Director of Communications
2018–2019 		Succeeded by
New office White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications
2018–2019 		Vacant
Title next held by
Dan Scavino
2020
  • v
  • t
  • e
Office Name Term Office Name Term
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus 2017 National Security Advisor Michael Flynn 2017
John F. Kelly 2017–19 H. R. McMaster 2017–18
Mick Mulvaney 2019–20 John Bolton 2018–19
Mark Meadows 2020–21 Robert C. O'Brien 2019–21
Principal Deputy Chief of Staff Katie Walsh 2017 Deputy National Security Advisor K. T. McFarland 2017
Kirstjen Nielsen 2017 Ricky L. Waddell 2017–18
James W. Carroll 2017–18 Mira Ricardel 2018
Zachary Fuentes 2018–19 Charles Kupperman 2019
Emma Doyle 2019–20 Matthew Pottinger 2019–21
Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Rick Dearborn 2017–18 Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert 2017–18
Chris Liddell 2018–21 Doug Fears 2018–19
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Joe Hagin 2017–18 Peter J. Brown 2019–20
Daniel Walsh 2018–19 Julia Nesheiwat 2020–21
Anthony M. Ornato 2019–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Strategy Dina Powell 2017–18
Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Bill Shine 2018–19 Nadia Schadlow 2018
Dan Scavino 2020–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Middle East and North African Affairs Victoria Coates 2019–20
Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway 2017–20 White House Communications Director Sean Spicer 2017
Steve Bannon 2017 Michael Dubke 2017
Johnny DeStefano 2018–19 Anthony Scaramucci 2017
Hope Hicks 2020–21 Hope Hicks 2017–18
Derek Lyons 2020–21 Bill Shine 2018–19
Senior Advisor, Strategic Planning Jared Kushner 2017–21 Stephanie Grisham 2019–20
Senior Advisor, Policy Stephen Miller 2017–21 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer 2017
Senior Advisor, Economic Issues Kevin Hassett 2020 Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017–19
Advisor Ivanka Trump 2017–21 Stephanie Grisham 2019–20
Director, Public Liaison George Sifakis 2017 Kayleigh McEnany 2020–21
Johnny DeStefano 2017–18 Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017
Justin R. Clark 2018 Raj Shah 2017–19
Steve Munisteri 2018–19 Hogan Gidley 2019–20
Timothy Pataki 2019–21 Brian R. Morgenstern 2020–21
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Justin R. Clark 2017–18 Director, Strategic Communications Hope Hicks 2017
Douglas Hoelscher 2019–21 Mercedes Schlapp 2017–19
Director, National Economic Council Gary Cohn 2017–18 Alyssa Farah 2020
Larry Kudlow 2018–21 Director, Social Media Dan Scavino 2017–19
Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Kevin Hassett 2017–19 Director, Legislative Affairs Marc Short 2017–18
Tomas J. Philipson 2019–20 Shahira Knight 2018–19
Tyler Goodspeed 2020–21 Eric Ueland 2019–20
Chair, Domestic Policy Council Andrew Bremberg 2017–19 Amy Swonger 2020–21
Joe Grogan 2019–20 Director, Political Affairs Bill Stepien 2017–18
Brooke Rollins 2020–21 Brian Jack 2019–21
Director, National Trade Council Peter Navarro 2017–21 Director, Presidential Personnel Johnny DeStefano 2017–18
White House Counsel Don McGahn 2017–18 Sean E. Doocey 2018–20
Emmet Flood 2018 John McEntee 2020–21
Pat Cipollone 2018–21 Director, Management & Administration Marcia L. Kelly 2017–18
White House Cabinet Secretary Bill McGinley 2017–19 Monica J. Block 2018–21
Matthew J. Flynn 2019 White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter 2017–18
Kristan King Nevins 2019–21 Derek Lyons 2018–21
Personal Aide to the President John McEntee 2017–18 Director, Science & Technology Policy Kelvin Droegemeier 2019–21
Jordan Karem 2018 Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios 2019–21
Nicholas Luna 2018–19 Director, Management & Budget Mick Mulvaney 2017–19
Director, Oval Office Operations Keith Schiller 2017 Russell Vought 2019–21
Jordan Karem 2017–19 Chief Information Officer Suzette Kent 2018–20
Madeleine Westerhout 2019 United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer 2017–21
Nicholas Luna 2019–21 Director, National Drug Control Policy James W. Carroll 2018–21
Chief of Staff to the First Lady Lindsay Reynolds 2017–20 Chair, Council on Environmental Quality Mary Neumayr 2018–21
Stephanie Grisham 2020–21 Chief of Staff to the Vice President Josh Pitcock 2017
White House Social Secretary Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd 2017–21 Nick Ayers 2017–19
White House Chief Usher Angella Reid† 2017 Marc Short 2019–21
Timothy Harleth 2017–21 Special Representative, International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz 2019–21
Physician to the President Ronny Jackson† 2017–18 COVID-19 Medical Advisors Deborah Birx 2020–21
Sean Conley 2018–21 Anthony Fauci 2020–21
Director, White House Military Office Keith Davids 2017–21 Scott Atlas 2020–21
† Remained from previous administration.


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