• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
MENUMENU
  • About
  • Send News Tips

Media Moves

Covering Latinos in the Media Industry

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
  • Send News Tips
  • People
  • TV & Radio
  • Programming
  • Print
  • Digital
  • Job Board
  • Archives

Navarrette parts ways with CNN, signs with Fox News

May 8, 2015 by Veronica Villafañe

Ruben NavarretteCNN did not renew its contract with syndicated columnist and radio and television commentator Ruben Navarrette. He had been a paid contributor for the cable news network for the past five and a half years.

But that seems to be just fine with Ruben, who is now writing columns for FoxNews.com and will be appearing on various Fox programs.

Ruben says his criticism of how CNN covered “the wrong stories” may have rubbed some network execs the wrong way, as well as asking for a pay raise.

“My CNN columns got a ton of reaction, and I worked hard on them,” says Ruben. “That sort of thing deserves to be fairly compensated. They knew that the new contract was going to be more expensive than the old one, so that may have been a factor as well [for not seeking a contract renewal].

They didn’t fire me, mid-contract. My contract expired. They didn’t renew it. Happens all the time. Contributors come and go, at all networks. And they pop up elsewhere, often at higher salaries. I trust my audience will follow me wherever I go.”

Although Ruben had been under contract since January of 2010, he had been on air at CNN for 20 years.

“I had a really, really long run. I’m extremely grateful to CNN and the great people who work there. Now I’m excited to contribute to Fox News, and perhaps other networks. I’ve been contacted by a few. Latinos will figure prominently into the 2016 Presidential election. And so I imagine, as the most widely read Latino columnist in the country, I’ll be awfully busy and have lots to contribute,” he points out.

“I should make clear that I haven’t been banned from CNN. I can still go on air there whenever I want, and I still get invitations to go on from CNN bookers and producers in New York and Atlanta. But here’s the difference. Previously, while under contract, those appearances were paid. Now, like most appearances by most commentators on most networks, they won’t be. And so that won’t work for me.”

Ruben says he’s relieved that he’s no longer under an exclusivity contract.

“For the six years or so I was under contract at CNN, I was prohibited from going on other broadcast TV networks. During that time, I was often invited to appear on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” or MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews” — shows that I’ve appeared on for many years — and I always had to say “no.” You miss out on a lot of other opportunities. Now I have the freedom to say “yes.”

Besides doing his TV rounds, Ruben will be writing five columns a week — for the Washington Post Writers Group, The Daily Beast, USA Today and FoxNews.COM.

The Harvard-educated journalist also hosts radio shows for Clear Channel in Los Angeles and San Diego and now runs an events business – “Ruben Navarrette Presents,” where he produces and books live interview programs with prominent Latino newsmakers and non-Latinos whose work impacts the Latino community.

“All while — in my most important job of all — making breakfast for my kids, packing lunches, shuttling them around, going to Little League and volleyball games,” he says. “It’s all good. I’m blessed.”

Filed Under: People, Print, TV & Radio Tagged With: CNN, Fox News, Ruben Navarrete

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Follower says

    May 8, 2015 at 6:08 AM

    You are an excell pro.
    Welcome back to the real world.
    And fasten your belts: labels will come to you as rain in May !

Primary Sidebar

Veronica Villafañe, Editor & Publisher

Emmy award-winning journalist and former president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). Currently a reporter for Voice of America, she has worked as an on-air reporter, anchor, writer and producer for Spanish and English-language TV, print and online media, including Univision, Telemundo, Fox 11 News in L.A. and the San Jose Mercury News.

Hispanic media and entertainment contributor to Forbes.

Full bio here
Maria Elena Ponticiello

Meteorologist María Elena Ponticiello joins Univision Chicago

March 16, 2023

Annabelle Sedano

Annabelle Sedano crosses over from Univision 34 to NBC4 as weekday anchor

March 15, 2023

Samuel Belilty

News director Samuel Belilty out at Univision 23

March 15, 2023

Hernan Lopez

Jury in FIFA bribery case finds former Fox execs Hernan López guilty, acquits Carlos Martínez

March 9, 2023

Veronika Moroian

Veronika Moroian promoted to President and GM at KMEX

March 8, 2023

VIEW ALL ARTICLES

Secondary Sidebar

Media Moves is a mission-driven digital publication aimed at raising the visibility of Latinos in the media. Since its inception in 2007, the site has covered thousands of stories. To keep moving forward, we need your help. That’s why we launched a crowdfunding campaign.

Learn more about why Media Moves needs your support here.

You can contribute to the campaign clicking the button below.

SUPPORT MEDIA MOVES
Get the week’s stories in your inbox. The Media Moves Wrap newsletter is sent Friday mornings.
SUBSCRIBE
Veronica Villafañe, Editor & Publisher

Emmy award-winning journalist and former president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). Currently a reporter for Voice of America, she has worked as an on-air reporter, anchor, writer and producer for Spanish and English-language TV, print and online media, including Univision, Telemundo, Fox 11 News in L.A. and the San Jose Mercury News.

Hispanic media and entertainment contributor to Forbes.

Full bio here
Copyright © 2023 Media Moves · All Rights Reserved | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy